Church of St. George

Set at the foot of the Taygetos mountains on the western side of the Mani peninsula, this marble-built Byzantine church stands in a landscape layered with centuries of human presence. The surrounding area of ancient Thalamai shows traces of habitation reaching back through the Archaic, Classical, Hellenistic, and Roman eras, so the church occupies ground that has been settled and sacred for a very long time. Its enduring marble fabric and continuing use into modern times make it a quiet landmark where Byzantine devotion meets the deep history of Messenia.