Sublime. The property is two dwellings one of which is a tower house particular to this region. The houses and gardens have been beautifully and thoughtfully renovated . The use of stone and wood within and outside the property, the stone walls. the outside shower , trees and vine are all perfectly placed. There is a hammock in an olive grove below a vine that I lay in for hours looking out to sea from. The views from all the windows and the lower terrace are exceptional of mountains, olive groves and the sea ( possibly the best seaview of anywhere I have stayed). Everything about this property was heavenly, well cared for and designed for comfort and an aesthetic joy. The caretakers and the owner were wonderfully friendly and helpful. The property is situated down at the end of a little lane , very short way from parking and the village square where we would wander up and eat some evenings at a exceptional taverna. Or you could walk into the countryside which was completely peaceful and unspoilt. Mostly, we loved to stay at the property because it is so idyllic. It is a drive to beaches, but not far, the nearest maybe 15 mins drive. The whole area is not over touristy and people are so friendly and warm. We had a wonderful time.

We - family of four with two teenagers - stayed for almost 2 weeks in Thalames. The house (tower) was in perfect condition, the view awesome. Our daughters stayed in a separate building, enjoying their privacy and double beds (for each!). Spending a day in the garden (instead of going to the sea) was a real pleasure, it is sunny and also provides shadow during the hot July hours. The nearby taverna was always a safe bet at any time of the day. As in the header - a place to return to.

When you are in the garden, life is tranquil and relaxing, with wonderful views, sufficient sunny and shady areas (plus associated loungers & comfy chairs) to suit all needs, plus a superb hammock in which to have that essential ‘afternoon nap’. The house is well equipped with good quality kit from air conditioning, to kitchen hardware, to multiple showers, to beds, etc. For those in need of their internet kick, the WiFi is good for emails, newspapers, FaceTime, etc, with reasonable access well into the garden. The welcome & support offered by Kiriakos & Yoanna is exceptional, with a good balance between ‘being around’ and ‘leaving you alone’. The local (5-10mins walk) taverna provides good food, drink, & occasional music, for locals as well as visitors; be aware that portion sizes are large and prices low! A 20 to 30 minutes drive north gives you access to several lovely beaches with warm, clear water, some form of taverna, & car parking. Go 15 minutes south, in your car, and you’ll find a bakery, which will tempt you with its very affordable and wonderful breads, pastries, pizzas, etc.; an experience not to be missed. Finally, Alex is very welcoming plus helpful, providing lots of good information as standard plus is quick to reply to any specific queries.

When you are in the garden, life is tranquil and relaxing, with wonderful views, sufficient sunny and shady areas (plus associated loungers & comfy chairs) to suit all needs, plus a superb hammock in which to have that essential ‘afternoon nap’. The house is well equipped with good quality kit from air conditioning, to kitchen hardware, to multiple showers, to beds, etc. For those in need of their internet kick, the WiFi is good for emails, newspapers, FaceTime, etc, with reasonable access well into the garden. The welcome & support offered by Kiriakos & Yoanna is exceptional, with a good balance between ‘being around’ and ‘leaving you alone’. The local (5-10mins walk) taverna provides good food, drink, & occasional music, for locals as well as visitors; be aware that portion sizes are large and prices low! A 20 to 30 minutes drive north gives you access to several lovely beaches with warm, clear water, some form of taverna, & car parking. Go 15 minutes south, in your car, and you’ll find a bakery, which will tempt you with its very affordable and wonderful breads, pastries, pizzas, etc.; an experience not to be missed. Finally, Alex is very welcoming plus helpful, providing lots of good information as standard plus is quick to reply to any specific queries.

Opening the blue door to the property we felt like entering a hidden paradise. Never before we spent such a perfect holiday, due to many aspects: first of all the wonderful Pyrgos, restored with taste and carefulness, the bedroom on the second floor with a 270 degree view, our favorite place on the smaller court under the trees following the sun from the east rising behind the Mount Nikon to the stunning sunsets in the west. Thalames has a fantastic tavern "O Platanos" with a friendly stuff where we used to take a coffee and to have our dinner quite often... The olive oil from the mill just in front of the tavern (taste the one with orange too!) is just delicious. We had some lovely hiking tours in the region and discovered little beaches, our favourite one ist Foneas. To sum it up, the owners created really a wonderful place where you will regenerate and get inspired just by the peaceful landscape and people around you. Thank you so much for three unforgettable weeks!

