page_title: Vergadeika
section_title: Ruins in the area
hierarchical_section_title: Vergadeika / Ruins in the area
caption_attribution_description: English: The church of Agios Demetrios in Vergadeika, built in the 15th century
context_page_description: Vergadeika is a small village within the larger Longanikos settlement in Laconia, southern Greece. Vergadeika is a one- to two-hour drive to the cities Sparta, Tripoli, and Kalamata. It is approximately 202 km from Athens.
  Vergadeika lies less than a kilometer away from the large settlement of Longanikos, which has a current population of approximately 300 people. Due to the larger size of Longanikos, Vergadeika is considered to be "within" Longanikos for purposes of classification and official administration.
  The village has an approximate population of 80 people and consists of a "north part" and a "south part". This village, as well its neighboring villages, had a much higher population several decades ago, but migration to the major Greek cities, such as Athens, and abroad, namely to the United States, diminished the population tremendously. Presently, there are mostly elderly Greeks who reside in the village, while their children return from the large metropolitan areas for weekend vacations or major holidays.
  Coming from Athens by car, one would take highway E94 to E65. From E65 in Tripoli the village is only accessible by small mountain roads.
context_section_description: Because the village is an ancient village in the Peloponnese, one of the oldest regions of the Greece, it lies very close to many important ruins. In the actual village of Vergadeika stands the church of Agios Demetrios. This church dates from the 15th century.
  The closest ruins to the village are in the larger towns of Longanikos and Kastoria. In Longanikos, a visitor can find sites such as: the church of Agios Georgios (1375 A.D.), the church of the Holy Apostles of Agioi Theodoroi (1380 A.D.), the church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary (15th century), the Fountain at Vergdeika, the mansion of "Papakalos" (end of the 18th century), and the church of the Prophet Elias (built in 1810) which is decorated with artifacts from the 10th to 11th centuries. Many of the surrounding villages have ancient, medieval, and early modern attractions as well, such as Kastoria, Agoriani, and Vordonia. In the latter the remains of a medieval Frankish Fort can be found.
  The close village of Pellana, which is the namesake for the municipality, holds the ruins of an ancient town from the days of Sparta.
  Vergadeika is very close to the famous sites of Mystras and ancient Sparta. It is also within 30 km of sites such as Mantineia, the Temple of Apollo Epicurius at Bassae, and the ancient site at Megalopoli.
caption: The church of Agios Demetrios in Vergadeika
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