Stemnitsa is one of the most beautiful villages of the mountain area of Arcadia, in the center of Peloponissos. Situated at an altitude of 1050m, it is built on the archaeological site of ancient Ypsous and was under the rule of the town of Gortynia. In later years (7th-10th century AD) the name of Ypsous has changed to Stemnitsa due to the installation of slavic population in the general area. During the Greek Revolution against the Turks (1821) Stemnitsa claims to have served as the first capital of Greece and the base of the first parliament (even for a few days). It is the hometown of many warriors and participated actively in the war of liberation, serving also as a repair center for all the guns used in the Greek Revolution.
Apart from the above Stemnitsa has been very active in the crafts of gold, silver and bronze, producing a series of high quality artifacts (jewelery, bells, guns, cutlery, etc.), that have been sold around Greece and abroad. The village still has one of the most acknowledged schools of Gold-Silversmith.

Dimitsana has a similar history to that of Stemnitsa and it is the main center of the area. there you will find banks, schools and other facilities. It is built on the ancient Teuthis, with its Acropolis and the remnants of the ancient walls, preserved until today. From the 16th century and until the late 19th century it became a cultural and "industrial" center of the area. Patriarch Gregorios E' and Palaion Patron Germanos are closely related to Dimitsana. During the revolution against the Turks Dimitsana hosted 11 water-powered gunpowder mills which produced all the required gunpowder for the uprising.