Gythion (for Sparta), Greece

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Experience the unique hidden town of Gythion in southern Greece, located in the mysterious region of the Mani in the Peloponnese. Views of pastel colored, neo-classical buildings and a long promenade with many tavernas, bars, and shops are among the first sights that will catch your eye. Gythion is the official capital of the Mani, with a history that goes back thousands of years. Phoenicians from Libanon traded Tyrian purple dye they extracted from sea snails, while later, the port of Gythio became the most important port of Sparta. Explore the ruins of historic castles, villages with impressive Mani tower houses, Byzantine churches, monasteries and fascinating landscapes.

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Points of Interest

  • Sparta
  • Mistras
  • Diros Caves
  • Mani
  • Monemvasia

More about Gythion (for Sparta), Greece Points of Interest

  • Sparta

    Sparta was one of the most powerful city-states in Ancient Greece, famous for its powerful army as well as its battles with the city-state of Athens during the Peloponnesian War. Located in a valley on the banks of the Eurotas River, and home to Leonidas, the legendary King of Sparta who fought the Battle of Thermopylae with just 300 Spartan warriors.

  • Mistras

    The Archaeological Site of Mystras was built as an amphitheater around the fortress, erected in 1249 by William of Villehardouin, it was reconquered by the Byzantines, then occupied by the Turks and the Venetians. The city was abandoned in 1832, leaving only the breathtaking medieval ruins, standing in a beautiful landscape.

  • Diros Caves

    The Diros Caves are perhaps the most important natural site in Greece, as the Paleolithic and Neolithic artifacts found here mean that the caves were one of the earliest inhabited places in Greece. The known part of the caves cover an area of around 33,000 square meters. Some say that the caves go even further, maybe as far as Mount Tagetos and Sparta.

  • Mani

    Mani, the southernmost peninsula of the Peloponnese in southern Greece, is a treasure trove of Byzantine and post-Byzantine churches, Frankish castles and stunning scenery. The isolated aspect of this beautiful area meant that some traditions developed separately from the rest of the Peloponnese and Greece. To this day the architecture of the area features tower houses and fortified family dwellings from Ottoman period.

  • Monemvasia

    Liotrivi is a completely restored historic mansion -- once the family home of famous Greek poet Giannis Ritsos and subsequently, until 1967, a traditional olive oil press. Today, it is a fabulous agro-tourism facility. It still produces olive oil, wine, bread and other local specialties, offering visitors the chance to experience Greek culture in the countryside as it was more than 100 years ago.

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