Vathia and Cape Tenaro Mani

The main fame of Greece is undoubtedly due to its many beautiful islands and its important archaeological sites, but Greece is not only this, in the southern part of the Peloponnese the mainland, so to speak, offers a strip of territory to say the least magnificent both from a cultural and landscape point of view, we are talking about the Mani and all its wonderful secrets.

First we want to talk to you about Vathia. It is located southwest towards the tip where the peninsula ends, about thirty-four kilometers from the capital Aeropoli. The journey to get there will already make you discover remote and evocative places but when you reach Vathia by climbing into the mountains then you will truly understand what ancient and lost means.

A now almost deserted town where there is a group of better preserved tower houses which reflect the soul of Mani. Only in this part of Greece will you be able to come across this architecture and you will understand why below. Their structure reflects exactly what happened in the past. Until 1700 the entire Mani area was isolated from the rest of Greece as it proclaimed itself independent, pursuing a policy of civil strife and guerrilla warfare in order to govern the neighboring cities. They were real small fortresses three or four floors high that rose towards the sky in the highest parts of the hills, conforming to the territory and merging into a single whole where nothing was missing and the inhabitants could take refuge to counteract the invaders of turn and resist even long sieges. The shape and height defined the authority and wealth of the family that occupied it. To date, some have been renovated in compliance with the initial project and are used as holiday homes. The colors that surround the area between sunburned brambles and the sparkling blue of the sea create an almost surreal landscape. There are around 800 of them and all are built with the same type of stone which has the same color as the earth.

Walking among the ruined towers you feel a strange, almost disturbing sensation as if at any moment a spirit of some leader could appear, a bit like the same perception you can feel in the old town of Rhodes in the evening, fascinating on the one hand but also a little distressing. However, don't stop at this disturbance, it is definitely worth taking a walk and breathing in that ancient atmosphere not to mention the panorama that can be admired from this hill.

Going down five kilometers from the Vathia village, you can also enjoy a seaside break by reaching Marmari beach. The only one with a sandy coast in the whole area surrounded by barren and sun-baked land, equipped with a few sunbeds and umbrellas and some typical taverns where you can indulge in local delicacies and classic Greek cuisine. It goes without saying that the sea is crazy, transparent and with a seabed that slopes down so it's perfect for those who love swimming and relaxing.

Therefore always going south we find Cape Tenaro also called Cape Matapan the southernmost point of Continental Greece, which according to the ancients was the entrance to Hades where Orpheus entered to look for Eurydice. The border between the kingdom of the living and the kingdom of the dead, a part of the Mani of extraordinary natural beauty where you can also visit the ancient temple of Poseidon built by the Spartans right above the cave where the entrance to the kingdom of the dead was located, a stop absolutely not to be missed. Only the journey is magic, a succession of coves where you can enjoy a swim, and remote corners where man has not yet put his consumerist paws and we hope it will remain so.

Also not to be missed is the Capo Tenaro lighthouse, which is a little challenging to reach but offers a panorama that will leave you speechless where there is only nature and history. First of all you have to get to the last car park and leave your vehicle there. On the right there is a dirt road path which is easy to follow for about an hour. After the first descent you will find a beautiful inlet where you can also stop for a nice refreshing swim, while continuing you will come across ancient mosaics dating back to Roman times. Continuing among extraordinary colors, you arrive at the lighthouse where the Ionian Sea meets the Aegean Sea and Africa right in front. If you are adventurous go there at sunset it will be an unforgettable experience.

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