WELCOME! Western Mani invites you to visit it, to explore it and to return home rich- er, as journeys reward the travelers with new images and experiences! Traditional towers, stone-built houses, castles, water mills, bridges, fountains, cobblestone streets, Byzantine monasteries, churches and ancient Greek monuments are hiding in the wild nature of the Maniot land. Taygetos stands imposingly just above the sea and creates with it, an ecosystem of unique beauty, with a special flora and fauna. From the peaks of the mountain, to the numerous beaches, visitors discover the natural connection network that consists of canyons and paths and enjoy hiking, climbing, cycling, swimming and water sports. Moreover, the hospitality of Maniots, their traditional customs, the modern tourist infrastructure, which serves several alternative forms of thematic tourism, and the local products ensure the quality of your stay! Happy Holidays! The Mayor Ioannis Marampeas 1 CONTENTS COASTLINE _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________3 SEASIDE VILLAGes ______________________________________________________________________________________________________4 BeacHes _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 10 VILLAGes ON TAYGetos _______________________________________________________________________________________20 TAYGETOS _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________44 MOUntain PEAKS _____________________________________________________________________________________________________48 CANYONS________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________50 NatURAL ENVIRONMENT _____________________________________________________________________________________54 VASILIKIS’ fORest ______________________________________________________________________________________________________54 FloRA ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________56 FaUNA ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 60 CUltURE __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________62 HistoRY ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________62 Castles AND TOWERS __________________________________________________________________________________________68 CHURCHes AND MonasteRies ______________________________________________________________________70 COASTLINE WEstERN MANI / TRAVEL GUIDE Issue: Municipality of Western Mani (Dytiki Mani) Design: Evolution Projects Plus Printout: Evolution Projects Plus Photography: Tserefos George, Avrameas Giannis Texts: Skouteris Christos Proofreading: Michopoulos Ioannis, Skouteris Christos Translation: Petropoulou Katerina, Skouteris Christos Maps: Anavasi Editions SPECIAL THANKS TO: The local tourist board, the management staff of the municipality and the local community for the information they have provided us, in the creation of this travel guide! WEstERN MANI ONLINE www.visitwesternmani.com 2 WESTERN MANI / TRAVEL GUIDE COASTLINE 3 SEASIDE VILLAGES 4 WESTERN MANI / TRAVEL GUIDE WESTERN MANI, THE LAND WHERE THE MOUNTAIN MEETS THE SEA 5 ARCHONTIKO Traditional KITRIES Picturesque fish- seaside village. It fea- ing village. Surrounded tures stone houses and by dense vegetation with lush gardens with olive olive trees and gardens, trees, cypress and palm it has a quiet beach, trees. Overlooking the although it is located only Messinian bay, crystal 12 km away from the clear waters, infrastruc- city of Kalamata. Green tures and sightseeings waters, smooth pebbles attract tourists. and small coves make up its special beauty. AVIA Beachside set- KAMPOS KARDAMYLIS tlement. Located in a Beachside settlement. popular holiday area, Located within walking stretching between distance from Kardamyli. neighboring settle- Crystal blue sea, olive ments of Archontiko and groves and cypress trees Akrogiali. Overlooking form a welcoming land- the Messinian Gulf and scape that offers visitors crystal clear waters are recreation and relaxation. attractions for visitors, while it has natural and cultural sightseeings. AKROGIALI Seaside fish- KARDAMYLI Traditional ing village. It is located in seaside village. The a popular holiday area, stones house complete with lacy beaches that ideally its natural beauty. records remarkable flow Crystal blue sea, olive of tourists and visitors. groves and cypress trees Along with the neighbor- form a welcoming land- ing villages, they form an scape that offers visitors attractive destination for recreation and relaxation. leisure and relaxation. It is the capital of