Mourtzinoi Tower, Kardamyli: An architectural landmark in irreverent Mani

Its owners, one of the most influential Mani families, ruled the captaincy of Androuvista for more than 200 years. According to the peculiar administrative system of Outer Mani, the captain was the local ruler of a specific area, which he controlled from his personal “fortress”.

Built in stages from the late 17th to the 19th century, the complex has three fortification enclosures surrounding the tower, the three-storey fortified residence (tower-house or ondas), numerous subsidiary buildings (blacksmith’s workshop, cistern, olive press, vegetable garden), as well as a church dedicated to Saint Spyridon. 

The mere existence of a family church like this one (with a four-storey bell tower) indicates the high social status of the family, the members of which even hosted Kolokotronis when he arrived from Corfu, before setting off to liberate Kalamata. The tower house now accommodates a museum for the history of this specific monument and of Mani in general.