The Mani Peninsula and the most beautiful beaches of the Peloponnese in Greece. An undoubtedly low cost holiday and also very spartan, but beautiful, read the post and book your holiday in Greece.
La Mani peninsula it is perhaps the place where I most felt the presence of nature. And it was not a spring nature, accessible, green and glorifying life. It was a dark, strong, harsh nature, which at first glance was almost frightening.
Rocks, dry earth, a few olive trees, a few prickly pears. A blue sea as I have seen few, surrounded by these high and rocky mountains, which almost seem to observe every step you take. An unreal silence, clear colors, breathtaking landscapes.
Well, at first I was really scared. Then I fell in love with this rough, wild and strong piece of land.
Not for nothing, the inhabitants of this region consider themselves i descendants of the Spartans and they claim they have never been dominated by anyone. This territory, which has always been closed to the outside world, has experienced bloody clashes between the different clans, with the inhabitants forced to build ever higher defensive towers to protect themselves from enemy raids and wars between various clans. They are the so-called "Maniote Towers”, Many of which have now been converted into boutique hotels.
The peninsula extends between gulf of Laconia to the east, and the Messenic gulf West. The road is a succession of hairpin bends and ups and downs along a coast characterized by high cliffs alternating with bays and marinas, coves and beaches with crystal clear sea, sometimes sheltered and sometimes beaten by the wind.
We stopped in Gerolimenas, a very small semi-abandoned village overlooking a wonderful beach.
Few hotels, few tourists, little to do, other than being in the sun with the cats, reading and eating Greek salads one after the other. And lots of yogurt of course.
We stayed atPyrgoi Theodorakaki hotel. Very simple structure but overlooking the sea and with a very kind staff. They made us feel part of the family.
From Gerolimenas, we toured much of the area, starting with the abandoned village of Vathia. It looks like a movie set, abandoned in a hurry for a short time. Instead it seems that the village is now uninhabited since the late eighties and that after trying to make it become a building hotel has been completely forgotten.
Lugo evocative and very photographic, also offers a wonderful overview of the area below.
Continuing to discover this remote land, we have been to Limeni, which is perhaps the most charming and welcoming village. It is a stone micro-village located in a bay with turquoise water. Here too many cats, clean and clear sea air, beers and kalamata olives.
It is a call to peace and tranquility. There is a very good fish restaurant. It's called Takis, the tables are almost in the water, the fresh wine and the amazing sardines.
Also take a look at Chief Matapan, where, according to Greek mythology, was the entrance to Hades. Suggestive, lonely, windy. It really feels like embarking on a journey into another dimension. There are beautiful walks that start from this point.
Another enchanting village is Airports, capital of the Mani peninsula, with much of the historic center consisting of stone buildings, the famous turreted houses and characteristic narrow alleys full of flowers and colors that branch off from Athanaton square. The main church of the village is very beautiful, where the four-storey bell tower stands out. There is a bakery run by a beautiful lady who only speaks Greek. The bread and all the other products are superb. Come in, say hello, point your finger and the lady will always understand you.
And then the beaches, I just can't give you any names (apart from new itili, gerolimenas and limeni), because we decided to stop in the places we liked the most without a map. There was no one to ask, so we couldn't find out the name of any beach we visited.
Only the sound of the sea and the mountains. A wonderful journey that I would do again immediately.
