Peloponnese Food Stories| Stories of Flavors, People, Culture
The 2nd Peloponnese Food Stories Gastronomy Festival renews the food tasting event on July 30, 2023 in Geraki, the jewel of the Laconian Land, guiding its visitors on unparalleled journeys of tradition and flavors.
Rendezvous in Geraki Laconia on Sunday, July 30rd at 19:00pm
…cabbage pies and gogges in a theatrical
Off we go to Geraki on July 30 as part of the 2nd Peloponnese Food Stories Gastronomy Festival, on a mesmerizing journey of
culture and flavors. Perched on the slopes of Western Parnon with dominant Byzantine churches, the village resembles an open
museum. The tour to the old neighborhoods with the colorful woolen tapestry spread on the balconies of the houses assigns visitors in a theater-style setting. The weaving art plays a significant part of the village’s customs, passed down from generation to generation, rooted in ancient Greece.
Geraki, an ancient city with a rich Byzantine tradition and medieval refinement…
Geraki is a village in Greece, located 39 km on the road from Sparta to 300m high from sea, in Laconia. Archaeological finds prove the existence of a settlement dating from the Neolithic period (4000 B.C).
The Doric tribes, which descended to Laconia and settled in Sparta, occupied
Geronthrae in the time of King Teleklos. In ancient times, the town developed and even retained some independence from neighboring Sparta.
Geronthrae came to be called Ger aki possibly in the Byzantine period.Nowadays, Geraki is included among a handful of Greek villages that have retained their population.
Today’s visitor can browse through the narrow streets, the stone houses and arched courtyards, to relax at the stone-paved town square with its traditional cafes and tavernas, to view the unique sight of the whole Laconic Province and to gaze at the mountain range of Taygetos and the Laconic gulf.
Travelers can visit the ruins of the Acropolis, climb to the medieval castle and through the ruins relive the legends and traditions of the past. They can study the architecture of the 30 byzantine churches, dating from the 12th to the 15th centuries and through their rare frescoes arrive at a spiritual elevation.
In 20 minutes, visitors can reach the town of Kosmas, at an altitude of 1200m and in 30 minutes can swim at the beaches of the Laconic gulf.
The municipality acquires 3 agricultural co-operatives, 3 cultural societies, the important of which is the “Union of Expatriated Gerakites”, founded in 1923 and showcasing important work such as the construction of the Primary School,
ornamented with fine marble. The main occupation of the inhabitants is the cultivation of the olive.
The yearly production of olives and olive oil amounts to 1100 and 1500 tons respectively. The agriculturally co-operative of Geraki disposes of a
standardization olive unit, not yet in function. Sheep breeding is also developed, accounting for 25000 sheep and goats. As far as the Apiculture is concerned, many producers have standardized their honey. The municipality participates in these endeavors with the “Local Quality Agreement” and the “ Parnon- Taygetos Development Company”.
Source: Geraki of Lakonia
Afterwards? Αssembly at the village square, where the local producers will offer unique food tastings with goodies from the heart of
the lavishing Laconian land, Chefs and women of the cultural unions will prepare mouthwatering cabbage pies, handmade pasta, the so-called goges and many other emblematic recipes of Laconian Gastronomy, while in the children’s workshops younger cooks will play, have fun
and of course cook.
In the morning of the same day, catering professionals will attend a workshop entitled “Food Blogging: Good storytelling practices
through an image” with the lecturer,gastronomy instructor Ioanna Balafoutis, who will also be the presenter of the 2nd Peloponnese Gastronomy Festival.
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