Cape Matapan
36.38522.482777777778Koordinaten: 36 ° 23 ' N, 22 ° 29'
Cape Tenaro (Greek Ακρωτήριο Ταίναρο, Akrotírio TENARO, also: Cape Matapan ) is the southern tip of the Mani peninsula in the Greek Peloponnese. Located in Laconia chapter represents the southernmost point of mainland Greece and the Balkan Peninsula and is named after the Spanish Punta de Tarifa, the zweitsüdlichste Cape mainland Europe. In addition, it separates the Laconian Gulf from the Messinian Gulf. At the Southern Cape is a lighthouse built in 1883, which was renovated in the summer of 2008 by Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation.
History
The area around the Cape was an important region for millennia. The Spartans built here several temples for different gods. Furthermore Cape Tenaro was a port of call for mercenaries who were in search of clients.
A location near the southern cape cave should be residence of the god Hades, according to Greek mythology. On a hill above the entrance to the cave are the remains of an ancient temple of Poseidon, which was converted into the Byzantine period to a Christian church.
On April 9, 1717 fought off Cape Matapan, the Turkish and Egyptian fleet against the numerically superior fleet of Venice, but they could not overcome and were finally defeated by the combined levy of the Christian Mediterranean powers. The critical battle was the flagship Portuguese Nossa Senhora de Conceição.
In March 1941, the Battle of Cape Matapan took place in those waters in which faced the British Royal Navy and the Italian Regia Marina. The victory of the British fleet meant that the Italians could hardly look in the eastern Mediterranean during the course of World War II.
Others
The nearby town Kokkenogeia you reach the Cape in about 30 minutes walk through partly rocky and steep terrain. In the summer months it is a popular tourist destination.
As the South Cape of the entire Balkan Cape Tenaro is on the flight path of many migratory birds on their way to Africa.
The Californian, the ship, the Titanic warned of her undoing becoming icebergs sank in 1915 in the Cape Tenaro after she was torpedoed by the German fleet.