Amaliada is the second largest town in Elis, in terms of population and size, and is the capital of the municipality of Elis. It sits at the foot of the ancient Alissaios hill, while in front of it stretches the richly vegetated plain “Elis Koile” (fertile), as Homer calls it. It owes its current name, received in 1865, to King Otto’s wife, Queen Amalia.
Amaliada, like Pyrgos, had for many years as a source of wealth the “black gold”, or else the raisin, and even today it remains an entirely agricultural region, though it also has many shops, bars, coffeeshops, and restaurants.
Nikos Beloyiannis, the great militant and symbol of the Left, was born and lived for many years in this town. His house hosts a permanent exhibition, with objects and archive material about his life and work.
Two other important landmarks of the town are the Tatani House, a neoclassical building constructed in the early 1900s, which is used today as a museum and to host cultural events, as well as the Folklore Museum of Amaliada, where visitors can admire clothing, utensils and objects from another era and can get to know the customs and traditions of the area.
The Church of Agios Athanasios, the patron saint of Amaliada, looms over the town’s central square. A few kilometers outside the urban fabric, in a lush green location, is the Fragavilla Monastery, and, within walking distance, is the popular beach Kourouta and the picturesque port of Palouki.