Inside the heart of Laconian Mani, stands Vathia, dominated and unaltered in the centuries. Seeing Vathia, it travels you to previous times where the villagers heroicaly defied the attacks of the barbarians, fortified in their amazing tower houses. Vathia, a mother of tradition, is one of the most beautiful and imposing settlements in Lakoniki Mani.
The settlement of Vathia, as it suddenly emerges from a passage of the road, revealing the image of an acropolis that has beed erected on the top of a hill. Vathia is about 2 km away from the sea, giving visitor the chance to enjoy the magnificent view of the Mediterranean Sea.
Vathia is a monument-model of the architectural tradition of the area, during the 18th and 19th centuries, where most of the towers of Vathia were created. The towers of Vathia are greatly imposing and they are unique examples of architecture of falk art fortification, throughout Greece.
The beautiful well-known stone tower houses are found in three-storey and two-storey form, while in other areas of Mani there are towers of more floors. They feature specially designed windows in a characteristic small shape that were used as casemates. Behind them, the fearless Mani inhabitants protected their ancestral land. Fortified in their casemates, they were fighting against relentless invaders such as Turks or the pirates. Also, the Mani people had in their possesion the so-called ”burners” that prevented the enemies from entering the door of the tower. The powerful towers, one by one in the line, made an almighty wall which, over the years, caused fear to every aspiring conqueror.
Int he 20th century, Vathia suffered a heavy damage. This damage did not come from an enemy or attacker but from the people who preferred urbanization, and moved to cities. Vathia, until the year 1980, had almost deserted.
Nevertheless, thanks to the actions of the Greek National Tourism Organization (EOT) and the restoration of many tower-houses, (especially during the 1980s), due to creation of tourist accomodation, some thing were kept alive. With the above actions, not only some crumbling towers have survived, but the previously forgotten, beautiful corner of Laconian Mani emerged.
If you visit Vathia during the summer you will find exactly what you need. You can enjoy the summer sun of Mani and swim in the nearby beaches. These are Exo Kapoi and Kapoi, as well as the well-known Marmari along with the two beaches further south and also Porto Cayo.
Vathia is located to the south of the famous Cape Tainaro (on the middle leg of Peloponesse). It is about 92 km away from Sparta which is the capital of the Prefecture of Laconia. It is also 59 km away from the seaside Gythio and 33 km from Areopoli.
At 10 km you will find the unique Gerolimenas seaside, while at 26 km you will find the famous caves of Diros. The distance from Athens to Vathia, through Sparta and Gythio, is about 305 km.
You can find affordable prices in accommodation and traditional guesthouses in Mani, Areopoli, Gythio, Grafiko Limeni and Sparta.
