Discover Magnificence of Stoupa History

Stoupa History is an essential part of Greece’s fascinating past. Stoupa is a part of an area commonly referred to as Mani. The province of Mani is regarded as the only place in Greece that wasn’t subjected to multiple invasions and the subsequent occupation that is an integral part of Greek history. Stoupa is often denoted as the cultural center of Mani and hence, is quoted in Greek history with great affection.

Early Stoupa History

Now, a historic town that attracts visitors from across the world, Stoupa was once a small village. Located along the coast of southern Peloponnese, it was often visited by traders from cities due to the exotic beaches located nearby. Stoupa was first mentioned in Greek literature by the popular writer, Nikos Kazantzakis, who was later immortalized in the form of a huge bust that stands over the cliff of the present-day Kalogria beach.

Stoupa History & the Maniots

Mani has often engaged the interest of archeologists and historians because its villages have yielded many remains dating back to the Neolithic times. Since Mani was home to people from various cultures, Stoupa also developed a multicultural aura. This includes cultural influences of the Spartans, Dores, Franks, Slavs, Turks, and Venetians.

People from Mani came to be known as Maniots and occupied a major part of the Mani Peninsula that includes Stoupa. Due to its rough terrain, particularly the inaccessible mountainous regions, Mani was able to fend off many invasions. This is what gave the Maniots and Stoupa’s dwellers the reputation of being fierce warriors.

Visitors in Stoupa are often taken to the towers that were built in Mani by the Maniots as a part of their warfare tactics. While some historians believe that Maniots were the earliest of Spartan inhabitants in Greece, families living in Stoupa look upon their ancestors as a different, warrior sect.

It has been documented that Stoupa was often inhabited by Maniot pirates who raided ships along the southern coast of Italy. Further, the Maniots are regarded as one of Ottoman Empire’s biggest hurdles in terms of completing the capturing of Greece. After the Ottoman Empire disassembled, Mani was under some influence of the Byzantine kings but this too didn’t last for a long time. After the Byzantines, the Franks and Saracens too tried to capture Mani but they weren’t successful.

These cultural influences can be seen in the souvenirs sold in small shops near Stoupa. Further, Stoupa is surrounded by many Frank-era castles and Byzantine churches that depict this part of Stoupa’s history.