LAKONIA

General Information

The ancient homeland of the fearsome Spartan warriors and of king Menelaos, the husband of Helen, Laconia is rich in history as well as legend. Its northern border meets Arcadia, to the west lies the land of Messinia, while from east and south and it is surrounded by seas. The Byzantine medieval castle-cities of Mystras and Monemvasia, the cave of Diros, a truly wondrous creation of nature, the imposing, hard landscape of Mani with the high towers, the wild beauty of Taygetos and the historical heritage of this continental land, offer unforgettable memories and intense emotions. An excellent road network facilitates touring this exciting land. Its population reaches 99.637 residents, while its extent covers 3.636 sq.km. 

History - Culture

In antiquity, the inhabitants of Laconia were Leleges, a very ancient Greek tribe whose identity has been lost in the ages. Achaeans and Ionians arrived later on, bringing with them the glory of the Mycenaean age. The region was then called Lelegia, named after its first king Lelegas, while the first king of the second dynasty was legendary king Lacedaemon. In time, Laconia became a powerful land, and it is no coincidence that in Homer?s Iliad its king was nothing less than a brother to the king of Mycenae. Following the establishment of the Dorian tribe (1100 BC), Sparta became an administrative centre, and the warlike Dorians quickly subjugated the entire region of Laconia. Bred and trained by the state as warriors from early childhood, Spartans were unmatched in skill and strength, fearsome fighters that never retreated on the battlefield. Sparta, unlike any other city in the world until the use of gunpowder in warfare, never had walls; as the Spartans themselves said, they didn?t need them, as their men themselves were their walls.  Apart from Sparta, other major cities of the region were Gytheion, Amykles, Lefktra, Oitylo, and many more. Until the era of Alexander the Great and the rise of the Macedonian tribe in northern Greece, Athens and Sparta were the greatest city-states in Greece and shared control of the Greek territory, all the way up to Thracia. This delicate balance was soon to be broken, and the civil war which came to be known as the Peloponnesean War broke out. As said by many historians, this war was the suicide of Greece. Continued civil warfare weakened the Greeks so much that, in 146 BC, Laconia, the land of the fiercest warriors the world has ever known, came under Roman domination virtually without a fight. During 3rd and 4th century AD, the region suffered heavily from barbarian invasions, especially from the Goths, who occupied the area around the mountain rage of Taygetos. In the 13th century, Laconia came under the rule of Franks until 1262, when the Byzantines regained control. They established the noted Domain of Morea, with the castle-city of Mystras being its capital. The region resisted the Turkish yoke until 1460, but it was eventually occupied by the middle of the 17th century. The only exception was the area of Mani, which remained autonomous, its hardened, untamed people being too much of an effort for the Turks to subjugate. The people of Mani played a significant role in the liberation of Greece, as the region contributed its fierce, skilled warriors to the Greek War of Independence. A force under the command of Theodoros Kolokotronis, a hero and leading figure of the time, led revolutionaries to the liberation of Kalamata, one of the first major victories of the rebels. Laconia was finally liberated in 1828, rejoining Greece after 2000 years.

Sights

Laconia is rich in natural landscapes of immense beauty and historical monuments of great significance. Just outside of Sparta there are the ruins of ancient Sparta and ancient Amykles while at a short distance further there is the castle-city of Mystras, a well-preserved representative of the architecture of the 14th and 15th century. Touring the site requires a long walk around the old fortifications, palaces, churches, houses and other constructs, but it is well worth it; every step taken is a journey into the past, as the visitor blends in to the surroundings, losing himself in the memory of an age he never had the chance to experience. Vatheia and Geraki are impressive stone-built villages, typical of the area of Mani, where almost each and every house is a fortified tower, built to defend the family during pirate raids. The entire route to Cape Tainaro, the southernmost tip of continental Europe, as well as the cape itself, is an experience that everyone should live at least once in his lifetime. In Gytheion, there are the ruins of the ancient city and relics of the medieval times. A visit to the Caves of Diros is an unforgettable experience; one has to see for himself to believe it. Then, there is the medieval castle-city of Monemvasia. The feeling here is similar to that felt in Mystras, yet here there is still life and action, which seems to augment this feeling of traveling into the past. Monemvasia is a favorite among romantic couples and people seeking tranquility.

Entertainment-Sports-Shopping

As a popular destination for many travelers from all over the world, most towns and villages of Laconia have a well-developed tourist infrastructure. Thus, the level and variety of accommodation, entertainment and shopping facilities offered all around the prefecture are certain to please visitors, with the traditional settlements of unique architecture and atmosphere making the difference. Thus, in Monemvasia, Gytheion, Areopolis, Gerolimenas and, of course, Sparta, choices are abundant. Celebrated traditional products are olive oil, olives, sausages, oranges and honey. Some of the local dishes such as grilled pork chops, sausages, "tourkakia" (a kind of souvlaki), "bardouniotiko" (stuffed chicken with cheese, olives and walnuts) definitely worth a try. Visitors who wish to be engaged in sporting activities will have the opportunity to choose among track, basketball, volleyball and football fields, swimming pools and tennis courts in Sparta. Water sports facilities are available on most beaches, especially near Gytheion. Mount Taygetos and Mount Parnon are ideal for climbing and trekking, while the existence of frequent refuge facilities provide assurance for those who wish to venture here in the winter.

Access

There are daily bus services from Athens to Sparta, Gytheion, Areopolis, Gerolimenas, Monemvasia and Neapolis. Ferryboats depart from Piraeus to Geraka, Monemvasia, Neapolis, Elaphonisos,  Kyparissi throughout the year.

Connections

Buses from Athens and local bus services link Sparta, Tripolis and Kalamata on a daily basis. There is direct bus connection with Gytheion, Oitylo, Areopolis, Pyrgos Dirou, Gerolimenas and Kalamata. Ferryboats from Piraeus link Kyparissi, Gerakas, Monemvasia, Neapolis, Elaphonisos, Gytheion, Kythira, Antikythira and Castelli-Chania (Crete). Flying dolphin services are carried out from Piraeus to Kyparissi, Monemvasia, Leonidio, Porto Heli, Spetses, Kythira and Hydra. There is a daily ferry connection with Neapolis and Elaphonisos throughout the year.

Museums

There is a very rich Archaeological Museum in Sparta, a small yet interesting archaeological and Byzantine collection in Gytheion and the impressive Byzantine Museum in Mystras, where the magnificent palaces will also be open to the public upon completion of the restoration works. 

Alternative Tourism

Ecotourism, agrotourism, archaeology, gastronomy, canyoning, river trekking, sporting (water sports, scuba diving, trekking, mountain climbing).

Useful Telephone Numbers:

SPARTI AREA CODE:  27310-

MUNICIPALITY: 27310-26517

TOURIST INFORMATION OFFICE: 27310-20492

POLICE STATION: 27310-26600, 89613

HOSPITAL: 27310-28671, 29061

BUS STATION: 27310-26441, 22857

TAXI STATION: 27310-24100

POST OFFICE: 27310-26565

TRAFFIC POLICE: 27310-89622

TELECOMMUNICATIONS ORG.: 27310-26399, 21799

GYTHIO AREA CODE:  27330-

POLICE STATION: 27330-29154

MUNICIPALITY: 27330-22210

PORT POLICE: 27330-24798

MEDICAL CENTER: 27330-51215

TAXI STATION: 27330-22755

MONEMVASIA AREA CODE:  27320-

POLICE STATION: 27320-61210

MEDICAL CENTER: 27320-61204

PORT POLICE: 27320-61266