4 Best Sights in The Peloponnese, Greece

Celebrated travel writer Patrick "Paddy" Leigh Fermor settled in the Mani in 1964, building a beautiful house from scratch just down the road from Kardamyli, in the tiny village of Kalamitsi. Locals knew him by the name "Michalis," a nom de guerre Fermor adopted when, during the Second World War, he disguised himself as a shepherd in the mountains of Crete to help capture a German general. As a travel writer, his writings were no less courageous, and his book on the Mani is still well-thumbed by travelers to the area. His old home was donated to the Benaki Museum upon his death in 2012, and has been sensitively restored—they used old photos to place furniture and antiques in their original spots. Tours are by appointment only on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Visits are limited during summer, when rooms are available to rent for 90 days a year (Jun.–Aug.), to help with the upkeep and restoration of the property. There is a three-night minimum stay.

A sand-and-pebble beach rings a sparkling cove, where the languid, turquoise waters are perfect for swimming and, with offshore rocky outcroppings, a playground for snorkelers. A swim-through sea cave just off the beach is a perfect retreat in which to float and escape the sun. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee); showers; toilets. Best for: snorkeling; swimming.

This fortfied complex dates back to the 17th century, when the Troupakides clan settled in the area. In the following decades the family divided into lineages and sub-lineages, expanding outside the walls into what is now Old Kardamyli. By the time the Mourtzini, descendents of the original settlers, ruled here, the original settlement had developed into the typical fort of an 18th-century clan kapitano (captain). It is divided into three fortified enclosures, including a garden, olive press, smithy, and church, all overseen by a central war tower. Inside is a dinky but interesting museum depicting the history of the clans of the Mani.