Stoupa
Encyclopedia
Stoupa is a village on the coast of the southern Peloponnese
peninsula in Greece
. It is part of the municipal unit of West Mani
, in Messenia
and the historic region of Mani Peninsula
.
Once a sleepy little town, in the past few years more and more tourists have discovered Stoupa. There are about 20 restaurants lining the road along the beach, a few small hotels, and many rental houses. Besides Greek tourists, who come mostly in August, British and German tourists are the most frequent visitors. There are a few Dutch, Italian, and French tourists. There is only one flight a week into Kalamata
, the local airport, from Holland. Aegean Airlines has begun to operate flights from Athens to Kalamata, and has recently added a Thessaloniki-Kalamata flight. In the summer season, many charter carriers operate flights to Kalamata bringing package tours.
. Approximately 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) from Stoupa is the village of Agios Nikolaos
(also known by its slavic name Selinitsa), a working fishing village which also has a number of restaurants and guest houses but which attracts fewer tourists than Stoupa. Above Agios Nikolaos is the lovely small village called Riglia. Other places in the Mani region include Itylo
(32 kilometres (19.9 mi)), Limeni (36 kilometres (22.4 mi)) and Areopoli
(40 kilometres (24.9 mi)). Below Areopoli are the caves of Pirgos Dirou.
There are many beaches and coves around the area including Stoupa Beach, which is the most popular and has a good beginner's snorkeling site at the end of the beach. Over the hill is Kalogria Beach, with its turquoise waters and rich marine life, volleyball net, and a handful of bars and restaurants. One of the features of Kalogria beach is the upswelling of an underground freshwater spring about 100 metres (328.1 ft) out from the shore. It can be seen as a disturbance on the surface of the sea.
Stoupa also has literary history. It is where the Greek writer Nikos Kazantzakis
met Alexis Zorbas, on whom he based aspects of the main character in the novel Zorba the Greek
. There is a bust of Nikos Kazantzakis
on the cliff overlooking Kalogria beach, at the corner of the main road and the beach approach. Stoupa is just 7 km away from the historic area of Kardamili, which is mentioned in work by Homer
.
Visitors can book coach trips to the ancient ruins of Olympia and the Corinth Canal. Another possibility is car rental, which allows travellers to take in the sights of places such as Naplio, Mycenae, Epidauvros, and Monemvasia on the Peloponnese.
Peloponnese
The Peloponnese, Peloponnesos or Peloponnesus , is a large peninsula , located in a region of southern Greece, forming the part of the country south of the Gulf of Corinth...
peninsula in Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. It is part of the municipal unit of West Mani
West Mani
West Mani is a municipality in the Messenia peripheral unit, Peloponnese Periphery, Greece. The seat of the municipality is the town Kardamyli. It comprises the western part of the Mani Peninsula.-Municipality:...
, in Messenia
Messenia
Messenia is a regional unit in the southwestern part of the Peloponnese region, one of 13 regions into which Greece has been divided by the Kallikratis plan, implemented 1 January 2011...
and the historic region of Mani Peninsula
Mani Peninsula
The Mani Peninsula , also long known as Maina or Maïna, is a geographical and cultural region in Greece. Mani is the central peninsula of the three which extend southwards from the Peloponnese in southern Greece. To the east is the Laconian Gulf, to the west the Messenian Gulf...
.
Once a sleepy little town, in the past few years more and more tourists have discovered Stoupa. There are about 20 restaurants lining the road along the beach, a few small hotels, and many rental houses. Besides Greek tourists, who come mostly in August, British and German tourists are the most frequent visitors. There are a few Dutch, Italian, and French tourists. There is only one flight a week into Kalamata
Kalamata
Kalamata is the second-largest city of the Peloponnese in southern Greece. The capital and chief port of the Messenia prefecture, it lies along the Nedon River at the head of the Messenian Gulf...
, the local airport, from Holland. Aegean Airlines has begun to operate flights from Athens to Kalamata, and has recently added a Thessaloniki-Kalamata flight. In the summer season, many charter carriers operate flights to Kalamata bringing package tours.
Geography
Stoupa is located in an area of Greece called Outer ManiMani Peninsula
The Mani Peninsula , also long known as Maina or Maïna, is a geographical and cultural region in Greece. Mani is the central peninsula of the three which extend southwards from the Peloponnese in southern Greece. To the east is the Laconian Gulf, to the west the Messenian Gulf...
. Approximately 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) from Stoupa is the village of Agios Nikolaos
Agios Nikolaos, Messinia
Agios Nikolaos is a fishing village in the Mani Peninsula in southern Greece; it is popular with holidaymakers. The village, known to English-speaking tourists as "Ag Nik", lies about south-east of Kalamata, on the eastern shore of the Messenian Gulf, and about south of Stoupa, a larger tourist...
(also known by its slavic name Selinitsa), a working fishing village which also has a number of restaurants and guest houses but which attracts fewer tourists than Stoupa. Above Agios Nikolaos is the lovely small village called Riglia. Other places in the Mani region include Itylo
Oitylo
Oitylo is a village and 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. It is one of the oldest towns in the Mani Peninsula. It was mentioned in the Iliad by Homer as Oetylοs ,...
(32 kilometres (19.9 mi)), Limeni (36 kilometres (22.4 mi)) and Areopoli
Areopoli
Areopoli is a town on the Mani Peninsula, Laconia, Greece. The word Areopoli means "city of Ares", the ancient Greek god of war. It was the seat of Oitylo municipality. Areopoli was called Tsimova by the invading Slavs during the 7th century AD...
(40 kilometres (24.9 mi)). Below Areopoli are the caves of Pirgos Dirou.
History
In the past, the Mani area was known for its fierce inhabitants, who lived in isolated fortified towers (some of which are still present today, either in ruins or having been restored). The towers offered protection in an area where feuding was commonplace.Stoupa also has literary history. It is where the Greek writer Nikos Kazantzakis
Nikos Kazantzakis
Nikos Kazantzakis was a Greek writer and philosopher, celebrated for his novel Zorba the Greek, considered his magnum opus...
met Alexis Zorbas, on whom he based aspects of the main character in the novel Zorba the Greek
Zorba the Greek
Zorba the Greek is a 1964 film based on the novel Zorba the Greek by Nikos Kazantzakis. The film was directed by Cypriot Michael Cacoyannis and the title character was played by Anthony Quinn...
. There is a bust of Nikos Kazantzakis
Nikos Kazantzakis
Nikos Kazantzakis was a Greek writer and philosopher, celebrated for his novel Zorba the Greek, considered his magnum opus...
on the cliff overlooking Kalogria beach, at the corner of the main road and the beach approach. Stoupa is just 7 km away from the historic area of Kardamili, which is mentioned in work by Homer
Homer
In the Western classical tradition Homer , is the author of the Iliad and the Odyssey, and is revered as the greatest ancient Greek epic poet. These epics lie at the beginning of the Western canon of literature, and have had an enormous influence on the history of literature.When he lived is...
.
Transport
There are approximately four buses a day which call through Stoupa, running from Kalamata to the southern tip of the peninsula. The bus stops by the Bakery on the main road at the top of Stoupa and takes around five minutes to reach Agios Nikolaos.Visitors can book coach trips to the ancient ruins of Olympia and the Corinth Canal. Another possibility is car rental, which allows travellers to take in the sights of places such as Naplio, Mycenae, Epidauvros, and Monemvasia on the Peloponnese.
External links
- Webcam
- Municipality Website (in Greek)