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In the heart of the Laconian Mani, Vathia strongly resists the passage of time, offering a journey to times when its inhabitants defended themselves against would-be invaders, fortified in their imposing fortified tower houses.
Vathia is one of the most impressive traditional settlements and certainly the most photographed in the entire Laconian Mani.
The settlement of Vathia as it suddenly appears in one of the bends of the road, looks like an acropolis built on top of a hill and is located just 2 km from the sea, offering a unique view of the Mediterranean Sea.
The towers of Vathia
The whole settlement is a monument of the architectural tradition of the wider region during the 18th and 19th centuries, the period during which most of the towers of Vathia were built. These towers are unique examples of popular fortification architecture in the whole of Greece.
The now known pyrgospitae are two or three-storey stone buildings, in other areas of Mani they may have more floors, which have very small and characteristic windows. These served mainly as battlements behind which the inhabitants and defenders of the tower and the area would fortify themselves against invaders such as the Turks or even pirates.
In addition, several of them also had zematis to prevent entry through the door of the tower. The presence of such towers at a short distance from each other created an impregnable wall of protection, which in time became a deterrent to any would-be conqueror.
Vathia in the 20th century
During the 20th century, however, Vathia was struck by an enemy that proved stronger than the invaders until then and by 1980 it had managed to be almost deserted.
The urbanization drove the inhabitants of Vathia to the big cities but fortunately, thanks to the efforts of the Greek National Tourism Organization and the restoration of several tower houses during the 80s, for the creation of tourist accommodation, some things were not completely lost.
This move therefore not only saved some well-preserved or crumbling towers of Vathia, but also brought to the surface this previously forgotten and beautiful corner of the Laconian Mani.
If you find yourself in Vathia in the summer, you can swim at the nearby beaches of Kapoi and Exo Kapoi, as well as at the famous Marmari and its two beaches further south and Porto Kagio.
Access and distances to the Laconian Mani and Vathia
Vathia is located at the southern end of Cape Taenaro (the middle “leg” of the Peloponnese). It is 92 km from the capital of the prefecture Sparta, 33 km from Areopolis and 59 km from the coastal town of Gythio.
At a distance of 10 km you can visit the picturesque and seaside Gerolimenas , while just 26 km away you can visit the caves of unique beauty of Dirou!
The distance of Vathia from Athens, via Sparta and Gythio, is 305 km.
Accommodation in Mani and Vathia
Find the best prices from hotels and traditional guesthouses in Mani , Gythio, Areopolis, the picturesque seaside town of Limeni and Sparta.
Photos from Vathia
text/photos: Yannis Tsouratzis
Useful phone numbers Vathia Mani
(Tel. Code: 27330)
- ORDER. SETTLEMENT OF WATHIA: 55244
- CAVES OF DIROS: 52222 & 52223
- Areopolis Police: 51209 & 51209 51355
- FIRE DEPARTMENT: 52199
- AREOPOLIS HEALTH CENTER: 51242 & 51259
- PERIPHERAL MEDICAL CENTRE IN GEROLITHENIA: 54201
- OITILO MEDICAL CENTRE: 59256
Map ofθειας
Alepotrypa cave, Αρεόπολης – Γερολιμένα, Βελούσι, Καλός, Oitylos Municipal Unit, Municipality of East Mani, Laconia Regional Unit, Peloponnese Region, Peloponnese, Western Greece and the Ionian, 230 63, Greece
Λακωνική Μάνη / Lakonian Mani
Monemvasia, Gefyra, Municipality of Monemvasia, Laconia Regional Unit, Peloponnese Region, Peloponnese, Western Greece and the Ionian, 230 70, Greece
Gythio, Gytheio Municipal Unit, Municipality of East Mani, Laconia Regional Unit, Peloponnese Region, Peloponnese, Western Greece and the Ionian, 232 00, Greece
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