Discover Mezapo, a small and quiet fishing village in Laconian Mani with wild beauty, emerald waters and rich history.
The Laconia region is a destination of endless discovery, full of enchanting nooks and many hidden «gems». One of its best-kept secrets is Mezapos, a picturesque seaside settlement located 18 km. from Areopoli, in the namesake bay of the Tigani peninsula. It's a small, peaceful and relatively unknown fishing village set within Mani's beautiful, rugged landscape that's well worth discovering.
The hideout of a legendary pirate
Mezapos is built on a rocky site by the sea. It has a handful of houses, very few permanent residents (just 31, according to the 2011 census), wonderful sea caves to explore and crystal-clear turquoise waters.
According to linguist Dikaios Vagiakakos, the name Mezapos derives from the Indo-European word «apa» (water) and the adjective «messos» of the Aeolic dialect. When the English soldier, surveyor and archaeologist William Martin Leake visited the settlement in 1805, he noted that the harbor was the safest on Mani's west coast.
In this corner of Mani the legendary pirate Nikolos Sassaris had established his base. The famed pirate operated during the second half of the 18th century in the Mediterranean and went down in history as the «One-Eyed» because a Turkish pirate had thrust his sword into his eye during a clash on Andros.
He hid his ships in the numerous caves, while carved into the rocks you can make out the labyrinthine underground chambers where he stashed the treasures from his raids. His tower stood here too, said to have reached 16 meters and to have concealed secret passages to the sea. Today only its ruins remain. Sassaris left behind a legend of a great treasure, which was never found.
What to do in Mezapos, Laconia
In Mezapos you'll enjoy swims in gorgeous turquoise waters. Beyond the picturesque little harbor of Kourkou where you can dive, there are also the pebbly beaches of Chalikia and Alonaki with views towards Tigani.
Near the village, an early Christian church has been found dating between the 5th and 6th centuries. Other sights in the area include the Byzantine church of Panagia Vlacherna at the site of Fokaloto, dating from the late 12th to the early 13th century and the remains of pirate Nikolos Sassaris's tower. You can, also, walk on the Tigani peninsula where the remains of an old castle are located.
Just 8 km. from Mezapos you'll come across the well-known Gerolimenas, one of Mani's loveliest seaside settlements, with turquoise waters, stone houses and notable tourist infrastructure.
Enjoy Mezapos in Mani from above in Travel Inspiration's video:
