Velanidia, Laconia an observatory. Velanidia has an important distinction because of its Byzantine churches. Churches like those of Saint Constantine, Saint Panteleimon and Saint John has several wall paintures where we can observe the fidelity of figures. For photos, click here. From Velanidia you can visit the north side of Cape Maleas and its lighthouse, which was built in 1860 and it's the oldest at Mediterranean sea. For photos, click here. Velanidia, Laconia Velanidia () is a Byzantine village in Laconia, Greece, within the municipality of Monemvasia. Also, it is situated at the southern edge of Peloponnese and more specifically at the
Marius (Laconia) Marius (Laconia) Marius or Marios () was a town of ancient Laconia, belonging in the time of Pausanias (2nd century) to the Eleuthero-Lacones; it was situated 100 stadia east of Geronthrae. It contained a sanctuary of all the gods and, one of Artemis, and in each there were copious springs of water. It is represented by Mari, which stands on the road from Geraki (Geronthrae) over the mountains to Kremasti. There are ruins of the ancient town about a mile and a half (2.5 km) to the south of the modern village, and the place is still characterised by its