Limeni Mani Peninsula

Limeni (in Greek it means Porto) is a delightful village that we find in the Mani Peninsula in the southern part of the Peloponnese on the west coast less than five kilometers from the capital Aeropoli, but we will tell you about it later. Limeni is actually considered the port of the capital.

An area with wild nature and shocking beauty, where unique traditions still resist and the weight of history is present in every corner. A small secret treasure chest that has not yet become a mass tourism destination and an excellent base for a traveling holiday in the Mani region and Laconia. The most striking thing about Limeni is the color of the sea, an almost unreal sparkling blue where turtles love to swim. In reality the village is very small, you won't find many shops but it is perfect for enjoying fresh fish, local delicacies and classic Greek cuisine or for sipping a drink or a coffee with a crazy sea view.

There is a fascinating story surrounding Limeni. Here is the home of the Mavromichalides family, a powerful lineage that ruled the island, highly regarded for its importance and support in the Greek liberation struggle of 1821. In the 14th century when the Turks began their siege and plunder of Eastern Thrace, many families of Greek origin attempted to escape. Many managed to take a boat and head towards the Mani. Here an orphan called Michali found shelter and the inhabitants took care of him, renaming him Mavromichalies because due to the dark clothes worn during periods of mourning, the orphans were called Mavros (in Greek it means black). Right here the generations of Michalis the orphan established their stronghold by fortifying the village and imposing port taxes during the period of Venetian domination, thus enriching the family and the area.

Arriving at the village you will be struck not only by the water with incredible shades, but also by the imposing stone towers built along the coast. The most famous is the tower of Petrobeys Mavromichlis, war hero of Greek independence, with its four floors with arched windows. The interior of the town, however, is a succession of small alleys surrounded by houses with the traditional architecture of the Mani area made of stone with high square towers, arches on the doors and small windows, a natural catapult into the past.

The inhabitants of the area are very devout and religion is still very much felt in these parts and this is demonstrated by the presence of numerous chapels such as that of Agios Sostis and Agios Nicola, ancient Byzantine style churches, as well as the abandoned monastery of Panagia Vretti with a bell tower which rises on the seashore.

There are many things to do during your stay in Limeni, such as visiting the Neo Otilio village at 240 meters above sea level with classic architecture and where you can find a beautiful sandy beach on the lower coast. especially preferred by locals for a regenerating swim.

Going north instead you come across Stoupa, the nerve center for nightlife where you will find everything from shops, markets, taverns, bars and clubs for a lively evening and could a beautiful beach be missing? Of course not, here you can relax on Kalogria beach with its white sand and transparent waters fed by the underwater springs of Mount Taygetos. On the southern end, the Kazantzakis Cave is also visible from the sea.

A few kilometers away is the capital of Western Mani Aeropoli. A delightful holiday resort in the classic local rock style, with a historic center that looks like a time machine. Small cafes, typical taverns with chairs and tables in a thousand colours, paved alleys, souvenir shops, in short, everything you could want for a nice walk and to savor the local cuisine.

About fifteen kilometers away we encounter the Diros Caves which, it is said, holds the most beautiful stalactites in Greece. Discovered in 1900, they are 14 kilometers long but only 1500 meters can be visited by boat and 200 on foot. A nice alternative to a lazy day at the beach.

A visit to the Dekoulou Monastery near Itylo is another good alternative, right here the heads of the Mani families signed the pact to rebel against the Turks in 1770. Inside are ancient and evocative frescoes.

Finally, let's also take a look at the Chielefà Fortress, built in 1670 by the Ottomans in order to have control over the entire region and prevent the Maniots from escaping from the territories, but it was of no use as the rebels conquered it in 1770 and drove out the invaders.

Let's now move on for sea lovers to the Limeni beaches. Let's start with Itili Tsipa right at the beginning of the town, equipped with sunbeds and umbrellas as well as a pleasant tavern where you can have lunch in front of a wonderful sea. The beach is sandy and extends for about 2 km. A wreck with amphorae dating back to the 2nd century BC was found in its waters.

Xotasia beach, on the other hand, is a bit further away, about fifteen kilometers from Limeni, but if you love rocks you absolutely cannot ignore it. The colors of the sea are breathtaking. It's obviously not equipped but it has a small tavern with really fresh fish.

Finally, if you are completely lazy, you can always stay on the beach in the village, in particular the most popular ones are the strip in front of the Thodora Tavern or in front of the Mani Water Sport where it is very easy to meet sea turtles.

Getting to Limeni is not difficult, certainly a little demanding, but the beauty of a holiday in the Peloponnese is also the journey itself which will take you to discover a land that is still authentic. Without a doubt the best choice is to have a rental car or arrive by ship to Patras with your own car.

The nearest airport is Kalamata which is about ninety kilometers away. You can also opt to get to Athens, it is a little longer but will allow you to make wonderful stops such as Mycenae rather than Monemvasia for example.

Public transport is not very efficient according to residents, the journeys are quite limited but still doable if you have time to dedicate to travel.