Jaap van 't Veen's photos with the keyword: Mani

In the 19th century Old Kardamyli - or Skardamoula as it was then called - was a fortified settlement of the Troupakides-Mourtzinos family. They asserted their sovereignty over neighbouring areas of the Mani-peninsula. The complex - with the Byzantine Agios Spyridon church and a clutch of abandoned fortified tower-houses (one of them nowadays is a museum) - is surrounded by a defensive wall and can be reached througd a large archway.

Vathia - or Vatheia - is a traditional village in the southernmost tip of the Mani peninsula on the Peloponnese. The village was built from the mid 16th century. In the 19th century the village had about 300 inhabitants, who were mainly farmers and the olive harvest was their main occupation. At the beginning of the 20th century the inhabitants left the village due to poverty and at the end of the eighties of the last century there were hardly any people living there. Nowadays Vathia - often called a ghost town - is almost completely uninhabited. It has about 90 typical tower houses with the typical architecture of the Mani; most of them are empty and partly dilapidated, but in the meantime some have been renovated. The tower houses in Vathia are built like fortresses with two or three floors. The people, at one time, fiercely guarded their land and livelihoods, either from foreign invaders or rival families. The fortress-like houses provided the ideal opportunity to keep a lookout in the case of a potential invasion. The head of each household was considered to be a ‘mini warlord’, who had the interests of the family at the center of his concerns. The fierceness of the people, the rugged terrain and the strategic location of the tower houses helped keep Mani (and Vathia) free from invaders and it even maintained its independence from the Ottoman Empire.. Vathia is built on a hill top in the middle of an impressive landscape with beautiful sea views. It is located halfway between Areopoli and Cape Tenaro.

The picturesque village of Porto Kagio is located in a small bay nearby the southernmost tip of the Mani Peninsula, where the landscape is presented by high barren hills and indented coast with bays. It is the southernmost natural port of mainland Greece. The tiny village is far from civilization, making it peaceful and quiet. Right in front there is a small pebbly beach with crystal-clear waters. The village has always been a very important port. It was already mentioned in the 2nd century AD, when it was known as Psammathous. The modern name comes from the Venetian “Porto Quaglio” and the French (Frankish) “Port des Cailles” (Quail Port). Porto Kagio was the base of the pirate fleet of Lambros Katsonis. Lambros Katsonis sailed from port to port, looting Ottoman boats and trying to get the Greeks to start a revolution. During World War II, it was the place from which a significant number of British soldiers escaped to Egypt.

One of the must see sights in Areopoli is the dual church of Agios Charalambos and Panagia. The church - located in the centre of the town - offers frescoes dating back to 1869. It has an interesting stepped belfry with stone reliefs.

The town of Areopoli is built at the foot of the Elias Mountain at an altitude of 250 meters. According to tradition, the name Areopoli is attributed to the god of war Ares. The village used to be called Tsimova before being renamed to Areopoli in 1912. Like the rest of the Mani settlements, Areopolis is known for its major contribution in the Greek War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire. The Greek War of Independence started in Areopolis on March 17, 1821 by Petros Pierrakos, also known as Petros Mavromichalis, the last bey of Mani. Nowadays Areopoli is a popular holiday destination offering many sights like stone houses, churches, imposing traditional Mani towers and cobblestoned streets. At the central square of the village “Platia Athanaton” one will come across the statue of Petrompeis Mavromichalis, the famous chieftain and offspring of the Mavromichali family. Areopoli is also starting point for a Mani Peninsula-visit.

Lagia is a village in southeast Mani with some stone mansions and a Greek Orthodox Church on the main square. The Church of the Assumption ( Εκκλησία Κοίμησεως της Θεοτόκου ) is built on a slope. Through the door in the tower one will reach a kind of balcony, which gives a view on the beautiful frescoes on the walls and ceiling. A staircase leads to the ground floor of this remarkable village church. The church was constructed about 200 years ago with the full participation of local men and women, with building materials gathered from the surrounding mountains.

Lagia is a village in southeast Mani with some stone mansions and a Greek Orthodox Church on the main square. The church is built on a slope. Through the door in the tower one will reach a kind of balcony, which gives a view on the beautiful frescoes on the walls and ceiling. A staircase leads to the ground floor of this remarkable village church. Sorry but I couldn’t find more information about this church.

Areopoli is a quaint traditional village in the central part of Mani, located at the feet of the Agios Elias mountain. The village is considered being one of the prettiest in Greece. Originally its name was Tsimova, but in 1836 it was renamed Areopoli, after “Ares”, the god of war, to commemorate its role in the Greek War of Independence. Areopoli played a very important role in the Greek liberation fight. On the square of the village, on March 17 of the year 1821, the people of Mani raised the banner signifying the start of the revolution against the Turkish occupation. The flag of the National uprising in Areopoli, nowadays is a relic on display in the National Historical Museum of Athens. Through the years Areopoli developed into a commercial centre of importance for the entire area. It is the ‘capital’ of Mani. The village offers a small historical center with stone built houses and some of the traditional Mani-tower houses (built for social and defensive reasons). Along the main street one comes across the dual churches of Panagia and Charalambos (main image).

Vathia - or Vatheia - is a traditional village in the southernmost tip of the Mani peninsula on the Peloponnese. The village was built from the mid the 16th century, but only in the 18th and 19th century real economic prosperity has come. At that time the village had about 300 inhabitants, who were mainly farmers and the olive harvest was their main occupation. At the beginning of the 20th century the inhabitants left the village due to poverty and at the end of the eighties of the last century there were hardly any people living there. Nowadays Vathia - often called a ghost town - is almost completely uninhabited. It has about 90 typical tower houses with the typical architecture of the Mani; most of them are empty and partly dilapidated, but in the meantime some have been renovated. The tower houses in Vathia are built like fortresses with two or three floors. The people, at one time, fiercely guarded their land and livelihoods, either from foreign invaders or rival families. The fortress-like houses provided the ideal opportunity to keep a lookout in the case of a potential invasion. The head of each household was considered to be a ‘mini warlord’, who had the interests of the family at the center of his concerns. The fierceness of the people, the rugged terrain and the strategic location of the tower houses helped keep Mani (and Vathia) free from invaders and it even maintained its independence from the Ottoman Empire.. Vathia is built on a hill top in the middle of an impressive landscape with beautiful sea views. It is located halfway between Aeropoli and Cape Tenaro.