Journey through Ancient Greece

Mani & More!

Byzantine Churches & Castles of the Southern Peloponnese

 

The village of Vathia

In the afternoon a short drive takes us to Yíthio (or Githion), a charming fishing port, known as the gateway to the Mani, where we will stay 4 nights.

This is a lovely place to linger with its elegant 19th century houses in narrow streets joined by flights of steps (scalas). In fact Paris and Helen spent their first night together here on Kranae island; you can swim off the rocks on the island, now joined to the mainland by a causeway, or at the nearby beach.

On the island is an interesting exhibition of early travellers to the Mani. In the town there is a charming small Ist century BC theatre.

From Yithio we will visit nearby Yeraki, like Mistra a deserted medieval town built on a spectacular site. There is an imposing castle and remains of fifteen delightful small churches here, some with fine 12th to 14th century frescoes.

The lighthouse on Kranae island, Yithio

From Yithio we will also visit Monemvasiá; a beautiful medieval town completely hidden behind an enormous outcrop of rock.

To wander through the narrow cobbled lanes is a delight; round every corner is a pretty courtyard, an archway or a church and wonderful views over tiled rooftops to the sea.

There are no vehicles here; only mules and donkeys.

We will spend a day in the Inner Mani, an area dotted with prickly pear, austere stone tower houses, (800 in all, dating from the 15th to the 19th century) built by the feuding Maniates, and dozens of small brick & stone Byzantine churches dating from the C10th onwards.

We'll stop in Areopolis a charming small town where bread is still hand made and baked in the oven in the baker's shop, and also go to Vathia a now almost deserted village where we can wander the narrow streets of tower houses built on the mountain side looking out to sea..

We then travel up the west coast of Outer Mani along a stunningly beautiful coast through the foothills of the Taygetos Mountains to Kardymyli, where we will stop to visit another deserted Byzantine town with tower houses and churches, and an excellent exhibition on the Mani.

The bakery in Areopolis

Then we go west via Kalamata to Pylos, a pretty little town built round a harbour in the bay of Navarino, and guarded by two castles; we will stay here for 3 nights.

Pylos is another good place for relaxing maybe over coffee in Three Admirals' Square or taking a boat trip to the island of Spakteria, where the Spartans were besieged by the Athenians in 425BC. There are spectacular views of the bay and the island from the New (16th century) Castle.

Only 12 kilometres away is Methoni where there is an impressive castle built out to sea next to a good swimming beach.

We will also the Bronze Age Palace of Nestor not far from Pylos.

Finally we will go back to Athens airport for the early afternoon flight home. 

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click here for more information on the Mani Mani: A guide & History by John Chapman

The Mani coast