Gerakas is a small seaside village built, literally, in a fjord, on the east coast of Laconia. In fact, it has been described as the southernmost fjord in Europe. It is located just 22 km from Monemvasia and offers visitors an awe-inspiring landscape. Today, Gerakas consists of three settlements: Limeni, Gerakas and Agios Ioannis.
The picturesque harbour is an anchorage for sailboats and fishing boats, as it is protected from the winds. The visitor, here, can find rooms for rent, cafes, fish taverns, etc. The port of Gerakas is the "Favorite village" of Pausanias, as he mentions in his piece of work "Laconica". During the Byzantine years, it was called "Ierax". It was the Byzantine naval base for the fight against the Saracens, the hideout of the Frankish pirate Ruggiero di Lauria of Aragonia when he decided to invade Monemvasia, as well as the anchorage of businessmen from Hydra and Spetses.
In the past, the entrance to the port was known as Porto Cadena due to the chain with which they used to close the entrance to the port. The gate, dating back to 272 BC, is in the form of a narrow corridor that extends to the north and then bends to the east. Above the port of Gerakas (west of the hill), visitors can find the ancient city of Zarakas. Finally, in the famous book "Words of the Bow", A. Karkavitsas refers to the port of Gerakas, describing it as "a windless port hidden behind the rocks".
