Day 9: To Monemvasia on the third finger of the Peloponnese

Visiting another Greek attraction on the third finger of the Peloponnese

Sep 25, 2025 • 3 min read

To Gytheo on the second finger of the Peloponnese

Our journey first took us north until we reached Kalamata, a seaside town that appears somewhat neglected. From there, we turned toward the mountains and continued over the hills to the second finger of the Peloponnese, where our next destination was the town of Gytheo.

The road was winding, going up and down through canyons. There was very little traffic, and the weather was ideal.

Sparta

The town is very nice and green. Spartans were powerful in ancient Greece, and they were at war with Athenians several times.

Gytheo

This is another very nice coastal town on the second finger of the Peloponnese. There are some very nice beaches nearby.

A Shipwreck

Not far from Gythia is a shipwreck. The vessel was allegedly used to smuggle cigarettes between Turkey and Italy. It was seized by the port authorities of Gythia, then deliberately released from the harbor and left to drift until it ran aground on the shore.

Agriculture

Like everywhere in Greece, there are many olive groves. I wonder who picks all these olive trees when the olives are ripe.

There are also many citrus orchards, mainly oranges but also mandarins.

Monemvasia

Monemvasia is an old Greek town on an island, connected to the mainland by a bridge. At the top, there is a fortress, and the town is protected by a large wall. Many houses have been renovated, and multitudes of tourists come to visit.

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