All year

Double room €80-110

En suite bathroom with massage shower
Mini-bar
Telephone
Television (and radio)
Safe
Hairdryer
Air conditioning

Dining room with a fireplace, television, a fireplace and wireless internet

The tower is in a tiny abandoned village that sits at the top of a hill in northern Mani. It is very quiet spot with great views over the hills and the sea. It is the perfect spot for nature lovers and anyone who likes to go for walks, but there's more: the centre of Gythio is only 4,5 km away and just a little further you get to a 3 km long sandy beach. There are also lots of possibilities for excursions: the caves of Diros (a must!) are just over 30 minutes by car; the remains of the Byzantine city of Mystras are about three quarters of an hour, and the castle city of Monemvasia is less than an hour's drive away.

From Sparta you follow signs for Gythio. Just a few kilometres before Gythio, 700 metres after you pass the turn-off for Aeropoli (which you do not take!), you will see a sign to the 'village' of Rahi (it is in Greek and reads PAHI) and the hotel. Turn left here; after 1,5 km turn right and you will see the tower after 300 metres. 

Mani is a rugged ‘middle finger’ in the southern Peloponnese. Its centuries-old stone towers uniquely mark the harsh landscape and remind one and all that this was the only part of mainland Greece that until the 18th century resisted Ottoman rule. Maniates, men and women alike, have always been known for their stubborn character and fiercely independent spirit. Some hair-raising stories exist not only about their ferocious battles against the Ottoman rulers, but also about bloody family feuds.

A visit to the most southern part the region, the inner Mani, is always a somewhat mystical experience which, fortunately, due to its remoteness, you are not likely to have to share with busloads of fellow travellers. Just like its people, the landscape of this southernmost part of the Greek mainland comes across as stark and forbidding, but the spectacular coastlines and barren mountain ranges, dotted with small clusters of fort-like tower-houses, never fail to captivate those passing through.

The inner Mani is an area to simply take in, rather than to run around touring site to site. Wandering around its many stone tower villages is a great experience (Vathia is a must). On the west coast, close to the main (village-sized) town, Aeropoli, the caves of Pirgos Dirou are among the best known in Greece and a definite must-see. Aeropoli is a charming place, fairly quiet during the day, and more lively at night. Go for a swim in the beautiful Limeni bay to its north, and have a meal by the water. Further south on the west coast is Gerolimenas, a tiny and charming port, not striking in terms of architecture (except for hotel Kyrimai) but a magical spot nevertheless. All the way south, there are some nice coves and beaches.

On the east coast you should make a stop at the little seaside town of Gythio, which has a good choice of fish restaurants by the water. The drive down the coastal road is beautiful, and you will come across several good beaches, some with sand, others with pebbles. Keep in mind though that this intriguing peninsula is not the place for beach bums, but for those who like to walk, explore and discover in peace and quiet. Spring is the best time of the year for this, and is indeed more of a ‘high season’ than the summer.

In contrast to the untamed wild beauty of the Inner Mani, the Outer Mani that lies to its north is much more friendly and lush in appearance. Set against the backdrop of the Taigetos mountain range, the area is one of the most scenic parts of Greece. The landscape is marked by hills covered with olive groves and punctuated by cypresses, lovely tower house villages, wild oleanders lining the winding road south, tiny Byzantine churches, and a beautiful coastline with emerald green waters. It has remained blissfully unspoilt and is still relatively undiscovered – the tourism that makes it to this out-of-the-way corner of Greece is generally of the ‘good kind’: people looking for natural beauty, tranquillity and a few sights rather than beach entertainment and nightlife. The opportunities for walking and hiking are numerous, and routes are clearly indicated by different coloured marks. They vary from easy half- to one-hour walks in the foothills of the Taigetos Mountains, to more serious hikes, notably the six-hour trek through the Viros Gorge. Kardamyli is the obvious base from where to explore the area: it is a pretty and peaceful village by the sea, with a good pebble beach.