Undiscovered Greek Gems - Lakonia
84The Peloponnese - The Undiscovered Country
Greece is not a large country, in terms of area or
population, but is crammed with a wealth of sights for the tourist. In terms of
culture, history and natural beauty you could spend a lifetime exploring this
rich corner of the Mediterranean. Whilst
everybody is aware of the Acropolis in Athens,
or the pulsating nightlife of Mykonos, there
are many hidden gems offering a rich experience for the discerning tourist. For
those prepared to think laterally, and stray away from the tourist traps, there
are many places for a unique vacation, at a budget price. Whether your interest
is history, culture, nature or lazing on the beach, Greece will surpass your
expectations.
Trying to pick a few hidden gems is an impossible task, and would be the work of many hubs. Lakonia, making up the southern tip of the Peloponnese, combines ancient history with a pristine environment. A few weeks spent here will reward the tourist with a lifetime worth of memories.
Sparti – The Home of Leonidas and the 300
The modern city of Sparti, built upon the site of Ancient Sparta,
is a laid-back agricultural town. Sparti does not suffer from the influxes of
tourists suffered by the coastal tourist traps, yet is an excellent base for
exploring the Peloponnese. Hotels are
relatively cheap, and some of the backstreet tavernas offer authentic Greek
food for a few Euros. This sleepy town
offers the opportunity to enjoy a quiet break within easy travel of many of the
most beautiful places in Europe, yet most
tourists overlook it.
Whether you hire a car or use public transportation, Sparti
is well service by roads, and Gythio, Monemvasia and the coast are a short
journey. Sparti is a working town, but really picks up at night when the Greeks
recover from a long day’s work with a lazy evening meal with fine wine and good
company. The central square is a wonderful place, surrounded by bustling Tavernas
and clubs, and the chance to enjoy live entertainment at the weekends.
The streets and boulevards are wide and lined with
orange trees. In the spring, the refreshing smell of the orange blossoms mingles
with the heady scent of jasmine. The warm evenings drift into the night, and
the sound of the traditional music drifting from the tavernas contrasts with
the modern music of the café-bars. For an enjoyable evening, the Rodon open-air
cinema is a wonderful place to watch a movie, whilst enjoying a cold beer and popcorn.
Of course, the ancient history hardly needs
explaining, and the ruins of Ancient Sparta lie to the north of the town. There
is little remaining from the time of Leonidas, but the ruins are impressive, and
excavations are ongoing. There is a small museum with some of the many artifacts
discovered by the archaeologists, and the Temple of Apollo
and the Shrine of Artemis offer the chance to sample a taste of Ancient Greece.
Sparti offers more than just ancient history. Byzantine ruins and churches surround the town, and the Independence Day parades, on March 25th, are a time of celebration. The Spartans are proud of their heritage, spanning the centuries, and regard themselves as the true descendents of the 300.
Sparti
Kastorio – History, Nature and dancing
Kastorio is our home village, and it lies at the
centre of the Dimos (municipality) of Pellanas. This market town is sleepy
during the day, but awakens at night, as the local farmers sip ouzo after a day
in the fields and olive groves. Kastorio lies in the mountains, surrounded by
the unique wildlife of the TaygetosMountains. A few kilometres
away from the village lies Pellanas, the birthplace of Beautiful Helen of Troy.
Recent excavations show that Pellanas may have been the site of the palace of Menelaos, ruler of Lakedaimon. The Tholos Tombs at Pellanas may be the final resting place of the 'Long Haired Achaeans' of Homer's Iliad
In Kastorio, forget about the drinking dens of Malia and Mykonos, and sample the authentic Greek way of life. Contrary to popular belief, ‘Traditionally Greek’ does not mean whitewashed houses next to a blue sea. Most of Greece is like Kastorio, and you can enjoy a summer morning rambling in the mountains, returning to the village to contemplate life over a cool drink. The final part of the Kastorio experience is going out for a meal at night, mixing fine Greek village food with music. Inevitability, the wonderfully hospitable people will get you drunk and make you dance.
The Byzantine City of Mystra
Mystra, lying a few kilometres outside Sparti, is
listed as a site of special historical interest by the world Heritage
Foundation, but this site is little known outside Greece. Mystra was once the most
important Byzantine city outside Constantinople, and became known as the
gateway to Greece.
The 15th Century citadel sits astride a precipitous crag with the
city, once housing 14 000 souls, crammed onto the slopes. Occupying a site of
strategic importance, the citadel offers breathtaking views over the lush Evrotas
valley and down towards the Gulf
of Gythio.
