Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
HIKING THE VÝROS GORGE
The giant
Výros Gorge
plunges down from the summit ridge of Taïyetos to meet the sea just
north of Kardhamýli. Tracks penetrate the gorge from various directions and are well worth a
day or two's exploration. From Kardhamýli, the
kalderími
from the citadel continues to the
church and village of Ayía Sofía, and then proceeds on a mixture of tracks and lanes either
across the plateau up to the hamlet of
Exohóri
, or down into the gorge, where
monasteries
nestle deep at the base of dramatic cliffs. An hour or so inland along the canyon, more
cobbled ways lead up to either Tséria on the north bank (there's a taverna, but no
accommodation) or back towards Exohóri on the south flank, about 10km from Kardhamýli.
Linking any or all of these points is a reasonable day's hiking at most; forays further upstream
require full hiking gear and detailed topographical maps. One bus a day runs to Exohóri from
Kardhamýli (25min), or you can take a taxi, for about €10.
ACCOMMODATION AND EATING
Faraggi
Exohóri
T
27210 73001,
E
hotel-faraggi
@gmail.com. A
large stone house with breathtaking
views of the gorge and six simple, very tasteful rooms.
2
Well placed for walks, or just for enjoying the delicious
food, or drinks and the mountai
n he
ights from the roof
terrace bar. Breakfast included.
€60
garden patio. Balconies and a/c.
€95
Melitsina Village
T
27210 73334,
W
melitsina.com.
This resort village, composed of charming stone studios and
suites, has every sort of facility, including a safe playground,
volleyball court, beach loungers, as well as spacious, self-
catering accommodation with a/c and wi-fi.
Locate
d 2km
north of the village. Buffet breakfast included.
€100
Ì
Notos
T
27210 73730,
W
notoshotel.gr.
Tranquil
and tastefully decorated, the two-person self-catering
studios here come with amenities, such as a/c and phone.
The stone buildings are clustered in a hilly garden enclave,
with wonderful views
over
the whole area. Three nights
minimum for best rate.
€80
Skardamoula's Garden
T
27210 73516,
E
skardamoula
@gmail.com.
An old stone mill, converted into comfortable
self-catering studios and a restaurant on the
groun
d floor.
Located just off the square, 50m from the beach.
€60
EATING AND DRINKING
Kiki
T
27210 73148.
Right on the beach, this is one of the
finest of the traditional tavernas here, featuring genuine
Maniot dishes created from the freshest local produce.
About €10-15 per person.
Daily lunch & dinner.
Ì
Kyria Lela
T
27210 73730.
This beautifully relaxing
spot near the harbour has a flowery setting and wonderful
food at moderate prices, dishes averaging €9. Grilled fish is
the speciality; full meals evening only. Rooms upstairs,
with panoramic balcony.
Daily lunch & dinner.
Spárti (Sparta) and around
The central core of the Peloponnese is the luxuriantly spreading Mount Ménalo; but
due south, in the Lakonian Evrótas valley, are
Spárti
and its Byzantine companion,
Mystra
, both overlooked and sheltered from the west by the massive and astonishing
wall of the
Taïyetos
mountain ridge. Spárti had a big role in the development of
ancient Greece, while Mystra, arrayed in splendour on its own hillside, is one of the
country's most compelling historical sites.
Spárti
Despite lying on the site of the ancient city-state of Sparta, modern
SPÁRTI
, capital of
Lakónia
, has few ancient ruins, and is today merely the organizational centre of a huge
agricultural plain. Spárti's limited appeal is its very ordinariness - its pedestrianized side
streets, café-lined squares, orange trees and evening
vólta
. The reason for coming here is
basically to see
Mystra
, the Byzantine town, 5km to the west, which once controlled
great swaths of the medieval world.
