Vatika and Elafonisos

Vatika and Elafonisos, at the far reaches of the Peloponnese

At the southeastern tip of Laconia, the Vatika form a small region facing the sea, between the Gulf of Laconia, Cape Maleas and the island of Elafonisos. Around Neapoli, beaches, rocky landscapes, caves and archaeological remains follow one another, including the exceptional submerged prehistoric settlement of Pavlopetri.

Neapoli and Cape Maleas

Neapoli occupies the site of ancient Boiai. Pausanias attributes the founding of this city to Boios, who is said to have brought together the inhabitants of three ancient localities, Etis, Aphrodisias and Side. Boiai later became one of the cities of coastal Laconia and enjoyed a certain prosperity in Roman times. The name Vatika, still used for the region, derives from the ancient name of the city. The modern town of Neapoli – literally the "new town" – was laid out from 1837 by the Bavarian architect Birbach.

To the east, the peninsula ends at the spectacular Cape Maleas, whose cliffs and violent winds long made passage difficult for sailors. Hermitages, chapels and small isolated monasteries dot its slopes, to the point that the area is sometimes nicknamed the "little Mount Athos". A path leads in particular to the lighthouse erected at the tip of the cape.

Pavlopetri, a prehistoric town beneath the sea

Facing Elafonisos, near Pounta and Viglafia, lies one of the most singular sites in Laconia: Pavlopetri^★. Beneath the shallow waters appear the foundations of a truly organised settlement, with streets, houses, courtyards and tombs. Research has identified architectural complexes over an area of more than 9,000 m².

The remains and ceramics show an occupation dating back to the Final Neolithic and continuing through the Bronze Age. The site was studied from 1967, surveyed from 1968, then subjected to new campaigns of digital mapping and underwater prospection from 2009. Research is still seeking to clarify the different phases of its submersion and the evolution of the ancient coastline.

Elafonisos and its beaches

Separated from the mainland by a narrow strait, Elafonisos is accessible by a short crossing from Pounta. The small island is especially famous for the beaches of Simos^★★, where a narrow strip of sand separates two bays with turquoise waters. Sand dunes and coastal junipers accompany the beaches of Sarakiniko and Megali Ammos, while Panagia, on the west coast, offers a quieter landscape. Part of these dune and wetland environments belongs to the Natura 2000 network.

Kastania Cave and the petrified forest

In the hinterland of Neapoli, the Kastania cave is the other great natural curiosity of the Vatika. Developed over two levels and about 1,500 m², it presents along a developed route of about 500 metres a great variety of stalactites, stalagmites and concretions whose formation spanned several million years.

Further south, near Agios Nikolaos, the coastline of Agia Marina, Korakas and Spitha preserves a remarkable petrified forest. Fossilised trunks and roots, remains of palms, shells and marine organisms bear witness to the geological transformations that affected this coast several million years ago. Between Pavlopetri, Elafonisos, Cape Maleas and these natural curiosities, the Vatika thus combine in a particularly spectacular way archaeology, maritime landscapes and geological heritage.