Mystra offers a unique mix of old stone ruins, delightfully studded with spring flowers, and the protected nature of the site means that it is home to a rich variety of wildlife, including snakes, ravens, hawks and tortoises. After a day walking through the site in the beautiful and invigorating Greek sun, the local tavernas offer the chance to enjoy an Ouzo, and gaze out over Sparta as the sun sets behind the towering Taygetos Mountains.
The Citadel of Monemvasia
Most think of Greece as the site of rich ancient history, forgetting that it has so much more. The Peloponnese was closely tied to the fortunes of the Byzantine Empire, and the strategic importance of the area led to long and bitter wars between the Byzantines and Venetians. The rocky outcrop of Monemvasia offers a unique holiday experience, contrasting the warm azure seas of the Aegean with Byzantine architecture. The crowded buildings within the walled old town are home to wending streets, packed with shops and tavernas. An evening in Monemvasia is a wonderful experience, a chance to enjoy Greek life without the drunken tourists littering many of the more illustrious spots.
Monemvasia
Gythio - Gateway to the Mani
Gythio is a nice little port, known as the octopus capital of Greece and renowned for the quality of the sea-food. It offers all of the charm of a Greek fishing village with peace and serenity. Nearby Stoupa, whilst beautiful, suffers from an influx of package tourists in the summer. Gythio has a nightlife but is never too crowded, and the many tavernas offer good food at a reasonable price.
Gythio was the port of Ancient Sparta, and Marathonisi Islet is where Beautiful Helen and Paris of Troy consummated their relationship. The many beaches are great for snorkelling, and the seas are warm and serene. Gythio is the gateway to the notorious Mani peninsula, home of abundant wildflowers in the spring and autumn.
Gythio
Lakonia - The Greek Experience
Lakonia truly provides some hidden gems, mixing history, culture and natural beauty with the hospitality of the Greeks. Cheaper than the tourist spots, and closer to the true ideals of Greece, this corner of the Peloponnese provides a unique experience.
- :::Lakonia.org:::tourist & commercial guide of Lakonia - Greece
- Information about Lakonia, Greece.
Explore our site and let us show you the best of Greece. We can help you plan the most wonderful and least expensive vacation. You can rent a car or bike. You can book a hotel, bungalow, appartment or studio, greece, greek, travel, vacation, luxury, - The Wayfarers 2009 Brochure of Walking Vacations
- HOTEL KASTORI GREECE
- Sparti Hotel Reviews. - Travel Library
Comprehensive directory of Sparti Hotels with independent reviews and hotel contact details. Find the official web address, email & phone number for hotels in Sparti.
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Comments
Thanks for dropping by, Frieda - I am starting to enjoy making Babbley-type Hubs. You are more than welcome to visit anytime, and sample some of the unique sights of this wonderful area! :)
That was a really usefulm hub for me thanks. I am actually off to Greece tomorrow, but sadly am on a working trip. Still, it shoudl be good :).
Good stuff BristoBoy - I hope that you manage to find a little time to relax and enjoy an Ouzo or two. It is coming up to Greek Easter here, so everybody is getting into holiday mode :)
Just to annoy you - the weather forecast is atrocious over the next couple of days. Bring a waterproof coat ;)
Great hub! If and whenever I get to another country I prefer the quieter, tourist-free areas for undiluted immersion in the culture and history. Every town or county has its draws. Thanks for this well-written piece on your area.
Thanks for dropping by, Cathy - I also like the quiet life, away from the tourist hordes. Greece is so much more than the Acropolis and the Islands. I am biased, but I love the mountains and the scenery here - beaches are nice, but they do get tiresome after a while!
Glad that you enjoyed the Hub.
Someday I'll visit your patch of heaven, but for now your delightful glimpses will have to do. How lucky you are to live there! I too prefer places off the tourist track, and those described here will be on my must-see list!
What a joyful morning ride into Greece! I so dig the whole country, and you are right, it's a lot more than the islands and Athens (though these are wunneful!). In a way, I feel a bit like that about my own country. It's mostly popular for sun and beaches and siesta and bullfighting and sangria, but in truth it's so much more!
Thanks for the visuals!
Thanks JamaGenee - you are welcome anytime! This area of Greece was traditionally very poor, but the local authorities finally realised that we are blessed with beauty and history. I talked to an Austrian guy a few months ago, who has lived in many places in Europe - he believes that the Peloponnese has the best quality of life!
Hi Elena - always good to see my favourite beautiful Spanish lady! I think that you would love it over here - watching the sunset, sipping an Ouzo and talking about the finer things in life! You are welcome anytime :)
I dearly wish to visit Spain one day - I love Islamic history, so would like to tour Andalucia. Seeing Picasso's Guernica is an ambition; so is watching a match at the Nou Camp :)
These hubs frustrate me so much. You do such a good job that it makes me long to be back in your beautiful country. Not so sure we'll make it this year though, with the state of the economy.
