Selegoudi is built at the foothills of Mount Protas, at an altitude of 450 metres. It is located 22 km northwest of Gythio, near the river Sminos.
According to tradition, settlements from other places were moved to the current location during the 17th century so that the settlement would not be visible from the Laconian Gulf for fear of pirate raids.
The village is built near the old village of Sarbia, which pirates demolished. The origin of its name is probably Slavic (Selo = village). Selegoudi is mentioned as a Mani settlement in various sources, such as the Muazzo code, in 1695, as villa Selegadi or, as Sellegudhi in the Grimani census in 1700. The Cheilakos family, which comes from a prominent family line of nobles of the Byzantine period, grew up in the village. The family played a significant role during the Greek Revolution of 1821.
Finally, at Selegoudi, visitors can see the old church of Agioi Theodoroi and the newer central church in honour of the Holy Zone. In fact, the church of Agioi Theodoroi has been designated a preserved monument by the Ephorate of Byzantine Antiquities, and it is the oldest church in the village.
