Kardamyli
Καρδαμύλη
The most popular seaside town in Outer Mani, with stone houses and a pebble beach at the foot of Mount Taygetus, alongside the towers of Old Kardamyli.
Kardamyli lies about 35 km north of Areopoli. It is the ancient town mentioned in Homer's epics, backed by Mount Taygetus and facing the Gulf of Messenia, and it is greener than Deep Mani. On the hillside above the town, Old Kardamyli preserves the 17th- and 18th-century towers and churches of the Trofonis family. The Mourtzinos Tower houses a small exhibition. By the sea there are pebble beaches and a small harbour, along with a good number of restaurants and cafés. Kardamyli is also a hiking hub, with several waymarked trails leading up to the villages and into the Vyros Gorge. The English writer Patrick Leigh Fermor lived nearby in his later years, and book lovers often make a pilgrimage here. Summer brings many visitors, so book accommodation well in advance.
Opening hours
All day