A magic place to enjoy a real Greek holiday!

A stunning house with far reaching views over olive trees to the sea, in a peaceful village set in the landscape of ancient Greece. The house is beautifully maintained with food already in the fridge on arrival,the beds were blissfully comfortable and the bathroom and kitchen well stocked. We spent much time outside in the lovely garden,plenty of shaded corners and chairs and tables for reading writing and eating;the view was stupendous and early mornings were spent watching the sunrise over the mountains.The peace was palpable The local village is wonderful,with a lovely taverna at its heart serving excellent food,there is an olive mill run traditionally,(great olive oil) and a small museum. We swam in crystalline sea daily,hiked in a gorge and up the mountains full of wild flowers. We visited villages and ancient Byzantine churches;we also ate sparklingly fresh fish at sea shore tavernas. We are already counting the days until we return

Its hard to describe perfection-you run out of superlatives. The views from the windows and garden are immense, extending over high mountains,olive trees and the blue gleam of sea.We were spell bound everyday by sunrises and sunsets. We woke to bird song and the soft sound of falling figs; the scent of lavender and rosemary came though the open windows,we didn't want to leave. We had writing to do under the olive trees,but also found time for hiking in the gorge and the Taygetus mountains,swimming in clear sea and visiting tiny churches.We ate in the local taverna,(wild asparagus omelette-fantastic) also excellent fish in seaside places like Limeni. Kallouria and others. The house is stunning- a historical structure thats been sympathetically renewed- lovely floors and shutters.Inside its all up too date, modern bathrooms, plentiful hot water,good well equipped kitchen and very comfortable beds with mosquito nets already in place. The fridge contained with useful items on arrival -yoghurt and juice,mill and eggs.Also bread and coffee,much appreciated. The village is as you might imagine Greece was fifty years ago- we met donkeys in the road,went round the olive factory run in the traditional way,(brilliant olive oil we came back laden)and the tiny museum with Byron's signature. Karaikos met us and let us in,and was on hand for questions.He was delightful. Alex the owner answers all questions immediately and helpfully. I could not recommend this place more highly,five stars at least. We will certainly return.

Its hard to describe perfection-you run out of superlatives. The views from the windows and garden are immense, extending over high mountains,olive trees and the blue gleam of sea.We were spell bound everyday by sunrises and sunsets. We woke to bird song and the soft sound of falling figs; the scent of lavender and rosemary came though the open windows,we didn't want to leave. We had writing to do under the olive trees,but also found time for hiking in the gorge and the Taygetus mountains,swimming in clear sea and visiting tiny churches.We ate in the local taverna,(wild asparagus omelette-fantastic) also excellent fish in seaside places like Limeni. Kallouria and others. The house is stunning- a historical structure thats been sympathetically renewed- lovely floors and shutters.Inside its all up too date, modern bathrooms, plentiful hot water,good well equipped kitchen and very comfortable beds with mosquito nets already in place. The fridge contained with useful items on arrival -yoghurt and juice,mill and eggs.Also bread and coffee,much appreciated. The village is as you might imagine Greece was fifty years ago- we met donkeys in the road,went round the olive factory run in the traditional way,(brilliant olive oil we came back laden)and the tiny museum with Byron's signature. Karaikos met us and let us in,and was on hand for questions.He was delightful. Alex the owner answers all questions immediately and helpfully. I could not recommend this place more highly,five stars at least. We will certainly return.

