Ancient Sikyon (Vasiliko)

In a lush plateau, coveted and fertile since early antiquity, about 9 km south of Kiato, lies Ancient Sikyon (Vasiliko). The present community has a population of around 1,000 inhabitants, many of whom are business owners and employees, while the rest are engaged in agriculture.

The central stone-built Byzantine church of the Holy Trinity, dating from the 12th century, was recently restored, including its exterior and bell tower. In the small stream of the village, the church of Panagia Giatressa is built like an eagle's nest. According to tradition, the church is said to have healing waters. Beneath the church, in the small stream, visitors can see the two Ottoman fountains, the Small and the Large Fountain, which are still preserved today. In this small stream, a tributary of the Elisson River, during the 1822 battle between Greek forces and the remnants of the army of Dramali, the legendary Laconian chieftain, Papas-Kalomiris, was killed. He was buried in the Church of Saint Paraskevi, which remains renovated to this day in Ancient Sikyon.

The village also features many well-preserved Byzantine chapels. One of the most picturesque is the Church of Saint Nicholas, which is located within the orchards in the plain north of Ancient Sikyon.

To the west of the village lies the archaeological site of Ancient Sikyon, with significant monuments. Of particular importance is the grand Ancient Theater, one of the largest in Greece, which is in the process of restoration and excavation. Another remarkable sight is the well-preserved Roman baths, where the renovated archaeological museum is housed today. These baths are among the few ancient buildings in Greece that have been in continuous use up to the present day. Excavations by the University of Thessaly have been taking place for over a decade in the city of Hellenistic Sikyon, revealing the foundations of the Bouleuterion, a spacious square building with four rows of columns inside, a Stoa, Temple, and the Gymnasium, known as “of Cleinias,” the father of Aratus, which was built around 280 BC and is divided into two levels, with stairs providing communication between them. To the northwest of the theater lies the ancient stadium, about 207 meters in length.

The current village occupies only the southeast corner of the hilltop. From any point in the plateau, one can see, as if from a balcony, the fertile plain of Vohas, as described in ancient texts as the boundary between Corinth and Sikyon. Additionally, there is an uninterrupted view to the east towards the Corinthian Gulf, Acrocorinth, the Isthmus, and the coasts and mountains of Perachora and Roumeli.