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EAST
MANI
The Municipality of East Mani with its seat at
Kotronas is made up of six different municipal
departments and 42 settlements. To the west it
borders on the Municipality of Itylos, to the
north on the Municipality of Gythion and to the
est it is washed by the bay of Laconia, which
meets the bay of Messinia and cape Tainaro, the
southernmost point. Lacy shores, steep cliffs,
tiny harbours and picturesque beaches compose
the landscape. Cape Tainaro the southernmost point
of mainland Europe, also belongs to the Municipality.
Its lighthouse was constructed by the French in
1882 in Paris and renovated in 1930. Since 1984
it is powered by solar energy. There is a path
leading to the lighthouse (about 20 minutes walk).

The
tower houses are worth a visit, as well as the
Byzantine monuments and the small churches, which
are real works of art. There are one-room churches,
megalithic ones, two-concha ones and cave churches.
Most of them have exquisite frescoes.
The products here are of excellent quality, (olive
oil, prickly pears, cheese, honey and fresh fish.
The facilities and service offered to tourists
have been recently developed. There are hotels,
apartments to rent, restaurants and coffee-bars.

The
main cultural event is the "Tainareia"
in August, a revival of the feasts in honour of
Tainarios Poseidon. This takes place in various
villages and today the main themes are: local
history, myths and legends, songs of Mani, etc.
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