Property HSC56839, Holiday Villa for rental in The Mani, Peloponnese, Greece

The owner, who also owns and runs the pension close by, has used traditional Maniot stone so that the finished product is a delicious symphony of mellow stone exteriors, pale yellow shutters and light and airy interiors with high wooden ceilings. The one-bedroom cottage has a built-in stone bed in the double room, while the open-plan cottages are spacious, with a comfortable double bed and small well-equipped kitchen. The one-bedroom cottage is set back from the two open-plan cottages and hence provides more private accommodation.What makes these three cottages really special, however, is the raised stone terrace to the front of each which houses a small private pool with stunning views out over the olive groves, to the sea sparkling in the distance. Located down a rough track, close to a small pension and in the midst of a mature olive grove, this group of stone houses stands just inland with views out over the olive groves to an ancient Pyrgoi (stone tower) and the sea. They are about a 15-minute walk away from the bustling little harbour village of Kardamyli with its welcoming waterfront tavernas. The charming village of Kardamyli was once the main port of the powerful Sparta city-state. What it may have lost in the power stakes it more than makes up for in character. The fortified tower-houses of the Troupakis clan can be seen in Old Kardamyli and this is also where some amazing hikes into the Taygetos mountains and the Vyros Gorge start. Swimming is also great in Kardamyli. There is the small sandy beach alongside the jetty, or the long shale Ritsa beach is just north of the village. Farther afield, The Mani is a haven of undiscovered Greek villages with lovely Byzantine churches, many with well preserved icons and frescoes. The unusual Diros Caves are also well worth a visit. The caves are the largest and most spectacular in Greece and the various chambers are packed with remarkable stalactites and stalagmites. A visit is a great day out as you will be able to join one of the punt rides along the subterranean stream that runs through the caverns.