Smynos

Smynos Σμύνος
Location
Smynos
Coordinates	36°51′N 22°27′E / 36.850°N 22.450°E / 36.850; 22.450Coordinates: 36°51′N 22°27′E / 36.850°N 22.450°E / 36.850; 22.450
Location within the regional unit
Government
Country:	Greece
Administrative region:	Peloponnese
Regional unit:	Laconia
Municipality:	East Mani
Population statistics (as of 2001)[1]
Municipal unit
- Population:	1,917
Other
Time zone:	EET/EEST (UTC+2/3)
Auto:	AK

Smynos (Greek: Σμύνος) is a former municipality in Laconia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality East Mani, of which it is a municipal unit.^[2] Population 1,917 (2001).

It is located in the Mani Peninsula on the eastern slopes of Mt. Taygetos, and it is named after the river Smynos, that runs through it. The region is also known as Vardounia (and its villages as Vardounochoria), after the medieval Vardounia castle located in the area, now in ruins.

The seat of the municipality was in Agios Nikolaos. The most historic village of the municipal unit of Smynos is the mountainous village of Kastania. It has two towers (pirgi), in which its inhabitants used to defend themselves against the Ottomans. The village has two coffee shops and attracts tourists in the summer. The largest village in the municipality is Petrina, known for the high quality of its PDO olive oil.

The most prominent site in the municipal unit is the monastery of Panagia Giatrissa which attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists and worshipers every year. Other sites of interest include the Vasilitsa forest (on the path of the European walking route E4), and the network of canyons formed by river Smynos and its tributaries. Traditionally the municipality rarely received tourists, except for visitors to the monastery; in more recent years ecotourism has been on the rise.

References