Questa casa è un sogno, meravigliosa, splendida. È la casa dei desideri, le foto non rendono la bellezza del posto, e il senso di calma e libertà che vi si respira. Il giardino è rigoglioso, ampio, curato e con una vista aperta su colline a ulivi e mare. La casa è composta da due unità, una a torre con cucina, due bagni sala e camera matrimoniale e una con una camera matrimoniale, un bagno e un'altra camera doppia. Noi eravamo due famiglie con bimbi piccoli ed era veramente tutto facile: loro giocavano in giardino e noi leggevamo sotto gli ulivi, o il pergolato, sull'amaca, guardando il mare. Un sogno! vogliamo ringraziare Alex, il proprietario, sia per la gentilezza nel darci tutte le indicazioni e mille suggerimenti per i luoghi da visitare, che per la velocità delle risposte in fase di organizzazione del viaggio. Menzione speciale per Kriacos, o Domenico, la persona che ci ha materialmente accolti al nostro arrivo: gentilezza, disponibilità, simpatia lo hanno reso un amico di viaggio che ricorderemo con affetto. La casa è nel paese, ma è l'ultima della stradina, quindi in posizione ideale. A pochi metri a piedi c'è una taverna che è tra le migliori della zona, dove si spende pochissimo e quindi eravamo sempre lì a cena, quando non in giro. Le spiagge sono molte, raggiungibili in macchina. Tutte adatte ai bimbi. sempre con taverna vicino, quindi comodissime. Il posto per noi più bello da visitare nelle vicinanze è Lymeni, da non perdere! Insomma, questa vacanza sarà sempre da noi ricordata perché è stata fantastica. Consigliamo questa casa a tutti!

Questa casa è un sogno, meravigliosa, splendida. È la casa dei desideri, le foto non rendono la bellezza del posto, e il senso di calma e libertà che vi si respira. Il giardino è rigoglioso, ampio, curato e con una vista aperta su colline a ulivi e mare. La casa è composta da due unità, una a torre con cucina, due bagni sala e camera matrimoniale e una con una camera matrimoniale, un bagno e un'altra camera doppia. Noi eravamo due famiglie con bimbi piccoli ed era veramente tutto facile: loro giocavano in giardino e noi leggevamo sotto gli ulivi, o il pergolato, sull'amaca, guardando il mare. Un sogno!vogliamo ringraziare Alex, il proprietario, sia per la gentilezza nel darci tutte le indicazioni e mille suggerimenti per i luoghi da visitare, che per la velocità delle risposte in fase di organizzazione del viaggio.Menzione speciale per Kriacos, o Domenico, la persona che ci ha materialmente accolti al nostro arrivo: gentilezza, disponibilità, simpatia lo hanno reso un amico di viaggio che ricorderemo con affetto.La casa è nel paese, ma è l'ultima della stradina, quindi in posizione ideale. A pochi metri a piedi c'è una taverna che è tra le migliori della zona, dove si spende pochissimo e quindi eravamo sempre lì a cena, quando non in giro.Le spiagge sono molte, raggiungibili in macchina. Tutte adatte ai bimbi. sempre con taverna vicino, quindi comodissime. Il posto per noi più bello da visitare nelle vicinanze è Lymeni, da non perdere!Insomma, questa vacanza sarà sempre da noi ricordata perché è stata fantastica. Consigliamo questa casa a tutti!

We were awe-struck by the beauty of the Mani, its towering mountains and stone-towered, unspoilt villages. Not only is Thalames a wonderful place to stay - we loved our walks through the little streets in the evenings when it was cooler - but it is also a very convenient location for exploring. It was easy to reach the lovely coastal villages below the village, but also to cross to the beaches on the east side, to drive down to the deep Mani, and to go up to Kardamyli for a change of scene. We also found it wasn't too long a drive to Mystras, which we would highly recommend. The house itself is everything that others have said and it was spotlessly clean on our arrival. No car noise whatsoever and unsurpassable views. Wonderful.

We and another couple spent a week in May, 2016 at Pyrgos Manoleas, the medieval tower house in the village of Thalames. The accommodations were very good and located in a quiet, peaceful location on the edge of the village. The local Taverna in the village square, just a short walk from the Tower House, has excellent fare and one or two nights a week features folk music by local musicians. Thalames is an ideal location from which to explore the beaches and villages of the Mani, and we would highly recommend it for any families visiting the area

an amazing house in one of the most beautiful villages of the region. Charming, quiet, peaceful and close of excellent Tavernas. Clear water full of colored fish, nice walks around and delicious food very close, more than what we expected ! Hope to come back soon. We do recommend !!

