Having marvelled at the colourful and diverse displays of plant life in Crete and Lesvos, we were inspired to extend our spring flower tours to another spectacular region of Greece.
The southern most region of mainland Greece, the stunning region of the Peloponnese comprises high mountains to an altitude of 2500m and lowlands that include some of the hottest and driest parts of Europe as well as important wetlands. Joined to the mainland by a narrow isthmus until the building of the Corinth Canal, this historic connection allowed plant migration from all over Greece. However, its relative isolation along with natural mountain barriers, which have also acted as plant refuges, has enabled it to evolve a unique and rich flora that has resulted in more than 2300 species, of which 350 are found nowhere else.
The region offers a timeless rich culture and an inherent natural beauty that is at its very best in spring when the landscape is reborn with a dazzlingly display of new plant life. Ancient and fascinating, this area offers a spectacular natural landscape of towering mountains, verdant rolling hills and rugged coastlines that settle around a dramatic ancient history.
Our tour is focused on the remote western coast and, in particular, the Mani region, an area steeped in myths and legends that have developed from a long and turbulent past. As you travel the region you will chance upon timeless villages hidden amidst colourful hills and perched high above the coastline, where the views are breathtaking.
The isolated location of this beautiful area, combined with the independent nature of its inhabitants meant that some traditions developed separately from the rest of Greece so that a distinct society made its mark on the landscape. To this day the architecture of the area is famed for the tower houses and fortified family dwellings from the period of the Ottoman occupation of Greece.
Our base is the pretty seaside resort of Stoupa. From here we explore a variety of habitats to find the interesting flora in each area. Our visits include the ancient site of Mystras, wild Cape Teneron, the harbour town of Pylos, famous for the Battle of Navarino, the historical Methoni Castle and the beautiful town of Kardamyli and its inland villages that have a magnificient setting beneath the towering peaks of Mount Taygetos.
During our stay we expect to find a huge variety of flora including cyclamen, stachys, campanula, asphodels, phlomis, anemones, cotinus, ferula, euphorbia, limonium, muscari as well as a diversity of orchids – tongue, bee, giant, provence and naked man.
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