Gerolimenas in the Mani Peninsula

We’ve been wanting to visit the Greek port town of Gerolimenas in the Mani peninsula since driving through the area in 2019 on our way back from Gytheio. Located on the southern tip of the Peloponnese, Mani is notable for its stone architecture. The region is arid and its warm rocky terrain makes for gorgeous views with crystal clear waters.

For our trip, we booked a three night stay at Ktima Kyrimai, a waterfront property built in the 1870s. The historic hotel’s service is as immaculate as its setting. While we could have ventured off to explore the area, we were content to spend most of our time on the property with daily strolls into the surrounding town.

Our first evening, we ate at a restaurant in the small port town. A favorite was the Mani salad consisting of boiled potatoes, cubed feta, capres and capre leaves, Kalamata olives, orange slices, chopped green onion, parsley, and cubed “syglino”, which is a smoked pork from Mani.

That evening, we noticed the soft-lit hotel restaurant patio and decided that we would eat there next.

Breakfast the next morning was a copious smorgasbord of traditional Greek fair with a seafront view.

While we would normally venture out to explore the surrounding region, we decided that the idilic setting of our hotel warranted three days of “far niente”.

The property has a pool as well a beautiful jetty with ladder access to swim in the bay. Hotel staff brought complementary pitchers of water throughout the day, which we appreciated while lounging under the hot Greek sun.

In the evenings, we enjoyed lovely sunset dinners. The food was wonderful and we discovered a delicious Greek white wine from the Ionian island of Cephalonia, Vino di Sasso.

Ktima Kyrimai is a wonderful historic hotel and made for a delightful and relaxing get-away. Gerolimenas in the Mani peninsula is a must for couple’s looking to enjoy a luxurious and serene stop along their route exploring the Peloponnese.