The beautiful Mediterranean villages of Monemvasia Prefecture
A trip to eight of its gorgeous villages is enough to prove us right
So what if we’ve made a connection between our summers and the sea?
The most beautiful of our travel stories are written in unexpected places, in villages nestled at the foot of a mountain, half hidden in green gorges at the Peloponnesian tips throughout the year.
The Prefecture of Monemvasia is, after all, a destination for all seasons of the year. A trip to eight of its gorgeous villages is enough to prove us right.
Velies and their sweet wine
Nestled among endless olive groves, 15 kilometers from Monemvasia, Velies is a sweet traditional village famous for its open to visit winery, called Monemvasia Winery which produces fine wine from local grape varieties.
The church of Saint George also worths a visit, with its impressive frescoes dating back to the 13th century. On the village’s outskirts, the traditional stone fountain springs fresh water under the shade of the plane tree, taking us into bygone eras.
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Aggelona and its stone houses
The history of modern Aggelona started 350 years ago, when migrants from Crete and Corinth settled here. The land, however, goes way back in time, thousands of years to be precise, as it is proved by the Mycenaean tomb you will find in the area, called Mpastiza.
Today in Aggelona you’ll be able to visit the stone-built church of Evangelistria and wander among the stone houses with the characteristic tiled roofs and among the old wells that surround the village.
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Talanta and its unique watermill
“Talanta” was called an ancient coin currency- the village’s naming after that is not coincidental at all, since this was once a very rich village thanks to the watermills that used its plenty running waters.
Today one of these watermills has been renovated and awaits you in the heart of the green Gorge of Balli, at the end of an idyllic route that starts from the village and winds through the shades of ancient plane trees, myrtles and walnut trees. Especially, if you travel with children you, you should not miss it. The experience will excite you.
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Agios Ioannis and its delicasies
About 10 kilometers from Monemvasia, Agios Ioannis is a small, hospitable village known for its traditional cafeterias and taverns that serve local delicasies like “tsaiti”, a traditional herb pie with thin phyllo dough and goat cheese, and “goggles”, the local pasta. Very close to the village, on a hill with panoramic view to the sea there is the archaeological site of Epidaurus Limyra, with its ancient citadel, the 5th century B.C. walls and the Roman mosaics that it definitely worths a stop.
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Sykia and its exquisite olive oil
A few more than a thousand residents live in the beautiful village of Sykia (or Sykea) who mainly work in agriculture. The exquisite local olive oil that you’ll find here, at the premises of the association of olive oil cooperatives, K.A.S.S.E.L., is a great excuse to stop by the village.
However, it is not the only one: the Sykia Wine Festival at the end of July, the Greek festival of Agios Nectarios- where the locals say it was the first church ever built in Greece- in November, the three Venetian towers out of the seven in total that once were here and gave the village the nick name “Eptapyrgio” (seven towers), and the Mycenaean vaulted tombs at the side of the village are just some of the most important assets of Sykia.
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Velanidia and their ultimate island-like landscape
Down in the south, 54 kilometers from Monemvasia, Velanidia village is like an island… without the sea, in the heart of the Monemvasia Prefecture: White houses with blue window panes, tiled roofs and painted white alleys compose an adorable little village, nestled at the south tips of Mt. Parnonas, which a few kilometers later will dive in the Myrtoo Sea creating the many times sang, Cape Maleas.
From Velanidia starts the eight kilometers long trail that will lead you to the legendary light house of Cavo Malias. Shorter, for sure, is the trail that starts from the Upper Neighborhood and brings you after 20 minutes of walking to the beautiful little church of Agios Panteleimon, with its unique iconostasis and the amazing paintings of saints on the walls that date back to the 12th century.
A bright summer at the beaches of Monemvasia
A big, red sun’s last minute dive in the waters of the Myrtoo Sea.
Golden dunes smoothly reaching turquoise waters that deep down, on the horizon line, mix with an unclouded sky.
3-5 days trip