Mani Peninsula

We stayed in a tranquil apartment overlooking Neo Otilyo and across the bay to Lemeni.
Our drive around the bottom portion of the Mani was truly spectacular. The bleak and inhospitable terrain offset by gorgeous blue seas and seemingly deserted small stone villages.
This area is described as the bad lands of Greece where warring clans slugged it out from their tower fortresses. While notionally farmers, the residents found that banditry and piracy was much more lucrative. Nowadays only 5000 residents populate the whole peninsular with most residents moving to Athens or immigrant destinations such as Australia in the 20th century.
The photos just can't do justice to this awesome area.
By the way, I forgot to mention that a favorite movie trilogy of mine, Before Sunrise etc, were filmed around Methoni castle, Pylos and the Mani peninsular.Read more