It's a challenge to find enough superlatives to describe this property. The tower and guest house are beautifully restored, fully functional and very comfortable. Every detail is perfect. Views from the tower and terrace are magnificent. I wish that we could have drinks on the terrace every night. The town of Thalames is splendid and quiet and the surrounding area is full of wonders. One is the local taverna in Thalames, where we ate every morning and every other evening. The owners are among the lovliest and most welcoming people we have ever met. Same goes for the caretaker and his wife, who could not have been nicer or more accommodating. We loved all of the nearby stone beaches, the absolutely charming fishing village of Trachila, which is not to be missed. Can't wait to return!

Pyrgos Manoleas was very beatufill. We stayed there14 days and we did not even managed to explore the whole area. There is a variety of very beatifull, easy accessible beaches. There are lot of old churches to visit, mountains, caves but also the village of Thalames is authentic and quiet. The house is comfortable. The interior reminded us of years past, very beatifull. The view over the sea and mountains lives you breathless. this is the kind of place you want to go back to.

This tower house has been beautifully restored. The upstairs bedroom has views of the sea and the mountains -- and the deep windows provide an excellent spot for reading a book while taking in the tranquil setting. The village of Thalames is quiet and lovely. A short walk away is a taverna with excellent food and a friendly owner. This part of the Mani is dotted with small villages connected by a road that overlays a Byzantine route. The neighboring villages of Platsa, Nomitsi and Langada all boast important medieval churches. If you want to immerse yourself in the essence of the Messenian Mani, this is the setting. It is far from the crowds and tourists of Stoupa and Kardamyli, but a quick car ride to both of those towns if one is interested. The night stars are spectacular. The caretaker for the house is charming. We felt very glad to have stayed in this special house and to have experienced the Mani as "residents."

Our family of 4 spent two weeks in this very special place. Situated on the edge of the village, Pyrgos Manoleas is a thoughtfully restored, carefully maintained and exceptionally comfortable and spacious house in one of the most serene settings we have ever experienced. But most adjectives fall short. Alex and Julie offer a unique opportunity to experience an exquisite corner of the Peloponnese, where even newcomers feel perfectly at home and yet wonderfully disconnected from the world beyond the Mani. Morning coffee and afternoon apéritifs on the terrace were the perfect bookends to our days in Thalames. There are delightful walks near the house and further afield, with magnificent landscapes and seascapes, and enchanting discoveries around every bend . . . the mysterious mountains with their endless stories buried inside . . . the sparkling water and beaches of smooth, warm pebbles. The nearby taverna, O Platanos, and the Nomitsi grill a couple minutes down the road, as well as the local honey, olive oil and wild herbs, provide all the food and drink one needs (although there are so many excellent restaurants in Agios Nikolaos, Kardamyli, etc), as well as the occasions to meet some lovely people. A garden filled with olive and mulberry trees, rosemary, lavender and oregano, wildflowers poking out of the ground, bougainvillea spilling over the stone walls, the mountains embracing the house and the endless sea in the distance, the constant birdsong and the occasional, soft clanking of a sheep bell . . . the elemental fragrances, flavors, textures, music and colors of Pyrgos Manoleas are the backdrop for the most glorious of holidays.

This is a really lovely place made all the more special because you can only access it on foot. The two buildings were perfect for us, a family of 5. The boys (late teens, early 20s) were happy to be detached from their parents, while their parents were blissed out in the wonderful bedroom at the top of the tower with its thick walls, and windows overlooking 3 different views. And the garden was really lovely too with many different spots to hang out in. The hammock was my favourite! We were made to feel very welcome, and enjoyed the village itself enormously where we spent at least three (out of our 6) evenings in the taverna. It was rather nice to stay back from the coast, although the coast remains delightfully unspoilt, with any development there is localised to villages and not spread out along an ugly strip. We ate some delicious food, and enjoyed so much friendliness from the people we met along the way. I would love to return to spend more time in the Mani and I'd very happily stay in Alex's tower again.

