Vatheia
Vatheia
Βάθεια | |
|---|---|
View of Vatheia | |
Vatheia | |
| Coordinates: 36°27.2′N 22°28.0′E / 36.4533°N 22.4667°E | |
| Country | Greece |
| Administrative region | Peloponnese |
| Regional unit | Laconia |
| Municipality | East Mani |
| Municipal unit | Oitylo |
| Elevation | 180 m (590 ft) |
| Population (2021) | |
• Community | 78 |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
| Postal code | 230 71 |
| Area code | 27330 |
| Website | www |
Vatheia (Greek: Βάθεια [ˈvaθça]; also Vathia) is a southern Greek village on the Mani Peninsula in southeastern Laconia near the town of Oitylo. It is largely abandoned. Vatheia is known for its hillside tower-houses which overlook the surrounding landscape. Northeast of the village is the Sangias range.
Vatheia is linked by road to Areopoli and Kalamata to its north and Cape Matapan (also known as Tenaro and Tenairon) to the south. Farmland and maquis shrubland cover the hillsides. On the hills and mountainsides around Vatheia proper are clusters of abandoned houses, towers and chapels known as the perichora, meaning "environs".
Vatheia is a popular tourist destination, particularly in spring and summer as wildflowers cover the surrounding hills. It also offers examples of southern Maniot vernacular architecture of the 18th and 19th centuries. The nearest villages are Kyparissos, Alika, and Gerolimenas to the northwest and Lagia to the northeast.