Neapoli, Vatika, Maleas
UNEXPLORED DESTINATION FULL OF EMOTIONS
Neapolis was built around 1837 on top of ancient Vion. The town has a strong sense of island beauty with colorful lanes and alley ways. It is also the southernmost harbor on mainland Greece. It is the last town that “bridges”, the Peloponnese with Kythera, Antikythera and Elafonisos. As soon as the traveler passes through the mountains they are met with a vast expanse of flat plains that welcomes people with lush green oliver trees, with picturesque villages that are situated near the peaks of Parnona mountain range. These villages are like looking through windows where one can admire the boundless sea. The area of Vatika has many churches, caves and colorful harbors with sandy beaches, which spread out beautifully and awaits the visitor to discover them. The beaches are ready to expose their beauty and their contrasts to the visitor without haste. Most villages in the area built on slopes and in some cases are hidden from the sea. The villages that are hidden were built in these locations for fear of pirates. The white – washed houses and alleys remind travelers of picturesque islands, the consequences of people having contact with people from different islands. Neapolis is a significant tourist spot for people that seek peace and relaxation. The clean award winning beach situated along the town, is an ideal option for those who do not wish to move around by car.
KASTANIA CAVE
The Aivali Hotel is ideally situated to provide its guests with the chance to take little excursions to tourist attractions of incomparable nature beauty and of historical interest as well.
Kastania is a charming village 4.6 kilometers away from Neapoli where you can visit the cave of San Andreas. Visitors are enchanted with the variety of colours and shapes of the stalagmites and the stalactites dominating the cave due to which this cave is identified as the second richest cave of its kind.
For more information you can visit www.kastaniacave.gr or visitvatika.gr
KASTANIA CAVE
The Aivali Hotel is ideally situated to provide its guests with the chance to take little excursions to tourist attractions of incomparable nature beauty and of historical interest as well.
Kastania is a charming village 4.6 kilometers away from Neapoli where you can visit the cave of San Andreas. Visitors are enchanted with the variety of colours and shapes of the stalagmites and the stalactites dominating the cave due to which this cave is identified as the second richest cave of its kind.
For more information you can visit www.kastaniacave.gr or visitvatika.gr
PARADISI
Halfway through the route from Kastania to Neapoli you can explore the traditional settlement of Paradisi .This dreamscape is in fact an old village lying near perennial plane trees(platanus),running waters and natural springs, its special characteristic being the stoned houses with watermills.
Unfortunately , this village has long been bandoned but visiting it is a unique contact with the past. On the way up from this settlement you can find the Byzantine church of Panagia and rest under the ‘’platanus’’, drinking the absolute pure water of the water springs.
ΑGIA PARASKEUI-MESOCHORI-FARAKLO
Mesochori-Faraklo are two charming villages also known as “The Balconies of Vatika” because not only can you relax there but also admire the spectacular view. In the frame of your eyes Kythera and Elafonisos are “the main characters ” between the sea and the sky. Heading towards Neapoli you can also visit the castle of ‘Agia Parskevi’ , a late Byzantine building probably constructed by the Franks in order to control the bay of the Vatika area.The castle is restored and accessible to visitors.
For more information you can visit visitvatika.gr
ΑGIA PARASKEUI-MESOCHORI-FARAKLO
Mesochori-Faraklo are two charming villages also known as “The Balconies of Vatika” because not only can you relax there but also admire the spectacular view. In the frame of your eyes Kythera and Elafonisos are “the main characters ” between the sea and the sky. Heading towards Neapoli you can also visit the castle of ‘Agia Parskevi’ , a late Byzantine building probably constructed by the Franks in order to control the bay of the Vatika area.The castle is restored and accessible to visitors.
For more information you can visit visitvatika.gr
PETRIFIED FOREST-CAPE MALEAS
Heading east you can explore the legendary land of Maleas Starting point of this tour could be the petrified palm tree forest of Ag Marina. There the petrified sea shells, trunks and roots of the old trees dated back to 2 billion years really do stand out! For adventurous visitors the journey through hiking trail to cape Maleas is highly recommended! Legends and traditions about the wild waves, fierce pirates , shipwrecks are passed down from generation to generation. Meeting point of three different archipelagos (The Aegean Sea , the Ionian Sea, the Cretan Sea) cape Maleas inspired many authors, historians and wanderers who recorded myths and facts of this place from ancient years until nowadays. Omerus, Pausanias, Karkavitsas… to mention but a few…
Kavo-Maleas is perfectly identified as the Small Mount Athos of the Peloponnese since even today there are ruins of ancient sanctuaries, churches and hermitages from various eras over the centuries. The monastery of Agia-Irene – a 19th century building – stands there preserved and in operation and also the chapel of Agios Georgios suspended on a cliff 30 meters above the sea, built in the 13th -14th century. This chapel is considered one of the most important monuments of Laconia.
Restored and most visited is the lighthouse of Malea with a tower height of 15 meters,- built of stone a century and a half ago, it does withstand the raging blows of the sea. This visit becomes exclusively possible through a path that starts from the idyllic, traditional island style village of Velanidia. The hiker must cover a distance of 8.3 km- that takes almost two hours- following the native and virgin land of Malea until he reaches his destination.
For more information visit agiosnikolaosgeopark.gr and visitvatika.gr
NERATZIONAS-MAGGANOS-POUNTA-ELAFONISOS
For lovers of exotic and sandy coastlines, at a distance of an average twenty minutes you can find organized beaches (Neratzionas-Magganos) and non organized ones (Pounta) .On the sandy beach of Pounta with its turquoise waters there lies a cemetery for infants of Mycenaean times as well as submerged settlement of Pavlopetri ( an ancient under water city) of 2800 BC It is very easy for the visitor to tour the city and the ruins of its buildings as it is located just 4 meters below the sealevel. The international interest in this settlement is proven at the BBC documentary entitled “THE CITY UNDER THE WAVES” where the film’s producers managed to rebuild it digitally.
An ideal destination for swimming and relaxation is the beach of Simos on Elafonisos island. The Punta-Elafonisos crossing lasts only 5 minutes via ferry-boat.
For more information visit visitelafonisos.gr and visitvatika.gr
NERATZIONAS-MAGGANOS-POUNTA-ELAFONISOS
For lovers of exotic and sandy coastlines, at a distance of an average twenty minutes you can find organized beaches (Neratzionas-Magganos) and non organized ones (Pounta) .On the sandy beach of Pounta with its turquoise waters there lies a cemetery for infants of Mycenaean times as well as submerged settlement of Pavlopetri ( an ancient under water city) of 2800 BC It is very easy for the visitor to tour the city and the ruins of its buildings as it is located just 4 meters below the sealevel. The international interest in this settlement is proven at the BBC documentary entitled “THE CITY UNDER THE WAVES” where the film’s producers managed to rebuild it digitally.
An ideal destination for swimming and relaxation is the beach of Simos on Elafonisos island. The Punta-Elafonisos crossing lasts only 5 minutes via ferry-boat.
For more information visit visitelafonisos.gr and visitvatika.gr
MONEMVASIA -KYTHIRA
The famous town of Monemvasia is just a half hour drive away. There lies the widely known imposing rock of Monemvasia and also the famous castle town which to this day is lively, full of restaurants, cafes and bars.
The crossing to the island of Kythira takes you just one hour and fifteen minutes from the port of Neapoli.
Photo copyrights visitgreece.gr
