Kiato is located 22 kilometers west of Corinth and is the seat of the Municipality of Sikyonion, as well as the second urban center of the Prefecture. It concentrates the commercial and administrative functions of Western Corinthia, with its port having played a significant role in the development of the area, as it was a hub for the export of the prefecture’s citrus products to Eastern countries. It consists of the main town and three settlements: Neapoli (to the west), Traganas (to the south), and Agios Ioannis (to the east).
The port of Kiato is commercial in nature and primarily serves the export of agricultural products and the import of raw materials for the local small industries. The connection of the municipality with Athens via the suburban railway, the completion of the major highway axis PATHE (Athens-Patras), combined with the national road Kalamata-Tripoli-Corinth, may change the development model and lead to alterations in land use (increase in primary residences, supplementary transportation infrastructure).
Significant sights in the area:
Mougostou Aesthetic Forest, which hosts a wide variety of flora and fauna species. The total area of the forest is 7,185 stremmata (1 stremma = 1,000 sq.m). It was declared an Aesthetic Forest by decree 551977 published in the Government Gazette 175 D’/26-1977. It is located southwest of the village Souli in Corinthia Prefecture. It belongs to the municipalities of Sikyonion, Xylokastro, and Stymfalia. It is a natural climax oak forest, meaning an oak forest that grew naturally, following natural evolution and ecological succession. It develops on a slightly sloped terrain with a gradient between 3% and 20%, facing east at the foothills of Mount Kyllini (Ziria). It belongs to the Mediterranean vegetation zone. The main trees found are the broadleaf oak (Quercus), Aleppo pine, black pine (in isolated specimens), Cephalonia fir, kermes oak, wild olive, juniper, cotoneaster, and the characteristic strawberry trees and Arbutus andrachne.
In August 1998, the first and only prototype meteorological tower in Greece, 32 meters high, was installed in the forest as part of the MEDEFLU research program (Mediterranean Flows). It operates under the responsibility of the Agricultural University of Athens.
The Holy Monastery of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary in Lechova is built on the eastern side of Mount Titan or Veseza (1,207m) at an altitude of 1,050m, in mountainous Corinthia. From Kiato, following the road inland, one passes through the village of Souli, turns left towards Nemea, and reaches the village of Kryoneri. Just outside Kryoneri, there is a junction leading to the monastery (4 kilometers) through a beautiful route filled with plane trees. Following the ravine on the right bank of the Elissona stream, the paved road quickly brings you to the mountain pass, from where the monastery appears in the distance within a fir forest.
Ancient Sikyon Theatre: The Ancient Theatre of Sikyon is considered one of the largest theaters of ancient Greece. All ancient Greek theaters were built in the same way and with the same architectural design. From Kiato, following the road inland, one passes through Sikyon. The Ancient Theatre is located slightly lower on the hill of Vasilikos (about 4 kilometers southeast of Kiato), which is a village after Sikyon.
Kryoneri Observatory: The Kryoneri Astronomical Station was established in 1972. It is located in Corinthia near the village of Kryoneri. At the station, the 1.2m telescope of the National Observatory of Athens (NOA) is installed, with its main instrument being a CCD camera. There is also a special unit for aluminizing the telescope mirrors. The station has both mechanical and electronic workshops. Every August, NOA organizes “Open Days” at the Kryoneri Station, during which organized visits for the public, schools, etc., take place. For information regarding observation times with the 1.2m telescope, you can contact the station manager, Dr. A. Dapergolas.
