Easter in Mani: pristine beauty, ancient history and folk customs

In the spring, Mani has a magical atmosphere. Truly this is one of the most spectacular flowering places in Europe. Flowering plants are everywhere.

Ancient olive groves, stone houses and towers, cobbled avenues, fields, hillsides and cliffs are brightly colored with purples and golds. Greek Easter in Mani is a unique experience, not only because of the blooming and breathtaking scenery, but also because of the local customs. This tourist destination is simply created to celebrate Greek Easter here in the most authentic way, surrounded by nature, culture and history.

During the Greek Orthodox Holy Week, you will enjoy authentic Easter traditions. On Maundy Thursday, local women knead traditional bread from a special dough kneaded seven times (lambriatikes kouloures).

The next day, on Good Friday, you can take part in the church procession (epitaph), which takes place in a unique and solemn atmosphere.

The night (from 16 to 17 March this year) of the Resurrection of Christ is simply bound to make an unforgettable impression. Fireworks illuminate the sky of Mani, local residents and guests hold candles lit by the Holy Fire in their hands.

After midnight and the Divine Liturgy, traditionally, bringing “pure fire” into the houses, the Greeks sit down at the family table to taste the magiritsa. Guests staying in inns and hotels can also enjoy a traditional Easter meal. Magiritsa – a delicious Easter soup made from lamb offal with egg and lemon seasoning. Folk festivals on Easter Sunday will not leave anyone indifferent, creating an atmosphere of joy and fun. Holidays are celebrated with lavish tables, traditional music and dances.

And while most people come to Mani (Laconia) in the summer for the beaches and the sun, spring is the most favorable season with ideal weather conditions for walking and sightseeing. Those who want to know more about Mani will discover many natural attractions, monuments and picturesque villages. Among the most significant are the picturesque Areopoli with stone houses and cobbled streets, Limeni with authentic fish taverns with tables set right by the water, and the stunning Dirou Cave. This unique natural monument is a complex with an underground river, stunning stalactites and stalagmites, formed here millions of years ago. Speleologists believe that Diru Cave is one of the most significant in the world.

Further south, there is Vatia with impressive tower houses and the lighthouse of Cape Tainaro, which is the southernmost point of continental Europe and helps ships to safely bypass the cape. The lighthouse is one of the significant attractions of the Peloponnese.

In general, than to hear a hundred times, it is better to see once. However, the locals do not say in vain that a passer-by will see Mani in three days, a tourist in three months, and to see her soul, you need to live here for three generations (even three lives will not be enough).

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