1
A
5 must-do’s
the Old
Town
real must for anyone staying in
Kardamyli. The “family complex”
in Pano Kardamyli is a good example of a typical Outer Mani walled
and fortified, defensive family
grouping which served as a “clan”
stronghold and power base. The
Troupakis family grew to prominence and power in Androuvitsa
(Exochori) and then created the
complex in Kardamyli because
the harbour gave them access to
the sea. The family are thought to
have been refugees from Mystras
when the city fell to the Turks in
1461. The complex was started in
the 17th century and in the early
18th century was established by
‘Kapitanios’ Panayotis Troupakis
who had four sons; Michaelis, Petros,
Theodoros and Ioannis. As the oldest
son, Michaelis inherited the main
section of the complex by the
Church of Agios Spiridon, with
his brothers living in adjacent,
mutually defensive properties.
INSIDE the MANI 48
Michaelis became the second Bey
of the Mani in 1779 and as well
as Kardamyli, he acquired Zarnata
Castle at Kambos and the defensive complex at Kitries. Kardamyli
remained, however, Michaelis’
administrative centre, residence
and main garrison. His ‘reign’ as
Bey ended in 1782 when he was
beheaded by the Sultan. Michaelis’
son, Kapitanios Mourtzinos Troupakis, became head of the clan and
gave his name to the “Mourtzinos
War Tower” which still stands
in the complex. The renovation
work to turn the complex into a
museum was finally finished in
2005. In 1967 the last surviving
family members, Maria and Evangelia Boukouvalea, donated the
buildings to the Greek government