The small village of Gardenitsa is located 4 km from Koita. It is built at an altitude of 120 metres from the sea and consists of two neighbourhoods, Ano and Kato Gardenitsa. North of Ano Gardenitsa, you can find the abandoned settlement called "Liostifa", which many identify with the Homeric Messi (Polytriron). According to the Institute of Modern Greek Studies archives, Gardenitsa was renamed Kokkinokambos - a name that did not officially prevail.
The whole settlement owes its name to the Kardiani Virgin (Kardianitsa). She was the daughter of Lord Kardianos, who played an essential role in the history of Middle - Mani. Kardiani was the founder and mother superior of the Abbey of Christ the Savior (now known as the Savior of Gardenitsa), which existed since the 11th century.
Near the village is the abyss-cave of Charambos Gardenitsa, while at Kato Gardenitsa, visitors can see the old manual olive mill of the family of Michael L. Georgopoulos (1910-1992). The manual oil mill is one of the last to exist in Mani. In fact, during its construction, the two stones (millstones) and the machine (press) were transported by boat from Kalamata to the small port of Kourkos at Mezapos and from there to Kato Gardenitsa (by hand, with ropes and mules).
