Municipality Of Lefktro
ΔΗΜΟΣ ΛΕΥΚΤΡΟΥ
Municipality Of Lefktro



EKSOCHORI

  

Exochori, of messinian Mani, is a village built at the foot of mountain Taigetos 500 meters above sea level. It's location is 8km south-east of Kardamili and 43km south of Kalamata. Until 1932 was named Androuvitsa, a name first referred in scriptures of 13th century. Androuvitsa was a part of the Royal Road connecting Kardamyli with Sparti and Mystras. The same road was used by Eleftherolakones who inhabited areas of mountain Taygetos at 1st century B.C. One of these areas was Exochori as remains of their homes have been found. The same road was used by the last Byzantine emperors, for spending their summer vacations in Archodico of Avia.

After the fall of the Mystras district and the turkish invasion many members of the emperors family used Taygetos to hide from the Turks and later inhabited the free and hospitable Mani.

Exochorio consists of 5 settlements; Nikovo, Exochorio, Chora, Kolympitseika and Pripitsa which all came up after the destruction of old Androuvitsa in 17th century. These 5 settlements flourished during the 18th and 19th century. Remains of this period can still be found and among them are castles, monasteries and churches. Many of the churches have a lot of impressive byzantine frescoes.



Today Exochori consists of 600 stone-built houses, but the population is only about 300 elderlies. Fortunately people who migrated from Exochori to other places of the world do not forget their birth-place and every summer they visit their homes in Exochori giving life to the village. Every summer the youths of Exochori organize cultural and sport events as; the revival of a traditional game called Mora, nights with live music and dance festivals. In 1999 a Folklore Museum was established in Exochori.

 

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