Western Mani. 6 WESTERN MANI / TRAVEL GUIDE WESTERN MANI, THE LAND WHERE THE MOUNTAIN MEETS THE SEA 7 KALAMItsI Beachside AGIOS NIKOLAOS settlement. It is located Classic Greek fishing vil- near Kardamyli. Beauti- lage. Picturesque streets ful and quiet, surrounded and buildings surround by greenery. Have to visit the harbor, where the the beach, small and spe- visitor overlooks the sea cial, with smooth peb- and enjoys fresh fish. It is bles. Perfect for relaxing a starting point for tour- and swimming in crystal ing the canyon of Tepeni. clear waters. KALOGRIA Beachside AGIOS DIMITRIOS settlement. Located be- Small, picturesque fish- low the old mine of Pras- ing village. Located in the tova, where for two years site of ancient Pefnos, Alexis Zorbas, hero of the with its rocky island. Here famous film “Zorba the anchored Paris of Troy Greek”, had worked for his ships, when he stole Nikos Kazantzakis. Apart the beautiful Helen. In the from natural beauty, its islet were born according sandy beach has com- to the legend, the Di- plete infrastructure for oscuri, twin sons of Zeus, families and youths. heroes and brothers of Helen. STOUPA Cosmopolitan TRACHELA Traditional seaside village. Although fishing village. It is con- newly built, it has evolved nected with mountain quickly into a popu- villages and settlements lar tourist destination. via trails, since it was a Guests enjoy the two commercial port and a nearby beautiful sandy sea transport hub. Within beaches, the natural en- walking distance from vironment and the vibrant it are to be found sev- nightlife. eral free, beautiful, rocky beaches. 8 WESTERN MANI / TRAVEL GUIDE WESTERN MANI, THE LAND WHERE THE MOUNTAIN MEETS THE SEA 9 Organized, free, isolated, inac- cessible, sandy, pebble, located BEACHES near islands, large, small, the beaches of West Mani combine all tastes and satisfy even the most demanding guests! The variety of seawater colours is similar. They change within short distances from deep blue to green or blue! Besides swim- ming, water sports, relaxa- tion and leisure, many of the beaches are entrance points to the canyons of Western Mani, all of which lead up to Taygetos! This is due to the, globally-rare, proximity to the sea of such a high mountain! Archontiko 10 WESTERN MANI / TRAVEL GUIDE BEACHES 11 Kitries Santova Archontiko Santova 12 WESTERN MANI / TRAVEL GUIDE BEACHES 13 Driving on the road Kalamata - Are- opolis, which crosses Western Mani , visitors encounter firstly the coastal cosmopolitan area, extending from Archontiko to Akrogiali , then Kitries, many small, hard to reach and quiet coasts, Ritsa near Kardamyli, the two beaches of Kalamitsi , the magical beach of Foneas , from where starts the canyon, the beach Dolphins, the internationally-popular among tour- ists area of ​​the neighboring villages of Kalogria and Stoupa, the beach of Halikoura, the beach Gnospi in Agios Nikolaos, the Pantazi and Malsova beaches, Agios Dimitrios , then for the more adventurous the rocky beach Katafygio and finally the beach of Trachela! Kardamyli Ritsa Foneas 14 WESTERN MANI / TRAVEL GUIDE BEACHES 15 Kalamitsi Stoupa Kalogria Halikoura Gnospi 16 WESTERN MANI / TRAVEL GUIDE BEACHES 17 Malsova Pantazi Agios Dimitrios Katafygio Trachela 18 WESTERN MANI / TRAVEL GUIDE BEACHES 19 VILLAGES ON TAYGETOS 20 WESTERN MANI / TRAVEL GUIDE EACH VILLAGE HAS ITS STORY AND AROUND THEM THE WILD NATURE 21 MEGALI MANTINEIA KOURIS Small settle- Traditional village with ment. Built near Sotirian- tower-houses. It is built ika, at a lower altitude. amphitheatrically on a The local road from hill, with great views of Kalamata to Areopolis the Messinian Bay, the crosses Kouris. Megali peak of Taygetos and the Mantinia is also situated canyon of Ridomo. Just 2 within walking distance klm. Away from the vil- from the settlement. lage lies the cosmopoli- tan beach Santova. PLATOMA Small moun- SOTIRIANIKA Traditional tain settlement. It is lo- village. Built at the foot cated in a hard to access of Taygetos in dense location, with lush veg- vegetation. From this etation overlooking the village starts the famous surrounding area. Nearby cobblestone road Biliovo passes the stream Myloi, that ends up in Altomira. poured near Akrogiali, Remarkable sightseeings while hikers can visit are the old and the new nearby villages like Kam- bridge of Koskaraga and pos Avias. the folk Maniot architec- ture of the buildings. DROSOPIGI Traditional CHARAYGI Traditional village. Took its name settlement. Built at the from the water source, foot of