Sorry about that, Magic Bus - the economy is very frustrating at the moment.
If it helps, my brother-in-law booked a cheap package holiday in Stoupa and used that as a base to explore - cheaper than booking flights. They are offering some cut price bargains at the moment - let me know if you need any info at this end. :)
Wow I am even more enchanted than before. It's like a dream Sufidreamer
Great to see you, blondepoet - thanks for your kind words. It is like a dream - sometimes life can be a little tough here, but there is always time to appreciate the sunset, talk with friends and dance.
There is the Ouzo, too :)
Great hub and I love history so just love the read but those photos are something else, deff would love to visit it, someday !
Thanks for the kind words, badcompany - you are welcome over here anytime. If you bring a bottle of Irish single malt, even more so :)
There is certainly plenty of history here for you.
Sufi
This was a thoroughly satisfying read. Better than travelogues that usually suffer from lack of meat and sensitivity. I can tell you love the place and I can see why. And oh great pictures, too! Thanks for sharing :D
Thanks, Cris - your kind comment means a lot :)
I reckon that you would like the Rodon cinema - a cinema where you can watch an old movie with a pack of cigarettes and a cold beer. That is what I call civilised!
It certainly is a beautiful part of the world - I love to travel, but plan to call this place home for a long time!
Aww Sufi, do you really have to tell me about the Rodon cinema? (I imagine it to be something similar to Cinema Paradiso, have you seen it?) Now I'm sure I'm envious. I was not quite as certain when I first read this but now I'm dead sure! Now I'm gonna have to see Clash of the Titans! LOL
Lucky is the man who finds his place in the sun! :D
lol - I have not seen the film, but I have heard of it. Sounds like a similar place - the family that own the Rodon are true movie fans and are not interested in the latest releases.
Last year, they showed a lot of Chaplin films - watching a classic comedy with a pack of smokes, the sun going down behind the mountains and the swallows flying overhead is as good as it gets.
Clash of the Titans is a superb film - enjoy! You are not doing too badly with your favourite coffee shop - it is good to sit and watch the world go by.
You're heartless! Now I'd say a prayer to Zeus and have him throw a thunderbolt your way - and I bet if there's one being who knows Greece... he wont miss!
And I just might flag this hub! Ha!
:D :D :D
Sorry Cris - Could not resist. No kidding, I was about ten metres away from a lightning strike earlier in the year - are you sure that you have not been making secret sacrifices to Zeus already?
You know that you are welcome here anytime :)
No i was not, I was busy offering myself to Aphrodite! LOL Really, that close? Didn't I say you're one lucky fella?
Oh I know, I'm welcome to thumb this down anytime! :D
PS I don't usually get over petty things that upset me easily :D
It was a little scary - I was up an olive tree at the time, and it came from nowhere. Aphrodite, eh? We had an earthquake last year - it must have been you making the earth move ;)
ROFL - I meant that you are welcome in Greece anytime - we have plenty of room for guests!
Must remember to be extra nice to you - you have some influential friends in high places.
What a wonderful, informative and pictoral display of your beautiful part of the world. Hope to get there in person someday. Everyone I know that has visited Greece loves it. Will forward this to people who have been there and inquire if they have enjoyed this part of Greece. You are so fortunate to be able to call this home!
Good. I see you're making amends already - hell yeah I can make the earth move!
And I was about to make the first of a thousand thumbs down, good thing you made clear your invitation - again, you are very lucky!
Ah my friends, if only they don't covet, morph and have sex all over the Greek Isles...
:D :D
Hi Peggy - Thanks for dropping by and leaving such a nice comment. We are indeed lucky, and enjoy our simple life here. Away from the stress of the UK.
Must agree, Cris - it is difficult to go anywhere without tripping over cavorting Gods. We were thinking of sending some of the excess Gods and Goddesses over to the Philippines - Expect the Fed-Ex parcel soon.
One thing that I have learned in Greece is never to tempt the fates - they live here and it comes back to bite you on the ass.
Don't bother sending them through Fed-Ex or email. We have enough folklore to confuse the children as it is! What more if you add mythology into the mix? So no thanks.
Good for you! And there are how many fates, three? Three fates for one sorry ass, now that would be unlucky! :D
No worries - sadly, that means that Aphrodite will have to stay here with me. I will take good care of her.
Three fates, and they keep laughing at me. Are you sure that you don't want one?
Keeping your Hub as a guide I will make sure to visit the heaven you have just described whenever I travel to Greece. Believe it or not Greece was just Greece for me. I didn't know much or rather anything else about it. I just knew that it is a country in the south of Europe. Thanks to you, I know more about it now!
Thanks, packerpack - your kind words are appreciated.
There are so many hidden depths to Greece, things that you do not see in the movies. Feel free to get in touch when you visit, and we will try our best to point you in the right direction.
