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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