Areopoli

Discover Areopoli & Mani

The wild yet strikingly beautiful natural landscape of Areopoli is adorned with stone houses and imposing tower residences, giving the area a sense of pride from its glorious past and creating a truly unique setting. Areopoli is the capital of Mesa Mani and one of the most beautiful towns in Laconia, with around 1,000 inhabitants today.

The history of the town dates back to the 14th century, when it was an insignificant village known by its Slavic name Tsimova. The wealthy and powerful Mavromichalis family from Areopoli gave the then-small settlement importance and prestige in the 18th century. They decorated the town with beautiful churches and renamed it Areopoli (Areos Polis, “City of the God of War”).

The heart of the town is the large square with the statue of Petrobey Mavromichalis, where local producers set up their stalls every Saturday offering regional products. Around the square you will find many shops, tavernas, cafés, and the town library.

The area around Areopoli played an important role during the Greek War of Independence in 1821. On 17 March 1821, the Maniots declared the beginning of the revolution against Ottoman rule in the town’s main square. Since then, the anniversary of the uprising has been celebrated every year with great pride by the people of Areopoli.

In the western part of the town, you can admire the well-preserved tower houses of Mavromichalis, Kepetanakos, and Barelakos.

Areopoli is an ideal starting point for exploring the Mani region, including trips north to Itilo (ancient Oitylo), Limeni, the medieval Kelefas fortress, or south to the Diros Caves and Cape Tenaro.

Currently, we do not offer holiday homes in Areopoli. We recommend the Apea villas with pool in Limeni.