Daily Excursion
EXPLORE
Mani is home to a number of charming villages.
Each village boasts a unique character, preserving centuries-old traditions and architectural gems. Wander through the cobblestone streets and encounter stone towers, ancient churches, and welcoming locals. From the enchanting streets of Areopolis to the coastal beauty of Gerolimenas, the villages of Mani offer a journey back in time, leaving visitors captivated by their authentic charm.
In the surrounding area of Gythio, places such as Sparta, the castle-city of Mystras, the castle of Monemvasia offer the visitor the enjoyment of natural beauty combined with the history of Laconia.
Daily excursion to Mani
From Gythio – Areopolis – Diros Caves – Gerolimenas – Vathia – Porto Cajio – Marmari – Cape Tenaro and then back from Alika to Lagia – Kokala – Kotronas – Skoutari – Mavrovouni – Gythio.
At a distance of 10 km, on the road to Areopolis, stands the Fort of Passavas, which is a castle still standing, built in 1254 by its first owner baron De Neigi and incorporates fragments of ancient Greek masonry. According to history, Turkish army during the revolution of 1821 stopped at this point, as it was impossible to beat the Greek patriots who faced the enemy from inside the castle. The name of the Castle Passava comes from the French phrase, passe – avant = go further.
Going further stands the Kelefa Fort, which was built by Turks in 17th century in a hill between Areopolis and Itilo, in order to control South Mani together with the Castle of Passava. It has a pentagon design and disposes 6 towers.
Limeni, near Areopolis, is a gorgeous bay with blue green waters. The picturesque fishermen’s village, unaffected by the pass of time, is one of the most beautiful villages in Mani, where you can eat fresh fish in the small taverns in front of the sea. In Limeni stands the house of Mavromichalis family, where the revolution against Turkish regime started in 1821. It is renovated and currently houses the museum of Limeni with many interesting exhibits.
In Areopolis it is worth visiting the ancient church of Taxiarches (17th century) in the town centre and stroll around the small picturesque streets full of taverns and bars.
At a distance of 36km from Gythio, stand Diros Caves, one of the most famous caves in Europe with stalactites and stalagmites, which have been firstly explored in 1949 by Ioannis and Anna Petrochilos.
At the distance of 49 km from Gythio stands Gerolimenas, a small traditional port built in front of an impressive massive rock, which enters the sea and seems as if it is cut with a huge knife.
A little further stands Porto Kagio, Marmari and Cape Tenaron, the Southern part of the mainland of Europe.
Daily excursion to Sparta and Mistras
At a distance of 43km from Gythio stands Sparta, a city with very nice neoclassic buildings. You can visit the statue of the famous king of ancient Sparta, Leonidas, the ancient theatre, the museum of Olive Tree and other monuments.
Closer to Sparta, you will find Castle of Mistras, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and “the wonder of Morea”. As a castle town, Mistras is surrounded by fortifications and a wall, with an imposing palace at the top of the hill.
Franks built the castle of Mistras in 1249 in their attempt to establish their supremacy over Peloponnese. The Frankish prince Guillaume de Villehardouin erected the castle. He built houses, dungeons, storerooms, and courtyards.
As time went by, houses were built on the hillside under the Frankish castle, and a town was born whose fate were to become the center of civilization and the cradle of the last dynasty of the Byzantine emperors. With their imposing vaulted roofs and arcades these mansions lead up to the Palace, an architectural creation of the Palaiologues.
The most important monument you meet on the way up is the Cathedral of Agios Dimitrios. On the floor of the church is the two-headed eagle, symbol of the Palaiologos dynasty, carved into a plaque. According to tradition, this is where Constantinos stepped when he was crowned King. Next to it stands the carved throne. In 1449, Constantinos Palaiologos was crowned emperor of Byzantium and he left Mistras for Constantinople. In 1453 the Turks captured Constantinople, and a few years later, in 1460, the same fate befell Mistras. Mistras, the brilliant capital of the Despotate of the Morea, was reduced to an insignificant village.
The churches into the castle of Mistras are impressive in their elegance and refinement. Frescoes are filled with bright color and movement.
Daily excursion to Monemvasia
At the far end of Peloponnese, on the southern east coast of the peninsula looking on to Mirtoon Sea, at a distance of 66 km from Gythion stands the Castle of Monemvasia.
A distinctly shaped great rock – “capsized ship” according to Greek poet Yiannis Ritsos – rising from the sea, only a few meters from the coast is often referred as the “Gibraltar of Greece”. A thin strip of land links it with the Gefyra, a fishing village on the main land. It takes 15 to 20 minutes walking from Gefyra to the castle of Monemvasia. On the north side of the bay there are a few houses consisting the small village of Palea (old) Monemvasia.
A wall protects the lower town from three sides east, south and west. There are several churches around such as Panagia Chrisafitissa, Panagia Mirtidiotissa, Christos Elkomenos, Agia Sofia. A small zigzag path connects the lower town with the upper town. The Fort city of Monemvasia with the one and only gate as its name suggests (Moni=sole, Emvasia=entrance) turns a dream into reality.
Hordes of day-trippers mob the bars, taverns and souvenir shops nestled in grottoes of the original Byzantine dwellings, but at dusk peace returns. On top of the hillside is the church of Aghia Sophia, built in the 13th century. The paths that corkscrew down the hill reach the crystal-clear Aegean sea.
Daily excursion to Elafonisos
At a distance of 89km from Gythio, you can take a ferryboat to pass, in only ten minutes, to the small island of Elafonissos, famous worldwide for its beaches of Simos (Sarakiniko) with clear blue water. The two beautiful beaches are linked to each other with a thin strip of sand and protected by the program Natura 2000 because of their beauty, exotic landscape and dunes that are unique in Europe. Afterwards, at the picturesque harbor of the island, we can taste local appetizers and fresh fish. There are very regular routes of the ferryboats until late at night, in order to come back satisfied to Gythio.