Southern Peloponnese Itinerary

Southern Peloponnese Itinerary

The Southern Peloponnese is a relatively uncrowded region, and you'll appreciate it most if you take time to linger in a village or savor the landscape over a picnic lunch. A short visit forces you to make some difficult choices: any of the four areas covered in this chapter can be explored in a few days, but in that time you may be tempted to explore more than one region. The suggested three-day itinerary has several options and takes in highlights of several regions, but you're moving around quickly. An eight-day tour gives you time to appreciate all the different regions.

If You Have 3 Days

On a three-day trip, you might make a quick visit to Tripoli, from where you can continue to the Arcadian mountain village of Andritsena and the Temple of Apollo at Bassae. These places and a string of other mountain villages -- Stemnitsa, Dimitsana, and Karitena -- can be visited in a full day. On the second day, head south through Sparta and the spectacular Byzantine ruins of Mystras to the harbor town of Gythion and the rugged Mani.

Continue to the medieval town of Monemvassia on the third day. As an alternative route, on the second day go southwest from Andritsena through Kalamata to the nearby ruins of Ancient Messene and from there west to Pylos and the resort town of Methoni. On the third day retrace your steps through Kalamata and then drop south into the Mani, with an overnight in Kardamyli or Areopolis.

If You Have 5 Days

Pass through Tripoli and explore the Taygettus mountain villages of Stemnitsa, Dimitsana, Karitena, and Andritsena and the Temple of Apollo at Bassae. Spend the night in the fresh, cool air of Dimitsana or Andritsena, then descend to Kalamata and continue west to the ancient Mycenaean Nestor's Palace and Pylos, with its beautiful bay, for a night in the pleasantly low-key resort of Methoni, dominated by a remarkable Venetian fortress.

Then it's on to the Mani, where you can settle for at least two days in Kardamyli, Areopolis, or one of the character-filled hotels around Vathia. From there, continue toSparta and the Byzantine city of Mystras, and spend your final night in medieval Monemvassia, carved out of rock and set high above the crashing surf.

If You Have 8 Days

Begin by exploring Arcadia, passing through Tripoli to the surrounding Taygettus mountain villages of Stemnitsa, Dimitsana, Karitena, and Andritsena and the Temple of Apollo at Bassae. After a day in these pine- and mulberry-scented mountains, make your way west to Messinia's major center, Kalamata, and from there to the ancient Mycenaean Nestor's Palace and the port town of Pylos, for its archaeological museum, fortresses, and a beautiful bay. Drop farther south to Methoni, where a remarkable Venetian fortress presides over a quiet beach and port.

Next venture into the Mani and base yourself for at least two days in Kardamyli or Areopolis, the sun-baked gateway to the Inner Mani. You might want to have a boatman row you along the underground rivers of the eerie Pirgos Dirou Caves and travel all the way down the stark Mani peninsula to Vathia and Cape Tenaro. For Byzantine ruins, cross the Langada Pass from Kalamata to Sparta, where you can stomp about the Laconian plain, seeing the last jewel in the Byzantine crown, Mystras, followed by a sojourn in the colorful Laconian port of Gythion. Then move on to Monemvassia, a medieval town tucked into a rock face.