Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Stoupa is 1km west of the main Areopoli- Kalamata road, connected by roads both north
and south of town. Both roads lead to the larger of Stoupa's main beaches - a crescent of
golden sand. There is no tourist office.
Katerina's Supermarket
(
27210 77777)
Doubles as the post office; it also changes
money and sells phonecards.
hire, excursions to sites, ferry and air tickets. Also has a good book exchange.
Getting There & Away
Stoupa is on the main Itilo-Kalamata bus route. One bus (two in summer) heads daily to
Itilo (40 minutes) and around four to Kalamata (€4.40, 1½ hours). There are bus stops at
the junctions of both the southern and northern approach roads, but the buses don't go in-
to town.
Kardamyli Καρδαμύλη
POP 300
It's easy to see why Kardamyli (kahr-dah-
mee
-lih) was one of the seven cities offered to
Achilles by Agamemnon. This tiny village has one of the prettiest settings in the Pelo-
ponnese, nestled between the blue waters of the Messinian Gulf and the Taÿgetos Moun-
tains. The
Vyros Gorge
, which emerges just north of town, runs to the foot of
Mt Profitis
Ilias
(2407m), the highest peak of the Taÿgetos. Today the gorge and surrounding areas
are very popular with hikers. Visitor numbers can swell in summer. More recently, Kar-
damyli has been put on the map by the American film industry - it was the setting for the
third of the
Before
series featuring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy (
Before Midnight,
re-
leased in 2013).
Activities
Hiking has become Kardamyli's biggest drawcard. The hills behind the village are criss-
crossed with an extensive network of colour-coded walking trails. Many guesthouses in
the village can supply you with route maps (of varying detail and quality). Most of the
hikes around here are strenuous, so strong footwear is essential to support your ankles on
the often relentlessly rough ground, particularly if you venture into the boulder-strewn
gorge itself. You will also need to carry plenty of drinking water.
