The village of Kastania (also known as Kastanitsa or Kastάnia) belongs to the Bardounochoria of Laconia. It is built on a verdant slope at an altitude of 780 metres and is 28 kilometres from Gythio.
More specifically, the village stretches on the north side of Vatika from the side of the Myrtoo Sea. A little higher is the Holy Monastery of Panagia Giatrissa. The people of Mani called it Mikri Kastania (Small Kastania) or Kastanitsa to distinguish it from Kastania that belongs to the Messinian Mani. We also find Kastania in the poem written by Nikitas Nifakis in 1789:
"... Kastanitsa is ahead, famous for its battles…».
The village of Kastania was the birthplace of Panagiotaros Venetsanakis, who played a very active role along with Konstantis Kolokotronis, Theodoros' father. The village became known from its siege, in July 1780 (Siege of Kastanitsa), by 14,000 Turks, with the aim of exterminating Panagiotaros, which they finally succeeded.
What makes the village stand out is the landscape with the traditional houses and the tiled roofs, the narrow, cobbled streets, the plane trees and the scattered chapels. The old village, Megachora, was built a little higher. Pirates destroyed it, and the inhabitants were slaughtered or sold as slaves. According to tradition, Megachora had 700 houses and seven churches, while it is also said that the golden hen with her golden chicks is still buried there (since the time of the raids). Today, only the Byzantine church of Agios Ioannis, with remarkable 13th-century hagiographies, survives perfectly preserved. The church is not easily accessible as it is located in a private area.
In Ano Kastania, visitors can see the ruins of buildings and the Byzantine church of Agios Vassilios, where the last settlement was located before the founding of the village. There is also the beautiful Agios Andreas' cave, while a little further the visitor meets the small church of the same name, which dates back to the 14th century. Finally, Agios Konstantinos is the central church of Kato Kastania. It is located on the road that crosses the village, while visitors can see the war memorial at the village entrance.
