Mani is a geographical area of Peloponissos (the Peloponnese) where, according to ancient Greek history, the ancient city of Pyrrichos or Kavallos existed. This city was located around 6 km away from present day town of Areopolis. The village of Pyrrichos which is near Areopolis possibly goes back to these earlier times.  

During the Ottoman occupation of Greece, the area of Mani remained free and during the Greek revolution for independence from the Ottomans, people of Mani succeeded in repelling the armies of the Ottoman General Ibrahim. As Mani remained unoccupied by the Ottomans for centuries, many Greeks from the Turkish-occupied areas found sanctuary there.

The name Mani has its origins in the ancient word manos which means a place without vegetation. Its geographical boundaries extend from Mt Taygetos to Cape Tainaro, the southernmost tip of the Balkan peninsula between the Laconian and Messinian Gulfs. According to ancient Greek mythology and Pausanias, a cave located in this area was the necromancy of Poseidon, believed to be the gateway to Hades, the underworld.

Mt Taygetus shapes the geomorphology of Mani into three distinct geographies: the eastern or “Lower” Mani, facing the Laconian Gulf, the Western or “Inner” Mani, overlooking the Messinian Gulf, and the northwestern Mani known as “Outer” Mani.

Since 2011, the area of Mani consists administratively of the municipality of West Mani, which is based in Kardamyli and belongs to the county of Messinia, and the municipality of Eastern Mani, which belongs to the county of Laconia and is based in Gythio and has its historical seat in Areopolis.

Of the 118 settlements of the Peloponnese that have been officially characterised as traditional, 98 are located in Mani recognizing the unique traditional architectural styles of Mani.  The beautiful and imposing landscape of Mani, with its towers, castles, Byzantine churches and beautiful bays, attract many visitors both from the rest of Greece and from abroad.