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Starting from Mani, the places you can visit and the sights you can see are numerous and each one stands out for its uniqueness. We mention some of the most beautiful and worth seeing places during your holidays in Messinia.
All you have to do is contact us to plan your trip together!

Kardamyli

Of exquisite beauty, Kardamili is characterized by a variety of landscapes and a strictly traditional architecture.
The old part of the city is looking down at the well preserved castled houses and the post – Byzantine church of Saint Spiridonas, the bell of which has been a pirate’s loot. The architecturally unique Patrick Lee Fermor’s residence with its magnificent garden amazes any visitor.

Picturesque ports, seacoasts, cobbled roads, traditional hostels, olive trees, osiers and laurel trees set the scenery.
Meropi, a beautiful island in front of the old customs and watch and also the remains of the Venetians walls complete the beautiful picture.
Family taverns, bars on the beach and traditional art stores attract the visitors. Homer is the first one that refers to Kardamili as one of the cities that Agamemnon would give to Achilles as part of dowry.

At the same place, mythology informs us, the Nereids celebrated with Piros, the son of Achilles, when he passed by on his way to marry Hermiony, daughter of Menelaos and Helen.

Stoupa

Stoupa is the fairy of Messiniakos. The newly built little village has quickly developed into a famous tourist resort. Its initial name was Potamos (River) after the river that crossed the area but later on was renamed Stoupa after the “stoupia” that the inhabitants used to soak in the water in order to soften them and be able to elaborate them more easily.
The two scenic, shallow, sandy beaches are well organized. The crystal waters attract visitors from all parts of the world.

The diversity of the scenery is breathtaking while small rivers, amazing caves, small ports and islands, the hill and the castle on top are all in great harmony.
Excursions in the region can offer you many thrills. Restaurants and taverns, bars and cafes cover every taste and every fashion. Particularly the beautiful beach of Kalogria is famous around the world because of Kazantzakis and Zorbas living there in 1917.

It was there that they developed their friendship which later on led to Kazantzakis’ masterpiece “Zorba the Greek”.

Agios Nikolaos

Agios Nikolaos is a picturesque fishing village of Messiniaki Mani and a known destination for vacations where it is located on the Messinian Gulf shore.

It has maintained the traditional architecture of Mani and is an ideal destination for those who want to escape the routine of the city to rest and recharge their batteries.
The village comes to life in the summer with holidaymakers who come to explore its every corner and its charms along with the beautiful beaches with the clear crystal waters.

In winter visitors enjoy the tranquillity of the beautiful setting, engage with nature and take part in local activities and festivals such as the picking of the olives, hiking or just enjoying a hot drink by the sea.

During the last decades Agios Nikolaos managed to develop the tourism of the area by creating facilities for hosting of tourists and offer them lovely and comfortable vacations.
Agios Nikolaos boasts a number of fish taverns, bars and coffee shops, all clustered around the harbour and surrounding area.

Κοντά στον Άγιο Νικόλαο υπάρχουν πανέμορφες παραλίες με γραφικούς βράχους, πετραδάκια και αμμουδιά που καλύπτει όλα τα γούστα των επισκεπτών. Εδώ, μπορείτε να κολυμπήσετε στα καθαρά κρυστάλλινα νερά του Μεσσηνιακού Κόλπου, να απολαύσετε τον καυτό ήλιο και να επιδοθείτε σε θαλάσσιες δραστηριότητες.

Limeni

The beautiful Limeni is a seaside village in Mani and one of the most beautiful and traditional settlements in the area. It is located 41 km from Kardamili in a beautiful 50-minute drive and is worth a visit.

Limeni is an incredibly colorful village with charming old stone house-towers, literally hanging over the rocky cliffs. Here you will find crystal clear blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea, fantastic landscapes, and has an atmosphere of true hospitality from local residents. This is a great place for relaxation and swimming.
The palace of Petrobey Mavromichalis with its four-story Tower and its arched openings dominates in Limeni village. Petrobey Mavromichalis was Mani’s last ruler (Bey), who played a leading role during the revolutionary and post-revolutionary times.

The area has scenic taverns with fresh fish for which Limeni is very famous. Also has relaxing places in front of the sea that stretches out on your feet. Put your excursion into the area and you will not regret it!

Areopoli

Areopoli is a well preserved historical town with stone paths and traditional tower houses which were built for social and defensive reasons. The town took its name from the Greek God of War Ares and was the capital of the historical district of Inner Mani (Mesa Mani). Like the rest of the Mani settlements, Areopoli is known for the contribution during the battles of Greece against the Ottoman Empire.

Areopoli can also be a starting point for a tour of Mani district. While heading towards the South you will find plenty settlements with traditional towers, stone houses and small peaceful bays covered by pebbles. South of Areopolis you will encounter Pirgos Dirou, the settlement with the famous lake caves, the much photographed Vathia village, the beautiful Gerolimenas settlement, Porto Kayo and Marmari beach and of course the Cape Tainaro, the southernmost part of the mainland of Europe. For your return you have two choices. You can either go back from the way you came or explore the east part of the Mani peninsula and end up to Gytheio.

Diros Caves

It is not just the drop in temperature that gives you the chills as you descend underground to start the 40-minute boat tour of Vlychada, the biggest cave of the Diros complex. It is the beautiful and dramatic formations of stalactites and stalagmites, formed millions of years ago, when the sea, located just a few meters away, started to rise and formed the lake we see today. It is the excitement of not knowing what can be hiding in the darkness beyond the illuminated 1.5k route, and the realization of the sheer size of this underground miracle of nature: a series of vast caverns stretching 15k into the rock, with 2,800 waterways – and this is only what we know of so far.

