Hi everyone, I am of Greek descent from Canada and I would like recommend traveling to the picturesque village called "Leonidio". Population is around 4000. Leonidio is the epitome of a Greek village.
It's located in Arcadia, Peloponnese and surrounded within iron-rich mountains with of course a beach and port. Every August, the city also hosts the "Tsakonian Eggplant Festival" aka "Melitzazz", as the eggplants grown in Leonidio are sweet. Part of the festival is a competition among chefs for the best eggplant dish. The EU has even designated Leonidio as the Tsakonika Eggplant Capital of Europe for having the best tasting and sweetest eggplants. There are musician that come from all over the world to perform at this festival. Website is below.
Leonidio can be approached coming from the southwest of the Peloponessos and stopping in Kosmas. Its a gorgeous mountain village with cafeneons in a large tree shaded platia next to the large church of Ag Anargiron with a fountain of lion heads spitting water. There are chestnut trees everywhere, and in the early fall their leaves change bright yellow and in the square and in the small traditional shops there are big baskets of chestnuts for sale. The road from Kosmas to Leonidio is one of the most spectacular in Greece. You start in the mountains and then go down through the Dafnon Gorge and river, which in the summer is a dry riverbed of white stones but in the winter and spring must be fairly full of water if not a raging river of rapids. Along the way is the Monastery of Agios Nikolaos built into the side of a rock cliff and nearby is the Cave of Sintza where legend has it that Ino of Thebes, raised her nephew Dionysos and for this reason the area is known as The Garden of Dionysios, the God of Wine. There are hiking trails in the gorge and a path to the monastery. The monastery is still in use but as a convent.
You have to check out this village. It's a great way to see the real village life of Greece is all about.
Thanks