Wrecks, Caves and Kardamyli

After another amazing breakfast at Monemvasia, we headed to Kardamyli via the Caves of Diros. As we drove around the cliffs Greg spotted a wreck abandoned on the beach. A striking image for the photographer we had to stop and check it out. The Wreck of the Dimitriou is rusting and marooned on Selinitsa’s wide sandy beach. We had to investigate and I had to sample the sparkling turquoise waters.
I could even swim into the wreck! It was amazing!!

Caves of Diros

After that cooling off, we continued our journey towards our next stop The Caves of Diros. These underwater caves have had remains of early palaeolithic and neolithic civilisations. Discovered in the 1870’s they are just amazing and a lot smaller than the Xe Bang Fai Cave in Laos (that we visited previously).

Walking deep into the grotto, getting cooler and cooler we stepped into tiny boats and slowly drifted through the amazing caves, often having to duck for stalactites and weave around protruding stalacmites. The paleolithic and neolithic artifacts found in the caves mean it was one of the earliest inhabited areas in all of Greece! You can see these in the little museum.

The water was incredibly clear and deep, I really wanted to dive!
The entire tour took about 20min and was astonishing! Jumping back in the car we found a tiny restaurant on the side of the main road. Under some eucalyptus trees, we feasted on greek salads, dips and fish.

Kardamyli

We arrived in Kardamyli the cutest town and our rooms were in a gorgeous b&b on top of the nearby cliff.

Kardamyli is the oldest known town in Greece, it was even mentioned in Homer’s Iliad!

“Seven well-peopled cities I give him,
The first is Kardamyli
Near to the sea….”
-King Agamemmnon as he gifted states to Achilles​

The streets are tiny and winding with icecream stores, coffee shops and tourist shops. Quite lovely for a short stroll. The buildings are a blend of old architecture with new furnishings and cutesy shops. Local government has been strict that all new structures must be in line with old style of building so everything looks lovely.

Everyone is also very friendly. After ducking into a few shops Greg & I did notice most of the tourists are a good deal older than us. No doubt following the ‘ancient ruins’ trails just like us!

We had dinner at another amazing restaurant overlooking the bay and the sunset was spectacular.

Kardamyli Old Town

 Today we got up early to see Kardamyli town. As Kardamyli is part of the Mani region where historically there was a lot of piracy and looting, the old town consists of a small walled cluster of buildings around a tower. Similar to the Italian towers these were fortifications for townspeople, barracks for army and also look outs for enemies.
Kardamyli’s old town is from the 1500’s and created by a single family who took a gamble settling there, soon their cousins and uncles and aunts joined them which became Kardamyli town.
After climbing the tower we walked the main street, taking in coffee, the locals, the tourists and eating froyo whilst browsing art and gift stores. Could’ve stayed longer but onwards we must go, driving to Methoni, listening to Rick Steves podcast talking about Greek history  (highly recommended!).

Kardamyli Tips

Accommodation: Arcadia Hotel on Booking.com

Eating:

What to do: 

  • Enjoy main street
  • Kardamyli Old Town
  • Patrick & Joan Leigh Fermor centre (an amazing British writer who lived here and wrote wonderful books)
  • Take a short ferry ride to the small nearby island
  • Enjoy lots of walking trails nearby including one going up the hill to a church.

Short drives….

  • Wreck of Demetriou, Selinitsa Beach (around 1 hr drive)
  • Caves of Diros (1hr drive)

 

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