The Mani Experience

“…Passing-by you observe Mani in 3 days, walking in 3 months and in order to see its soul you need 3 lives. One for the sea, one for the mountains and one for its people…”

Mani is the south west area of the Laconic prefecture, which extends 1.800 km² south west and which peninsula ends at the Tenaron cape. Spinal column of the peninsula is the famous mountain Taigetos (overlooking the capital Sparti). The main provinces of Laconic Mani are the municipalities of Gythion and Oitylon. Areopolis is the capital of Oitylon and the administrative center. Laconic Mani has an unparalleled history over the centuries. There has been no historical period from ancient Greece till our days, that Mani hasn’t played a significant role. The visitor will have the chance to be informed by our staff for the history and local traditions of the Mani area.

Sightseeing

Making Limeni the starting point, the visitor can walk through the paths of the local history and idiomorphic geography, visiting:
The Mavromichalai Palace and family houses in Limeni and the village of Oitylon, which is built on the old spot of the ancient village, as Homers, refers to.
The town of Areopolis (having acquired its name from the ancient Olympian god of war Aris), with its unique stone paved main-square, the picturesque stone alleys, the amazing central Orthodox basilica of Taksiarches (18th century) and the historic the Ethnological Museum of Mani.
The Diros Caves (with the 1.800 meters in length underwater river), probably the most important, large and utmost complex lake-caves in the planet.
The village of Mezapos, built in the edge of the rock at the homonymous lake, the traditional settlement of Vathia and the picturesque port of Gerolymenas.
The small peninsula Tigani (resembling a “frying pan”) near the traditional village of Stavri.
Cape Tenaron (“Gates of Hades”) which is the southern spot of continental Greece.
The village of Gythion, with its beautiful harbor, Archaeological Museum, local market and countless fish taverns.
The Kranai small island, from which legend says that beautiful Helene departed with Paris escaping to Troy. Here, it is located the tower-house of Tzanetakis as well as the lighthouse of the island (1837) with a height of 23 meters.
The 98 traditional stone-made settlements (with the 800 towers and 8 Byzantine and medieval castles), out of the 118 that the whole region of Peloponnese offers.
The 1000+ Byzantine and post-Byzantine churches with the unique hagiographies.

Festivals

Each year Mani celebrates the anniversary of proclaiming the start of the Hellenic revolution and uprising, against the 400 years of ottoman occupation, in the spring of 1821 from its warlord Petrobeis Mavromichalis. The festivities are organized each year and start on the 17th of March (revolution day in Mani) and end on the 25th (Greek national revolution day), and take place both in Areopolis and Limeni.

Roots

The natural beauty of Limeni and the area of Laconic Mani in general, in combination to the unique architectural and rich cultural heritage, constitute a special place attracting alternative and special forms of tourism. The numerous possibilities to organize parallel activities between eco-tourism, religious-tourism and cultural-tourism, attract visitors from around the world. The visitor can enjoy round or cross foot-paths all year round.

Mani offers:

22 foot-paths: 100 km, duration from 35 min till 4,5 hours and with different levels of difficulty.
1 canyon (Karavostasi – Lilolagado Canyon – Panagia Spileotissa), 5,5 km, duration 2 hours and easy level of difficulty.

The hotel staff will be happy to assist our visitors with any information on the proposed routes.