Gerolimenas

The region of Mani cherishes a special area named Gerolimenas which is famous for its picturesque setting and it mainly consists of a small port. It used to be one of the most significant ports for trade serving the wider area and its name derives from the two Greek words “Ieros” ( sacred) and “Limin” (port), which give us a thorough idea of just how important it was in the past.

Gerolimenas is situated in the heart of Mesa Mani (Inner Mani) and cherishes the charming cape of Cavo Grosso. The town of Kalamata is at 100 km and the town of Githio at 50 km. Both towns constitute important towns of south Greece and are worthy of your visit while you explore the sites of this enchanting region.

Vatheia

At the heart of Laconian Mani, Vatheia strongly resists the passage of time offering a journey into the past where its residents defended the prospective intruders entrenched in their imposing defensive tower houses.

Vatheia is one of the most impressive traditional villages and certainly the most photographed throughout Mani.
The settlement of Vatheia suddenly pops up from one of the road turns, like a citadel built on a hilltop and is just 2km from the sea offering magnificent views to the Mediterranean Sea.

Porto Cayo

Porto Cayo of Laconia is the last port of eastern Mani, as we step deep down to the Cape of Tainaro. Over the centuries, it became a naval base for many human races, but also the base of Lambros Katsonis. The name comes from its pretty harbor which is protected from the wind naturally. During the summer months the bay is almost flooded by sailboats moving from the Aegean to the Ionian Sea and vice versa. Great restaurants and hotels are also available to the visitor.

Gythio

It is the second largest city in Lakonia after Sparta and is the seat of the Municipality of East Mani. According to Pausanias it’s the “land of Gods” because of the fight between Hercules and Apollo during the city building.

It is a beautiful city with a picturesque harbor, neoclassical houses climbing amphitheatrically on the hillside of “Akoumaros” and along the coastal road.
Gythio impresses with his nobility and insularity. His romance is reflected in his deep blue waters, with the fishing boats and sailing boats, and Prophet Elias of Taygetos as a fantastic backdrop.

In Gythio one can enjoy the activities of the life of a modern but romantic provincial city. You see the fishermen who bend at the harbor with their boats, patiently repairing their nets, waiters in the taverns on the coastal road along the coastal road, children playing in the square with the mothers chatting, the shopkeepers on the sidewalks outside their shops and the tourists, Greeks and foreigners, can also enjoy the tranquil rhythms of the city and its natural beauty.

Mystras

Mystras in Greece is an archaeological site at the Taygetos mountain, close to Sparti, in the region of Laconia. The Castle Town of Mystras was very strong in the Byzantine times and actually in the last decades of the Byzantine period, this was the second most important town after Constantinople. On top of the castle hill, there was the Palace of the Despots, while Mystras Greece is mostly famous for its several Byzantine churches with the interesting architecture and the valuable frescoes. Below the Medieval Castle, a new village has been constructed, where many traditional accommodations is found. The region around is crossed by many trekking paths, leading to beautiful spots that along with the restored buildings within the castle of Mystra invite you to relive their history.

Monemvasia

Monemvasia means “one entrance” and in fact the only access to this castle is via a causeway. This uniquely preserved mediaeval town is carved into the majestic grey rock like a sculpture. The “Gibraltar of the East” or a “stone ship” about to set sail, as the famous Greek poet Yannis Ritsos described his birthplace, is calling you for immediate boarding for a journey through time. Wander around the vaulted alleyways, churches and aristocratic mansions.

Take a swim in its crystal-clear waters and sample its delicious cuisine and legendary wine. Follow in the footsteps of knights, pirates, crusaders and emperors, who all fell under the spell of this mythical place in the Peloponnese. Here time stands still, and you’ll become one with history.

Archeology

Ancient Messini

Find some time and visit Ancient Messini, the most preserved city of ancient Greece, with impressive buildings that inspire awe in the visitor. Ancient Messini is about 30km away from Kalamata near the village Mavrommati.  It is a rare, well preserved archaeological site, where the visitor is impressed by viewing temples, houses, walls and public buildings revealing the the glorious past of the area.

The Castle of Methoni

The Castle of Methoni is an impressive medieval fortification in the port town of Methoni. The castle of Methoni occupies the whole area of the cape and the southwestern coast. On the south part of the walls rises the spectacular sea gate which has recently been restored. A stone-paved stretch leads over a small bridge to the small fortified islet of Bourtzi.

The Castle of Koroni

The Castle of Koroni is one of the biggest and most famous castles of Greece. Located in Koroni dominates the whole area and is one of the few castles in Greece that continues to be inhabited until today. The Castle existed since the 7th century AD and was completed and reconstructed by the Venetians in the 13th century.

Pylos: ‘Hostess’ of the Peloponnese

The calm of today belies a troubled past in a city so synonymous with the Battle of Navarino.
Now it rests peacefully, built in the shape of an amphitheatre below Neokastro, reminiscent of an island hamlet. Enjoy a leisurely coffee in the shade at the traditional café in the central square with its exotic palm trees. Visit the Archaeological Museum. Take a stroll along the coastal road and then sit down for dinner at one of its many restaurants. A little outside town you can admire Kamares, a section of the old water tower.