Laconia prefecture, Administrative district in southeastern Peloponnese, Greece
Laconia prefecture is a former administrative territory in southeastern Peloponnese, Greece, extending from the Taygetus mountains to the coast. The area contains the Evrotas river valley, which flows between mountains and empties into the Laconian Gulf.
This landscape was the center of ancient Sparta, a military power that ruled the southern Peloponnese for centuries. Later the region developed under Byzantine and Venetian rule before becoming part of the modern Greek state.
Local communities celebrate the spring orange harvest with festivals in villages where dancers perform in traditional costume. Mountain villages contain small chapels and taverns where regional dishes prepared with olive oil from the area are served.
Travelers can reach the area by roads that run from Sparta to mountain villages and the coast, with terrain ranging from plains to steep slopes. Visiting archaeological sites and castle ruins requires sturdy footwear, as many stand on rocky ground.
The Mani Peninsula in the south is known for its stone defensive towers, which families built for protection in past centuries. These towers still shape the landscape today and sometimes stand beside inhabited houses in remote villages.
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