Southeast: Lakonia
Lakonia , the ancient territories of the Spartans, covers the area between the high ridges of Mount Taiyetos and Mount Parnonas and everywhere to the south. Exclude the lush Evrotas valley, with Sparti itself and Mystra, and you are left with a dramatic and underpopulated landscape of harsh mountains and poor, dry, rocky soil. Landforms apart, the highlights here are the extraordinarily preserved Byzantine town of Monemvasia - an essential visit for any tour of the southern Peloponnese - and the aridly remote Mani peninsula, with its bizarre history of violence and piety, of feuds and unique tower-houses and frescoed churches with  © 2003 by Rough Guides Ltd. as trustee for its Authors. Published by Rough Guides. All rights reserved. Rough Guides name is a trademark of Rough Guides Ltd. Buy the book here!
|
barrel roofs. Monemvasia is a regular stop for Flying Dolphin hydrofoils from Pireas and the Argo-Saronic islands, and would make a superb entry point to the peninsula. In summer, the Maniot port of Yithio (Gythion), and Neapoli , south of Monemvasia, are additional stops on the hydrofoil and provide the easiest links to Kythira , technically an Ionian island under the administration of Pireas, but covered - due to its Peloponnesian access - in this section of the guide.
Your Tips For Southeast- Lakonia
|
