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Thursday, September 24, 2020

The Health Center (Kendro Hygeia) is located at the fourth bridge over the river from the sea shore. Several doctors attend patients there. Foreigners may be seen without an appointment.
There are several grocery stores in Neapolis. The largest supermarket is located on the main road entering Neapolis from the direction of Sparta. Three smaller grocery stores are located in the center of town. Mentes Market is close to the pier. Another is close to the second bridge over the river. A third supermarket is located on Leoforio Sparta, which is the main shopping street that runs parallel to the beach road. Also on this street, across from the Ethniki Bank, is a well-stocked mini-market that is open in Sundays — when the other grocery stores are closed. 
The ferry to Elafonisos Island is located at Pounta Beach in Viglafia. It is a short 10-minute ride from the mainland to Elafnisos Island. Tickets are 1,20 euros one way per passenger and 11 euros one way for a car. The ferry runs once an hour during the summer.

For up-to-date information about the ferry schedule, call +30 27340 22228.



Saturday, September 19, 2020





Vatistas Wines have been produced by local winemaker Yiannis Vatistas for over three decades. Thirty years ago, he made a commitment to developing wines made from local Greek varietals. Vatiasta wines won many awards at international wine competitions. Vatista makes fifteen excellent wines from different local varietals.

Recognizing that the attributes of local varietals could complement the flavors of classic international varietals, Yiannis Vatistas created an award-winning blend he called 50/50: fifty percent Agiorgitiko and fifty percent Cabernet Sauvignon.

Following Yiannis Vatista’s death in 2019, his daughter Eleni Vatista is operating the winery, following her father’s footsteps. 


Saturday, June 15, 2019

Hiking along any of the trails that criss-cross the mountains north of Neapolis, one encounters native medicinal herbs. Sage is among the most common. Wild sage is more flavorful than domestic farmed sage. Use it to flavor soups or stews, burn the stems as a cleansng incense, or steep the leaves in boiling water for therapeutic tea. 

   

                           Feast of the Holy Spirit Celebration June 15-17 June  2019 in Neapolis


On Saturday 15 June, the Cultural Association of Vatikas will present traditional dances in Neapoli Square.

On Sunday afternoon, our members, dressed in traditional costumes, will celebrate and escort the icon of Neapolis, on a pilgrmage route through town, accompanied by our excellent Philharmonic Orchestra. 
Visitors are welcome to join the procession.

On Monday, after the service in the Church of the Holy Trinity,  the Cultural Association of Vatika will offer sweets for everyone. 



The beaches surrounding Vatika Bay and Elafonisos, the beaches of Limnes, Marathia, Platanistos, and all beaches on the east side of the Cape Malea peninsula from Velanidia to past Monemvasia, are prime loggerhead sea turtle nesting habitat. 

From May through September 2020, over 150 Caretta caretta nests were identified, verified, protected, and recorded. The local environmental protection NGO Toulipa Goulimyi has connected with the Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece ARCHELON to keep detailed records of this important nesting area.

Toulpia Goulimyi volunteers patrol all the beaches regularly looking for turtle tracks, the first step in identifying a new nest. Trained volunteers then open each nest to verify the presence of eggs. A screen is placed over the nest to protect it from marauding skunks and weasels. A sign fixed to the nest tells when it was found and gives it an identification number. Forty-five to sixty days later, hatchlings dig their way up through the sand and head towards the brightest light. In the past, that was the moon reflecting on the waves of the sea. Once in the sea, the baby turtles will start their new lives. 

Sadly, street lights, house lights and business lights distract the turtle hatchlings, and instead of heading into the sea, they may head toward those brighter lights, become exhausted, and die on dry land. 
















Wednesday, March 27, 2019

   

Lahi is a village just east of Neapolis which originated around 1600 CE.
From the Byzantines there was the Temple of Theotokos (Kalenia), where in After the failure of the Orlofians, several inhabitants of the village dispersed in other parts of the country and mainly in the Aegean islands.the past it functioned as a monastery.
In 1814, after the permission of the agape of Faraklou, the temple of the Presentation of the Virgin Mary was built.


With the establishment of the newer Greek state in 1836, Lahi was the seat of one of the two municipalities of Vatikas, the Municipality of Voi and which in 1840 merged with the Municipality of Maleos (Faraklos). The two municipalities merged in 1840.
There are a number of explanations for the origin of the village's name: 
*Lashis was a general of the Athenians in the 5th century BC.
*One of the generals of the King of God is reported as Leigh. 
*Georgios Lahis, resident of the region during the Ottoman domination.
 *Las the place name beach at sea.
*Lahia, meaning well-cultivated land and lachos which means stone digging.
*The main activity of the inhabitants in the past was the sea (shipping and fishing) and, in addition, the cultivation of the land.
Photo Exploring Greece



 


Mesohori is a beautiful little  village full  of trees, with a panoramic view of Neapoli and its bay from above. Visit the village for annual Panagyri held at the church in Mesochori -- notable for its excellent food, prepared by the women of the village. A modest entrance fee covers a generous dinner and music for dancing far into the night. photo Limira Mare Hotel

Saturday, March 9, 2019

 
Local festivals in Neapolis.

Every year this festivals give  a unique opportunity for visitors to experience it.
March 10  The local Carnival, start at 11:30 am in Neapolis.

Carnival children's program with clowns and jugglers at Neapoli Square, at 13:15

and in case of rain in the event hall of the Old Primary School of Neapolis, at 12:15 pm



March 11

Clean Monday  Local festival In the beautiful Pounta near the ancient city of Pavlopetri
Offering  gourmet dishes and flying kite on the beach of Pounta. 11:00 am