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About 5 miles south of Areopolis are the famous Diros Caves. They are part of an underground river , and the 5,000 meters that have been exposed are fascinating. From the entrance, skillful, whistling gondoliers steer small boats through narrow passageways, around beautiful formations of stalagmites and stalactites, their colors created by rain water penetrating the calcium carbonate in the rock. The caves have served as places of worship in Paleolithic and Neolithic times; they are thought by many to be connected to the Underworld.
The caves were first explored in 1950 by Ioannis and Anna Petrohilos, and the archaeological research that followed brought to light important findings dating from Neolithic times. Now they have become a major tourist attraction and are visited by thousands of travelers each year.
VISITING TIMES:
Caves : daily 8:00 - 15:00
Neolithic Museum:daily 8:30 - 15:00
closed on Mondays
A really impressing place that is included among the 3 best caves in world. Leave a Comment Address: About 5 miles south of Areopolis.Phone: Tel: (27330)-52222Directions: Turn right at the sign, when you enter Pirgos Diroy village.Other Contact: (27330)-52223
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Mani area! The place where I come from.
But...
One needs 3 days just to cross Mani, 3 months to wander around it and 3 lives to understand its soul. One life will be spend to investigate its sea, one to get its mountains and one to get to know its people.
Mani, a barren land in Laconia - Greece.
The towers of the Mani are well-known. Made of stone and fearless souls. Men harder than the stones around them. You see one tower, then another and another. Hard stones, naked hillsides. Bays and coves torn by the sea and the wind. Rocks, stone walls, prickly pears and some olive trees. Deserted beaches for solitary roaming. The Diros caves. Many-splendoured colours. Stalactites and stalagmites form figures in a tight embrace. Awe and wonder. Githio, Sparta’s picturesque port, where you can enjoy a glass of ouzo and roasted octopus in one of the many taverns. Honour and bravery. The courage of the Maniots is legendary. Ancestral glory. Proud beings, these Maniots...
Come and meet us!
Come and visit proud Mani that never subjugated to any invaders.
-You will watch the modern history of Greece in one of its sun-lit areas where the old borders the new, where the nature remained clean and virgin, where the sea meets the mountains!
-You will find the world’s most beautiful floating caves, the unusual architectural structures, the houses that look like towers and settlements like fortresses! Their churches are decorated with most splendid frescoes.
-You will walk along the old and narrow stone paths of traditional villages, see the Taygetos gorges, try and enjoy the local olive oil, paste meat, honey and Taygetos mountain tea, cookies (diples), herbs and fresh fish.
-You will enjoy the hospitality of people who remained pure and unspoiled, who follow the traditional customs and habits, people whose word costs as much as any legal document.
Visit, Githio, Skoutari, Kotronas, Kokkala, Areopoli, Diros, Vathia, Marmari, Porto Cayo, Plaka, Kardamili
and meet us! Leave a Comment
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The castle of Mistras was built in 1249. It was built by the Franks who were trying to establish their rule over the region of the Peloponnese. They chose this site because it was easily defensible as it is inaccessible from the south and southwest where rocky cliffs fall way into a ravine, this made it safe from invasion. Ten years later in 1259, the Franks were defeated by the Greeks at Pelagonia, this forced them to hand over Mistras to the Greeks. Mistras would soon become the center of civilization and Byzantine life in that area. Soon Mistras had a population of 42,000 people. Houses and monasteries were built and the city flourished during the 15th century. It existed as the Byzantine capital of the Peloponnese for two centuries.
The ancient Byzantine site of Mistras is located about 6 kilometers northwest of Sparta (Sparti). As you approach Mistras (a medieval city built on a steep foothill of the northern slopes of Mount Taigetos), you enter through a castle gate and start wandering up the rocky paths in this ancient city. You are lead up the mountain by the narrow, rocky, worn passageways. As you travel upwards, you pass churches, monasteries and storied houses. One of the most elaborate monasteries at Mistras is the Pantanassa (which can be seen in the picture below). The churches are filled with beautiful icons and ancient frescoes painted on the walls. The summit of Mistras stands 621 meters (2,070 ft.) above sea level. There you will find the great fortress crowning the summit which was initially built as a stronghold against the enemy. If you want to explore Byzantine Greece, you must absolutely pay a visit to Mistras! Leave a Comment Address: 6 kilometers northwest of Sparta (Sparti).Phone: +30-27310-93377Directions: When you arrive at Sparta, follow the signs pointing to Mystras.Website: http://www.culture.gr/2/21/212/21205a/e212ea01.htm Other Contact: summer opening hours:8:00-19:00
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The old town of (Medieval) Monemvasia sends you back to the past times. Ideal place for romantic walks. It has a class! It has a style! And it is a magical place!
If you are lucky, find a table at the Malvasia hotel's cafe the late afternoon and listen to the classical music, while you are gazing at the sea and the roofs of other houses. Leave a Comment Address: Old town is climbed on the Monevasia rock
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What a suprise, entry to Monemvasia was free when we visited. We arrived before any coaches and it was extremely quiet and tranquil.
A fortified rock, totally unassailable with only one entrance, it was almost impossible to enter without being noticed.
There is a causeway to the rock from Gefira (modern Monemvasia) and the medieval town is practically invisible until you pass through a tunnel in a fortifying wall and emerge on the other side.
Most of the lower town has been turned into exclusive accommodation and glossy souvenir shops.The upper town is quite a trek and is all but ruins apart from the Church of Agia Sofia, on the cliff edge.
Monemvasia belonged to the mainland until an earthquake in AD 375. seperated it. It has suffered a series of invasions from Franks, Venetians and Turks.
Nowadays it is one of Greece's premier tourist spots. Leave a Comment Address: LaconiaDirections: East of Githion and north of Neapoli on the eastern Peloponnesian prong.
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Though the eastern part of Laconia is mountainous, it is not as desolated as Mani, its western part. Most of the terraced slopes are well maintained and bear their crop waiting to be collected. It is not wealthy but it seems that the people can make a living, which is not the case in Mani. Leave a Comment
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In the mountain villages, the houses are built tight to one another but no house tower like in Mani. It does not seem that the families had to fight each other to get enough for their living! Compared to harsh Mani, this is a nice country! Leave a Comment
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Looking more closely at a village confirms that this part of Laconia is very different from Mani. There are no half-abandoned (or completely abandoned) houses, none has a roof missing. There are even new houses being built. On the other hand, while Mani is now developing tourism; because of its special character, eastern Laconia remains a little more backwards, not changing much. Leave a Comment
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on February 27, 2003
on April 28, 2005
on July 14, 2008
