Β67 - Terrace fields in Marmari, a village near Cape Tenaron

The need for arable land on the steep hillsides of Mani, led to the construction of terrace fields. The locals built stone walls on the steep hillsides and created plots for farming. They filled the plots with fertile soil and sometimes they would also bring soil from other areas of Mani. This act fascinated the Ottoman traveler Evliya Celebi (second half of the 17th century), who characterized the people of Mani as “soil thieves”. By building terrace fields, the Maniots created deep and fertile fields which preserved moisture. Terrace fields are found all over Greece. However, the ones found in South Mani are quite remarkable.