Megalos Simos Beach

Megalos Simos beach (Sarakiniko or Tseratsiniko beach for the locals) is located on the south side of Elafonisos, 4 km from the settlement.

It is an organised beach with umbrellas and sunbeds, 1500 metres long. The beach with fine white sand and turquoise waters is among the best in the Mediterranean, along with its "twin" beach of Mikros Simos. Characteristic of the landscape are the (sand) dunes that reach even the height of 10 metres. A cedar forest connects the beach of Megalos Simos with the beach of Mikros Simos (Fragos beach).

The beach of Sarakiniko was used as a base by the Saracens, from which it got its name. Sarakinikos Bay (Tseratsinikos), or Porto di Cervi that cartographers wrote about, was a refuge for wild Saracens, Turks, Maltese, English, French and Mani pirates and corsairs. In his poem on Kythira, Victor Hugo refers to the corsairs (pirates) of the area (Strait of Elafonisos), and so does Julius Verne.

The First Venetian-Turkish Battle of Elafonisos began at Sarakiniko in 1572. Personalities such as Don Juan and Thervantes (author of the work "Don Quixote") took part in this battle. Also, at Sarakiniko, the decision for the Naval Battle of Navarino was taken on October 8th, 1827.