Come and stay in Patrick Leigh Fermor’s house at Kardamyli, in the Mani
July 2–7, 2020
In 1996, Patrick and Joan Leigh Fermor bequeathed the beautiful house they built in the 1960s to the Benaki museum. It has recently been restored, and our group of 10 readers will be one of the first to stay there. The house is right on the sea and there are plenty of terraces to which people can escape.
Ruth Hackney, who lives locally, will be our tour guide and leader. This is an extraordinary opportunity to have the house to ourselves and to be able to tour the area with such expertise. The house is available to rent for only 90 days a year. There is space for only 10 guests; so, if this trip is full, please express an interest in a subsequent tour. Have a look at www.ariahotels.gr/en/pages/ house_patrick_joan_leigh_fermor.
For the full itinerary:
www.theoldie.co.uk/courses-tours
Thursday 2nd July – arrival
Depart Heathrow on BA flight at 1200; arrive Kalamata at 1800 (two-hour time difference). Dinner at PLF house.
Friday 3rd July – Kardamyli and the villa
Morning tour of the medieval village Kardamyli followed by lunch in the village. Free afternoon to relax and enjoy the villa. Dinner at PLF house.
Saturday 4th July – Upper Mani walking tour
Easy walk around Kendro, as described by PLF in Mani:
Travels in the Southern Peloponnese, followed by lunch in a mountain village. Free afternoon. Dinner in Kardamyli.
Sunday 5th July – Messini, Methoni and Pylos Bay
Tour of the ancient city of Messini. Lunch at the Venetian port of Methoni and visit to the bay of Pylos, where British and French ships defeated the Ottoman navy in 1827. Dinner at PLF house.
Monday 6th July – day tour of the Mani
Explore the tower houses of Areopolis, visit Tigane (the salt pan in Mani) and the ‘ghost village’ of Vatheia. Lunch in the harbour at Gerolimenas (where PLF stays in Mani). Dinner at PLF house.
Tuesday 7th July – Back to Blighty
Leave Kardamyli after breakfast. 12pm depart Kalamata with easyjet (flights TBC).