Thanks that was so nice of you
No problem - we want to make sure that you leave Greece with only good memories!
I thought I was grrrrr
You know that you are the only one for me - not bogus BP ;)
Bookmarking this one for when we go to Greece! Some great travel ideas.
Thanks, Jerilee
Drops us a line before you come - we can point to some good information and places to see.
Is this part of Greece more like the Greek Islands or the Greek mainland? I know they both have a different feel. I do love Greece though thanks for sharing this area with me.
Hi Ethel - sorry about the late reply - I missed your comment amidst yesterday's comedy!
It is probably a mixture of the two. The rural areas, and most of the little fishing villages, are probably closest to Crete in nature. The towns are pretty modern, with a more Athenian feel (Don't tell the Spartans I said that - there is still a little rivalry!). Whether you want nature, beaches or culture, we have plenty here.
Thanks for visiting :)
Awesome hub sufidreamer.
sufidreamer, all I can say is "WOW". Beautiful scenery, beautfiul countryside, beautiful waters, awesome beaches. Awesome hub sufidreamer.
Thanks, folks - glad that you enjoyed the photos. :D
It really is a wonderful part of the world, and we are not moving anytime soon!
This is soooo beautiful! I am drawn in completely.. Definitely some place I will see. I love the relaxed nature of it. Beauty, culture, and lovely local warmth!
Sufi- your expression of Greece, is a journey lived in itself! I am attracted to travel areas that have a seasoned, yet natural, real, experience!
I have greatly enjoyed this journey. : )
Thanks for dropping by, Jodi - always lovely to see you. Really glad that you enjoyed the photos. It really is a beautiful part of the world, and you are welcome anytime ;)
I will hopefully have a couple more photo hubs up soon, time permitting, revealing a few more hidden delights of the area.
Thanks again for the kind words! 2am here, so off to bed - see you soon :)
There are so many undiscovered and underrated places that need some reviews!
Thanks for visiting, iasmina - there are certainly many hidden treasures in this part of the world! There is so much to Greece outside Athens and the islands!
I love to go off the beaten path while visiting other countries. Thank you for pointing to some 'hidden' gems of Greece. I love your photo with the snowy mountains in the background. I wish to go skiing in Greece sometime. This has to be an awesome experience.
Thanks, euro-pen.
Same here - it is far better to stay away from the crowded and expensive tourist spots! There are some ski-resorts in the Northern Peloponnese - Trikala is a beautiful place - and Northern Greece has a fairly long ski-season.
Feel free to PM if you need any advice!
The Mystras photos are beautiful.
Thanks, Lisa - it really is a beautiful place. I really should do a photo hub about it, but I already have such a backlog!
I very much enjoyed this article. I would love to visit your area some day. I have only been to Athens and have long wanted to come back and get off the beaten path. You are an excellent writer and you made fine choices of photographs. Thanks for the tasty tour!
Thanks for the kind words, James - that means a lot :)
It certainly has a lot of hidden history - for a scholar such as yourself, there is a good mixture of the ancient and Byzantine. We have some very old churches with icons painted centuries ago!
You are welcome anytime :)
Thanks. Hopefully, I'll make it there one of these days. :)
We can only hope - there is plenty to see, and it is a good place to unwind and relax :)
Very nice. I can understand the attraction. I friend married a Greek girl of Lefkas in a tiny church on top of a mountain and the party was a proper local affair. I like Greece and the Greek people.
Kate
Hi Kate, thanks for dropping by!
It certainly beats sunny Morecambe, and the laid-back lifestyle suits us very well. Greek weddings are always a great occasion, usually involving copious quantities of wine and Ouzo :D
What a wonderfully descriptive and pictorial of select locations of Greece!! I would dearly love to visit The Byzantine city of Mystra steeped in ancient history and ruins....very beautiful!! Thank you for the tour! Peace ~ K
Thanks, Kim
Mystra certainly is a beautiful place, but few people know tat it exists, If you go at the right time, you can have the place to yourself and hear the voices of history whispering in the olive groves.
You are welcome anytime :)
I dream of going to Greece one day. Thank you for the beautiful pictures! The article is great!
Thanks for visiting and for the kind words, Jane - you are welcome anytime and let us know if you need any advice about the best place to visit :)
very well researched and helpful...plus the pictures take your breath away! now I know where to plan my next holiday! thanks for sharing..
Hi myownworld - thanks for the kind words :)
You are welcome anytime - we can sit and drink Ouzo as the sun sets over the mountains. I have no plans to return to the UK - life here suits me just fine :D
Frieda Babbley says:
8 months ago
Magnificent. Your descriptions make me feel like I was really there. Ah, one day... Gorgeous photos as well. You are so lucky.