Lieu de séjour de charme, idéal pour les amateurs d’authenticité, de marche, de beaux paysages, de mer et de calme, dans un petit village ancré dans la tumultueuse histoire du Magne. Une tour du XVe siècle magnifiquement transformée en une confortable habitation, ses annexes, ses multiples terrasses dominant la côte découpée au milieu des oliviers. Notre regret : notre petite semaine ne nous a pas laissé le temps d’explorer toutes les possibilités de visites de la région. Nos grands plaisirs : les petits déjeuners sur les terrasses, les dîners à la taverne, les causettes avec Kiriakos, savourer le miel du papi de la place et l’huile du moulin, les promenades du soir parmi les oliviers en admirant la mer et bien d’autres choses … de grands moments de bonheur. Merci à Julie et à Alex d’être si attentifs à bien recevoir leurs hôtes.

After much research and being intrigued by the Mani region, we decided on Pyrgos Manoleas. We have lived and traveled now for four years in Europe. Unequivocally, Pyrgos Manoleas is the most special and unique vacation home we’ve enjoyed. It is a beautifully restored stone defense tower house, originally built by the feudal Maniot. So, it’s not just an incredible vacation home, it’s a piece of history. The owners painstakingly restored this property – it is exquisite. As a family of five, we chose to sleep in the annex house, which has two large bedrooms and a bathroom. There is another beautiful bedroom in the tower house, so this property is perfect for privacy. The two structures are connected by a stone archway, all surrounded by enormous stone terraces and incredible views to the sea. It’s situated in a tiny, quiet village nestled on the hillside. It’s a fairly short drive to nearby beaches, our favorite being Foneas - we went late afternoon and it was quiet, nearly empty. The surrounding area has numerous of Byzantine churches and interesting towns (we particularly enjoyed Areopoli) to explore. This was truly one of our favorite vacations and we would love to return and highly recommend. Thank you to Kiriakos who was delightful and so helpful (we had car trouble; he went out of his way to help). We offer our sincere appreciation to Alex and Julia for sharing their beautiful home with strangers. Truly a treat!

After reading Patrick Leigh Fermor's book "Mani", a small group of us from California became determined to explore the towns and towers described in his wonderful book. 12 days were not enough, so this past June we returned, but this time we had the fortune of staying in an actual Mani Tower. Pyrgos Manoleas is not just another vacation rental.....its is a wonderland for the traveler......everything you could possibly want in a place to stay. It is situated in a delightful Greek village with locals who soon became our friends. We were met on the road by Kiriakos (the manager) who guided us to the spot (thank goodness) and showed us all the things we should know, and was at our service at any time. The house itself was actually two large structures.....one the 3 storey tower (which even at our senior ages, we happily scampered up to the top floor for the fabulous views of the sea and surrounding hills.) The living room was very comfortable and decorated with lovely Greek antiques. The kitchen was outfitted with everything you would ever need for cooking or just snacking. We fixed breakfast every morning, and took Alex's advice and used the local taverna "The Oasis" for dinner. We once ate there (6 of us) for 38 euros. After a couple of times the main waiter Leonidas started giving us complementary wine. We really felt at home there, and truly enjoyed "happy night" when everyone local and non local came for singing and dancing. The second structure was a lovely single level with two large bedrooms and a large and modern bathroom in between. It had its own patio, but there were several patios to choose from, so there was lots of space for even a group of six single adults. We explored on a daily basis, and used Alex's suggestions especially for swimming and snorkeling.....and discovered some lovely quiet beaches and several delightful villages along the coast, including Trakhila with the cleanest and clearest water anyone could hope for. We all agreed that one week was not enough, and hope to return in the future. We all highly recommend Pyrgos Manoleas for almost anyone.....we were 4 women and 2 men with ages ranging from 62 to 75...golden girls and guys who had a great time!