The Greek seaside town unlike anywhere else where residents are 'descendants of Spartans'

Vathia on the Mani peninsula. (Image: Getty)

Hundreds of thousands of British tourists travel to Greece annually- some areas are very well-trodden.

Many people travel to Athens to see famous sites such as the Parthenon, while others head to island destinations such as Kos, Rhodes, and Corfu to enjoy the beaches, food, and nightlife.

However, there are still some parts of the country that far fewer people visit—and they are no less beautiful for it.

Among these areas is the Mani peninsula, which juts out of Peloponnese and is some of the most southern land in continental Europe.

The area has a long history of autonomy and isolation. Some say the people who live there are descendants of the Spartans—the militaristic city-state that was one of the foremost powers in ancient Greece—and are fairly unique as a result.

Stoupa town and beach, located in Messinia, Mani, Greece. (Image: Getty)

The days of Spartan warriors marching across the landscape are long gone, but there are still plenty of reasons to visit the area today.

For many centuries, the area was difficult to access, but new infrastructure in recent decades has made it more accessible for visitors.

In addition to Byzantine-era churches, some of the most famous architecture in the area consists of tower-like homes.

Seaside traditional stone houses in Limeni, East Mani, Peloponnese, Greece. (Image: Getty)

The most famous site to see these is the village of Vathia, which remains home to around 80 people.

Elsewhere, many visitors travel to the coastal town of Kardamyli and the Diros Caves, which include an underground river.

Many people also visit the village of Limani, which boasts tavernas, beautiful clear coastal waters, and more examples of the tower houses many people living in the area call home.