Foneas Beach
Foneas beach in Western Mani, just 4 kilometres outside Kardamyli, halfway between Kalamata and Areopolis. The beach is at the end of the Foneas Gorge, which the locals call "Nupanti's Haradra (Gorge)". The gorge starts from the Vaidenitsa Monastery, and after 8 kilometres, it ends at the beach. The inhabitants of the neighbouring villages (Saidona, Exohori, Proastio) call the Foneas Gorge "Nupanti" because in the old days, meetings and marriage arrangements took place there.
The most famous "unknown" beach is hidden in a rocky landscape at the end of a path. It is a beach with crystal clear blue-green waters and white pebbles divided in two by a distinctive, colossal rock. The trees around the coast create an exceptional setting for visitors.
According to popular tradition, Foneas beach got its name from a pirate who was shipwrecked there and found refuge in its cave. To survive, he robbed and killed passers-by. When he managed to repair his ship, he set sail again, leaving a grim legacy of the name.