Krokees (Krokeai or Levetsova as it was called in the past) is a small town built between Taygetos and Parnonas, south of Sparta, 7 km from the Laconian Gulf. The town has about 1,400 permanent residents.
During the Bronze Age, it was inhabited by the Achaeans / Pelasgians, while in 1100 BC., it was captured (like all of Laconia) by the Dorians. Krokees was famous for its famous Krokeatis stone (hence the name of the settlement), a volcanic, deep green stone with golden-green spots like a mosaic. It is a rare type of rock found only in the "Psifi" area of Krokees. It was used to make luxury vases and decorate baths, such as the baths of ancient Corinth. It is said that it was later used to decorate buildings and churches, such as Agia Sophia in Constantinople (Istanbul) and St. Paul's Cathedral in Rome. The Krokeatis stone also adorns the tomb of the three hundred Spartans at Thermopylae.
The patrons of ancient Krokees were the Dioscuri brothers, Castor and Polydeuces (sons of Zeus). Today, visitors can see the bust of Dioscuri decorating the fountain in the town's main square. The statue is carved in a marble slab, which was discovered in modern excavations. At the base of the relief, visitors can read a Latin inscription, which explains who made this piece of work and why, and dates back to 81-96 AD.
Ancient Krokees flourished around 1500 BC. The excavations carried out in 1956 in Karnas brought important information about the historical presence of the ancient city into the light. During the excavation, several Mycenaean tombs were found on the slopes of the hill, as well as a built rectangle. Inside a tomb, a significant and peculiar vessel, which is now kept in the Archaeological Museum of Sparta, was found. Around 170 AD. Traveller Pausanias visited Krokees, who mentioned that there was a statue of Zeus made of Krokeatis stone and a bronze statue in the quarry at the city's entrance.
At Krokees, visitors can see various monuments and sights. The church of Agios Nikolaos dominates the area with its high bell tower and the century-old cypress tree on the side. It is a three-aisled basilica with a dome. The Church of Agios Dimitrios is located in the "Kouvarakianika" area. It is a single-aisled cross-roofed small temple of the Byzantine period and was built in 1286. On the west side of the church, the bell tower was rebuilt in the 1960s, and it is saved in good condition. Also, "Koumbaritsa", the much-sung fountain and shelter for lovers, which, most likely, dates back to the Byzantine period, is noteworthy.
Visitors can also see two monuments of historical interest. The first is The Monument for the Fallen in the Balkan Wars (1912-1913). In fact, the statue is the work of art of famous sculptor Michalis Tombros. In Monodentri (area), you can also see the Monument for those executed by the Germans at Kokkinoloutsa. Krokeatian painter Michalis Agraniotis did the artistic composition and artwork.
Many great personalities (scientists, artists) were born at Krokees, with world-famous poet and academic Nikiforos Vrettakos being the most famous.
The Krokees Carnival, which began in 1962, is one of the most famous in the Peloponnese, known on a Panhellenic scale. Finally, if you happen to be in town, don't forget to try the olive oil "Krokees Lakonia", which is famous for its high quality and is one of the European Union protected products.
