Areopoli is a town on the Mani Peninsula, Laconia, Greece. The word Areopoli means “city of Ares”, the ancient Greek god of war. It was the seat of Oitylo municipality. Areopoli was called Tsimova by the invading Slavs during the 7th century AD. The Greek War of Independence was started at Areopoli on March 17, 1821 by Petros Pierrakos, also known as Petros Mavromichalis, the last bey of Mani. Now Areopoli has grown into a flourishing town. Its tower houses, constructed with field stones, are distinct from the traditional blue and white buildings that characterize many Greek villages.

Areopoli is situated near the west coast of the Mani Peninsula, 1.5 km from its port Limeni. It is 20 km southwest of Gytheio. There is lively open air market in the main square each Saturday, with a lot of local producers present.

In Areopoli, the traditional architecture of Mani gives a thundering “presence.” The stone, irreplaceable building material, is found in the cobbled streets, the churches, the houses and the towers you face if you head to the “fortified settlement”. It is not only that it existed in abundance but also that it provided the necessary cover, since the stone settlements were made with the rocks of the surrounding area and were “hidden” by the eyes of the pirates.