 Kardamili
is a coastal village in Messinian Mani, 35 km south of Kalamata.
It is an historical area that preserves its name from the years
of Homer (Iliada, ln 149-153 and 292-528) when it was reffered to
as one of the "seven be governed well and well sited towns" that
Agamemnon would dower Achilles if he were married to one of his
daughters. Pausanias (Lakonika III, 26,7) mentions that Kardamili
is located "eight stadiums" from the sea, that there was a Nireus
sanctuary and that there was where the son of Achilles Pirros, Neoptolemos
with the son of Nestoras, Peisistratos were stranded and went to
Sparta for the wedding of Pirros and Ermioni, the daughter of Manelaos.
The legend says that in Kardamili and especially in the village
that Stravon describes are the tombs of the semigods sons of Zeus
and Leda, Kastor and Polideukis (Dioskouroi) that are sculptured
on the rock.
 During
the Roman years, Kardamili was the heaven of Srapti. In the
after Byzantine years flourished as a heaven of Mistra. A great
number of Byzantine found a shelter in the area. The most names
have their roots in Byzantine. The history of Kardamili doesn't
stop in the ancient years, but its role was very important during
the New Greek History. During the turkish domination the area was
still free and was used as a place for the meeting of the Revolutionaries.
The Filiki Etairia determined Mani as a place of organising the
Revolution. All notables, leaders and captains met here and organized
the Revolution. Kolokotronis and his soldiers set out from here
in March 22 for the delivery of Kalamata in March 23.
 Today
Kardamili is the capital of Municipality of Lefktron, has 574 residents
(census 1991) that is multiplied during the summer months because
of the turism. A visitor should go the St Spiridona Cathedral, the
tomb of Dioskouroi, the castles in Old Kardamili, walk on the pavements
that connect the neighbour settlements of Petrovouni and Agia Sofia,
go to the Viros Canyon, swim in the beautiful beaches. It is also
worth to visit the two settlements: Petrovouni and Agia Sofia that
are located above Kardmili and enjoy the magical view.
..
..
 Petrovouni
traditionally was named after its founder Petrova and its residents
seem that came from the community of Anbroubista (Eksochori). In
the village there are two historical monasteries. The Zoodochou
Pigi monastery, that is related to the Most Holy Grave, where there
is a traditionally miraculous icon that once was carried from one
village to another. The other monastery was built in the 14th century
and is known as the Karaveli. During the turkish domination was
functioned as a secret school and after 1821 as a monastery. Both
monasteries today are abandonned.
..
 Agia
Sofia is a small settlment named after the church that is located
in the center of the village and was built in 1605. Once was a rich
monastery in the community of Kardamili. The Viros Canyon goes by
the village and one can go down by car on an earthy road from Agia
Sofia to monastery of Sotiros.
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