Southern Peloponnese Attractions

Elafonisos (Italian Cervi), known in antiquity as Onougnathos, lies just off the southeastern "finger" of the Peloponnese (Laconia). The chief place on the island, also called Elafonisos, lies at its northern tip, and it has two sheltered anchorages. Off its west coast are a number of little islets and isolated rocks. Elafonisos is separated from Kythira to the south by the busy Elafonisos Channel, 10km/6mi wide.

Elafonisos is blessed with beautiful beaches, backed with sand dunes and pinewoods. Fresh fish abound in the is part of the Peloponnese.

The Inoúsai Islands, a group notoriously subject to storms, lie off the south coast of Messenia at the southwestern tip of the Peloponnese. The group consists of the two larger islands of Sapientza (alt. 226m/742ft), off Methóni Bay (sheltered anchorage by lighthouse) and Skhiza (or Cabrera; 196m/643ft), together with a number of rocky islets and isolated rocks. There are several ancient wrecks on the sea bed around the islands, and they offer excellent opportunities for underwater diving - though here, as elsewhere in Greek waters, the use of breathing apparatus is not permitted.

Kyparisi, to the north of Monemvasía and southeast of Sparta, is a charming coastal village which has recently developed into a resort attracting those who are searching for peace and quite. It has three marvelous stretches of beach lining three successive coves.

Northwest of Monemvasía, on the road to Sparta, is the farming town of Molaoi, where there are the remains of a medieval fortress and an early Christian church.

One of the prettiest sandy beaches in the Peloponnese, Elias, is just nine km from Molaoi.

Neapolis, a seaside resort much favored by Greeks because of its beautiful, long beaches, lies to the south of Monemvasía. From Neapolis it is easy to cross over to the small island of Elafonisos.

The fishing village of Oitulo is 82km south of Sparta. It has a natural harbor and is built on the same site as the ancient city mentioned in the Iliad.

Here archeologists have unearthed the remains of a temple, Mycenaean shards and traces of walls.