House and property for sale, close to the sea. Almost 3acres of land with olive trees. The house is 60 square metres, with loft bedroom, fireplace, kitchen/dining area. Living room, 2 toilets, bathroom and large yard and garden. Panoramic view of the sea and surrounding mountain.
There is also a German stone fortress high on the mountain, which is still in good repair. The Germans followed the Italians into the area during World War II.
Villages in the surrounding area include Paradisi which was abandoned after the liberation from the Turks. It has a cool tranquil atmostphere with it's fresh running water by the Byzantine monastery of the Virgin Mary.
Lachi has the Byzantine chapel of St. George, which contains frescoes. It also has an excellent taverna with home cooked dishes run by Matina.
Paliokastro has a small port and ruins of a castle.
St. Nicholas - the surrounding area had settlements in the 2nd century B.C. as testified by artifacts found both on land and in the sea.
This is where the petrified forest of St. Marina can be seen, which in fact, I think was an ancient temple because of the layout of the petrified trees which are all grouped in threes. It is an hour's walk to the Cape of Maleas, which has a beautiful monastery of St. Irene. A traveller can stay here free of charge and see the chapel of St. George built right into the cliff. It is especially romantic at sun set, when often dolphins swim past.
Mesohori has a castle dating from Medieval times, the first known reference to it being in 1200 A.D. The Byzantine chapel of St. Theodoros has remnants of richly painted frescoes (all the eyes of which were destroyed by the Turks.)
There is also a Medieval castle at St. Paraskevi which was known as the White Fortress, built by the Venetians after 1479, when with the Turko-Venetian treaty the Venetians kept Vatica and Monemvasia. This castle however, existed long before the Venetians.
Faraklo - 'Vatica's balcony'. Dates from the middle ages and in the 16th century it was one of the largest towns in the Peloponnese. After the Greek revolt of 1821, Faraklo became the capital of the district of Malea. There are fine old stone buildings, ruins of Venetian buildings as well as of a Turkish mosque.
Upper & Lower Kastania also date from Byzantine times and close to here are the extensive caves of St. Andrew, well worth a visit at E8 entrance fee (last year, maybe it has now gone up...)
The town of Neapolis was founded in the mid-19th century on the site of ancient Boiai (pronounced Vi-e), a city founded in the second millenium B.C. by King Boias, a descendent of Hercules. Boiai was populated by the inhabitants of three nearby Mycenaean cities, Etis, Sidi and Aphrodisias. An important port of the Spartans during the Peloponnesian Wars. During the Roman times the city was a member of the Free Laconian League. It's economical and cultural fortune peaked during the Hellenistic era. During Byzantine times, the name Boiai became Vatica, a name which today is used to refer to the region's 2 villages.
Velanidia has one mini supermarket, two coffee shop tavernas: The Rock and the Monte Carlo and one beach side taverna close to the accommodations.
