landmark
Mani Peninsula
A wild, remote region of the southern Peloponnese with tower houses, Byzantine churches, and the mythical entrance to Hades at Cape Tainaron.
21 km · about 25 min drive
Peloponnese, Greece · Europe
Kardamýli works well as a base: 30 minutes from Paralía Vérgas, 31km from Diros Caves.
Kardamýli is a town located in Peloponnese, Greece. With a population of 300, it is an important destination in Europe.
On a road trip, Kardamýli sits in Greece, where you drive on the right. It's in the Europe/Athens time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Kardamýli to your route.
Kardamyli (Greek: Καρδαμύλη, variously transliterated as Kardamyle, Cardamyle, Kardhamili, and Kardamili) is a village in Greece on the Mani Peninsula in the southern Peloponnese. It is the seat of the municipality of West Mani in the regional unit of Messenia. It was commonly labelled "Skardamoula" on older maps.
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the Iliad (Book 9), Homer cites Kardamyli as one of the seven cities offered by Agamemnon to Achilles as a condition to rejoin the fight during the Trojan War. The village preserves its ancient name.
The area has several beaches: Ritsa, Belogianni, Salio, Tikla, Megalo Amoni, Mikro Amoni, Masklimitsa. The older town includes a medieval castle and outworks. The imposing Church of Saint Spyridon in the fortified compound of the Mourtzinoi-Troupakis clan was constructed in the 18th century and re-uses some material of ancient and Byzantine origin. Many of the buildings of Old Kardamyli (Pano Kardamyli, or "Upper Kardamyli") were built by the Venetians and feature a mix of traditional Greek and Venetian design. Like that of many Maniot towns, Kardamyli's skyline is dominated by distinctive tower houses. Many were constructed by scions of the Nikliani clans, the mediaeval aristocracy of the Mani.
Kardamyli is a trailhead for many mountain paths, some of which lead to the peak of Mount Taygetus, known locally as Profitis Ilias, "Prophet Elias". Nearby is the Viros Gorge, with a total length of 20 km. The gorge is dry in summer but regularly floods in winter due to snowmelt and heavy rains. Kalamata, Oitylo, Areopoli and the Diros caverns are nearby.
The village of Kalamitsi just outside Kardamyli was the principal home of English writer Patrick Leigh Fermor and his wife Joan in his later years. He was made an honorary citizen of the village for his participation in the Greek Resistance during World War II.
The ashes of the writer Bruce Chatwin were scattered near a Byzantine chapel above the village in 1989.
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Kardamýli offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.
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Kardamýli is located in Peloponnese, Greece, Europe. The coordinates are 36.8878 latitude, 22.2332 longitude.
Kardamýli has a population of approximately 300 people, making it a town in Greece.
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Essential numbers in Greece
Tourist police (English-speaking): 171.
Full driving guide for Greece8 notable places within an hour's drive.
landmark
A wild, remote region of the southern Peloponnese with tower houses, Byzantine churches, and the mythical entrance to Hades at Cape Tainaron.
21 km · about 25 min drive
mountain pass
Legendary mountain road between Sparta and Kalamata, carving through the Langada Gorge over the Taygetus range: hairpins, sheer drops and some of the finest driving scenery in the Peloponnese.
22 km · about 25 min drive
ancient ruins
A spectacular fortified Byzantine ghost city on a steep hillside near Sparta, with churches containing precious medieval frescoes.
24 km · about 30 min drive
photogenic
The old harbour of Areopoli: a handful of stone houses and tavernas set directly on water so clear the fishing boats appear to float in air. Sea turtles cruise the shallows; the Mavromichalis clan tower still guards the bay.
26 km · about 30 min drive
natural wonder
Glide by boat through a flooded subterranean river of stalactites deep in the wild Mani.
31 km · about 35 min drive
waterfall
A hidden gorge in Messenia holding a chain of some 15 waterfalls and jade swimming lakes with names like Kadi and Mavrolimna, linked by ladders and footpaths. Park above Kalochori-Haravgi village and descend into the ravine.
35 km · about 40 min drive
ancient ruins
One of Greece's most complete and least-crowded ancient cities: a vast 4th-century-BC site with an intact stadium, theatre, agora and the massive Arcadian Gate, spread below the village of Mavromati.
42 km · about 50 min drive
castle
A sprawling Venetian sea-fortress juts into the water on a causeway at the Peloponnese's tip.
48 km · about 55 min drive
April to October
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