Vytina . . . The village of Vytina lies at an altitude of 1030 metres in the Mainalos Mountains in a wooded area with pine, fir and chestnut trees and is one of the most popular excursion destinations in the Peloponnese and throughout Greece. It has 652 inhabitants (2011 census) and formed together with some surrounding villages an independent municipality from 1997 to 2010, which merged into the newly created municipality of Gortynia on January 1, 2011. According to most people, the name comes from the word "Vythos - Βυθός", because the village was originally built in a hollow. It was probably founded after the abandonment of the ancient city "Methydrio - Μεθύδριο", whose ruins are 5 kilometers away.

Pausanias mentions the city of Methydrio in 174 AD: "Μεθύδριον ουχί πλέον ακμάζουσα πόλιν..". Vytina was probably founded in 350 AD at a distance of two or three kilometres from the present location. In ancient times Demeter and Poseidon were worshipped here; temple ruins are preserved at the entrance to the village of Magouliana. In the Greek Revolution of 1821, Vytina was a supply centre for the freedom fighters and thus played a significant role, with the result that it was fired upon seven times by the troops of Ibrahim Pasha.

After the liberation from the Ottoman rule and until World War II, Vytina was the great commercial centre of the area with an important market. There was even a branch of the Athens Bank and a forestry school. Der wichtigste Grund für die Entwicklung des Ortes war das Fehlen von Straßenverbindungen der umgehbenden Dörfer - und als diese geschaffen wurden, war Vytina als Handeslzentrum Geschichte. The ski centre of Ostrakina is a significant factor today. Worth a visit in the area is Argyrokastreo (1450 m altitude) near Magouliana, built on a 100 m high rock in 1205 by the Franks when they founded the Barony of Akowa. Vytina's main attractions are the Church of St. Tryfonas, built in 1846 mainly from the local black marble in the central square, the two traditional wood-fired bakeries near the main square and the folklore museum. Also worth is a visit of the library with writings and books from the 17th century. Not to be missed: the tree-covered road, which begins almost at the village square and ends at the Tripoli-Vytina national road. The main products are honey from the coniferous forests, meat products from local producers and cheese.

        Church of St. Tryfonas