Eight km/5 mi south of Areópolis is Pyrgos Dyrou, with the stalactitic caves of Dyros (5 km/3 mi west; restaurant, bathing). Farther south is Kitta (tower houses). The road continues to Yerolimín, beyond which are the villages of Alíka and Kyparissós.
Pyrgos Dyrou is one of the most characteristic Maniot villages. It boasts several towers but
is even more famous for its caves.
The Glyfada cave (Vlihada to the locals) was discovered at the end of the 19th C. It is located along the western shores of the peninsula of Laconia in the recess of the bay of Diros about 40 km from Gytheion and five km from Pyrgos Dirou. The cave is in effect a flowing subterranean river which follows two main parallel corridors with several secondary flows. The length of waterways which have been explored, after the latest discover in 1979, of a new section, 1,000 m long, is 4,100 m, while the length of the cave on dry land is 800 m. The cave's total length has still to be explored.
The tour of the cave for visitors is 1300 m, along waterways in steady boats. As the visitors travel through large lakes and galleries, they have a chance to admire an enchanting multicolored decoration of the finest of stalactites of all kinds, stalagmites and dazzling white columns which rise out of the water. The well-designed electric lighting creates a colorful and unique spectacle. It ranks as one of the world's three most beautiful lake caves.
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