Peloponnisos SearchDESTINATIONS FOR EVERY TRAVELER

Drosopigi

COUNTY: Laconia MUNICIPALITY: West Mani

Clear
16.64ºC

Population

0 - 100

Distance from nearest city

10-35km

TL;DR

A traditional village in Mani near Gytheio, with a small chapel, a renovated olive press, an old plane tree, a spring and a tavern.

Drosopigi is a traditional village in Mani near Gytheio. In the past it used to be called Tserova or Tserouva from the latinized ancient Greek word that used to mean “key”. The village was a gateway towards Mani from the antiquity until the Turkish rule. According to another tradition, the name comes from the Bulgarian root “–cer”, that means “oak tree” since the surrounding mountain sides are full of oak trees.

Drosopigi was built at an altitude of 409m and has approximately 50 residents. It is known for its large number of tower-houses, a typical architectural feature of the entire Mani. In the nearby hill, you will find the ruins of Tserovas that the residents now call Palaiokotrona. On the top of another hill west of the village, after a 15- minute walk, you will find the ruins of the byzantine city of Karyopoulis.

On the village’s entrance, the visitor comes across the single-room church of Koimisis tis Theotokou (Dormition of the Holy Mother of God) dated from the 18th century and decorated with murals, which are probably the works of the icon painter Klirodetis in 1768. Another important chapel is the Agia Eleousa (St. Eleousa), with an extraordinary iconostasis and icon paintings from 1853. The visitors have also the chance to visit the renovated olive press and watch the traditional process of olive oil production. In the village’s central square, below the old plane tree and next to the spring, you will find the only tavern in the village with exquisite local dishes.