Where is mani in greece

There is little sign of strife in the Outer Mani. Being far more fertile than the Deep Mani, rivalry was never as intense and the towers do not seem as grim. Instead, in the vicinity of Kardamyli, especially, they have been converted into charming hotels or homes for expatriate northern Europeans. To someone like me, whose acquaintance with Kardamyli only goes back about fifteen years, this is a village that has become more rather than less appealing as poverty diminishes.

But I wonder what Mr. Leigh Fermor thought, who after all paved the way by building his house here first. Several towers and a cupola and belfry rose above the roofs and a ledge immediately above them formed a lovely cypress-covered platform. Above this the bare Taygetus piled up. It was unlike any village I had seen in Greece. Fifty years later, few places in this world are beyond the reach of tourism, while as for there being little to do, that depends on your point of view.

If, however, you are a hiker, you could spend weeks in the area and not exhaust all the trails. Unlike Leigh Fermor, who actually rattled in on a derelict bus, I arrived in Kardamyli on foot with a small group of trekkers in Admittedly, we had not braved Taygetos, but had taken a taxi from Kalamata to a tiny village called, improbably, Kendro Centre and then set off, rucksacks and all, down old mule tracks or kalderimia. It was spring, there were flowers everywhere, whose names one of us actually knew.

But the morning eggs were impeccably fresh. I remember climbing up to Agia Sophia, a church and village above Kardamyli, and then entering through Old Kardamyli, where there is a beautiful large church with naif reliefs above the door and the Mourtzinos Tower, also built by a former Bey, which is open. Kolokotronis, the Revolutionary general, was alleged to have played chess in this courtyard using real soldiers. It took its name from Kardamos, a son of the first king of Lakonia, and sent ships to Troy.

Actual antiquities are not obvious around Kardamyli and it is far more productive to search for Nereids. In mid May, the hills were still green and splashed with bright red as hundreds of euphorbia plants prepared for summer.

Might this be the original burning bush? The shrub loses its leaves in the heat, not the cold, and goes out in a blaze like the maples of New England.

Amongst them were a whole larder of herbs and a few late orchids on the cool side of the path down to the Sotiros monastery in the Viros gorge. Near Proastio, where there are least 30 chapels, is the quarry that provides the yellow stone found in almost all the churches and houses. Extremely soft, it is sliced out of the hillside as cleanly as if it were butter. But there is one landmark you can stroll to without hiking boots.

You could find her recipes in Greek cookbooks and still never duplicate them. How to get there. Once with friends, we took a taxi from Kalamata train station to Kardamyli and walked everywhere. Go for a walk through the old village of Itilo, one of the most beautiful traditional villages of Mani. Located about 11 km from Areopoli its old stone houses are built amphitheatrically into a cliff with a wonderful view of the picturesque Itilo Bay and opposite the historic Monastery of Dekoulou.

Stay at, or even just visit, the 19th century complex of buildings that make up the historic boutique hotel in Gerolimenas and, if you have time, dine in its remarkable restaurant. Walk to through the pedestrian village of Areopolis, a well-preserved historical town with stone paths and traditional tower houses and enjoy a coffee or drink in the charming medieval bars.

The doll-like town of Kardamili, with its stone-built houses placed in an always sunny bay, is definitely worth a walkthrough. Located at the feet of Taygetos mountain, the charming ancient city, complemented by pebble-fitted beaches next to endless olive gardens, and the stone-built villages has evolved into a chic and sophisticated resort that captivates Greeks and tourists alike as the perfect Mediterranean location.

Limeni, a beautiful coastal village, is the small port of Areopolis, which is five kilometers away. There are no beaches, but steps do lead down to the sea, so you can swim in the crystal clear waters.

Limeni was home to the Mavromichalis family, of Greek Revolution fame, the family mansion is located here. Gerolimenas — Mani — Peloponnese. In the past, Gerolimenas, boasted a shipyard, a large fish market, and an ice suppliers, the main industry was fishing, today, it is tourism. Mezapos — Mani — Peloponnese — photo courtesy od Deskgram. Over five thousand meters of underground caves, said to have been inhabited since Neolithic times, located between Pirgos Diros and Areopolis.

The Diros caves have been continuously explored by geologist and archaeologists since Vathia abandoned village of Mani- Peloponnese — Photo Alamy. The abandoned stone towers, perched high above the sea, many dating back to the eighteenth century, were built on high ground to protect the notorious feuding families of Mani, from one another! The view from Vatheia is amazing, and you can stroll around the spooky, deserted houses, entrance is free.

Cape Tenaro separates the Aegean Sea, from the Ionian Sea, and in ancient times, is said to have a hidden entrance to Hades, the Greek underworld, through which Heracles took the three-headed dog, Cerberus, one of his labours. Cape Tenaro is the southernmost point of mainland Greece, directly opposite lies Libya. Way down in the Deep Mani, the Manites are still some of the most superstitious Greek people , believing in witches, vampires, demons and ghosts, they are also some of the most hospitable people of Greece.

The family feuds and vendettas, which can go on for months, if not years, are still going strong, although they do declare a truce for religious ceremonies and the olive harvest, once they are over, it all fires up again.

One of the last recorded vendettas, against a Cretan was so ferocious, the Greek police, Army, and navy, had combine forces and intervene. Apart from their strong, independent character, how do you know if someone is a Maniatis?