Zarnata

[1] During the civil wars of the Despotate of the Morea that led to its conquest by the Ottoman Empire, Zarnata belonged to Demetrios Palaiologos, but was captured by his brother, Thomas.

[9] The circuit wall, built of irregular stone masonry mixed with brick, survives only up to a limited height, although in places still up to 30 feet (9.1 m); it follows the terrain closely and features circular and square towers.

[5][3][9] A large section of the wall, including the Hellenistic foundations, were torn away in the 1940s, during the civil wars in Greece, when the population of the neighbouring villages fled to the castle for safety and installed barbed wire enclosures instead.

[7] At the top of the hill is a residential tower complex which likely dates to the late 18th century, serving as the seat of one of the four captaincies (καπετανάτα) into which Mani was divided.

It comprises a three-story square tower of some 50 feet (15 m) in height, several auxiliary buildings, cisterns, a ruined windmill, as well as two churches, one dedicated to Saint Nicholas, and one to the Life-giving Spring (Zoodochos Pigi).