Brazzo Di Maina
Brazzo di Maina’s aesthetics and facilities are tailored to the needs of its visitors. Keeping in mind the surrounding area and the history, nature, culture, and morphology of Mani, the hotel provides modern and luxury accommodation for all travelers. The hotel opened its doors in 2008, after four years of construction works that resulted in the revival of the traditional tower house and its transformation into a high-end accommodation.
The renovation that started in 2018 aimed at creating a modern and welcoming hotel, which would offer a complete experience of relaxation, based on the organic relationship between the building and the surrounding environment. One year later, in April 2019, the brand-new Brazzo di Maina was ready to welcome its visitors with unique facilities and high-quality services.
The tower houses of Brazzo di Maina blend perfectly with the surroundings and the untamed nature of Mani, giving you a unique landscape. The architecture and historical ambiance stand out, reflecting the area’s rich history and culture.
Family Story
Between legend and reality, the tower houses of Mani are connected with the Medici palaces in Florence through a mysterious tradition, a celebration that takes place every year on Christmas day in Oitylo and concerns only the male members of each family. This tradition still remains a well-kept secret that hasn’t been revealed for more than five centuries.
The story begins in 1475 when the Turks occupied Greece. The noble knight Petros or Pierros Medikos was persecuted and found shelter in some forgotten corner of Greece, Mani. Later on, he married Anthi, the daughter of the Lord of Akra of Tainaros, Kontostavlos. When Petros was ambushed and murdered, Anthi left her father’s house and came to Oitylo.
Upon her arrival, Anthi was already pregnant with a boy that she later named Petros or Pierros Medikos after her murdered husband. When the boy grew up, he married the daughter of the last commander of Mani, Ioannis Palaiologos. During their marriage, they had seven children Miheli ή Mihali, Kouro or Kouri, Razelon or Ioanni, Louka or Tsahouta, Gaio or Gato, Zarbano, and the adopted Bazina.
The offspring of these seven children are the Medici that live today in Greece and abroad. From each child, several surnames were created over the years, which go as follows:
– From Miheli: Dekoulos, Polychronis, Papadopoulos
– From Kouro: Andronis, Barelos, Patrinelis, Pierroulidis, Psarreas, Petrakakos, Voedakos
– From Razelo: Apostolakos, Giannakakos, Giannareas, Dimitrakoulakos, Sotirakos, Iatropoulos, Mihalareas, Batsinilas, Panagiotareas, Papadeas, Petrakos, Pierraneas, Razelos, Roubeas, Stavreas, Stareas, Tsineas
– From Louka: Ververakis, Papadeas, Degreas, Batalaris, Skouleas
– From Gaio: Gateas, Zarouleas, Karabelos, Stratigareas, Raikos
– From Zarbano: Motsovolos, Motsovoleas
– From Bazina: Bazinas
For more than five centuries, the descendants of the Medici have been honoring the “Great Celebration” in Oitylo. On Christmas day, they go to the church of Taxiarches with their flags, where they participate in the mass, which includes several customs as well as a memorial prayer for the forefathers and the departed of the Medici.
After the mass, everyone is invited to the house of one of the Medici, where they are treated with traditional sweets, like “diples,” and drinks. After lunch, the dancing starts, with the eldest of the family leading the dance. The celebration lasts until the evening.
During the celebration, the male members of the Medici isolate themselves in a special room. What happens or is said in this room has been kept secret for more than five centuries, as, apart from the participants, no one else knows about it. The Medici take pride in that no one has dared to reveal the secret to either their mother or their wife.
In 1977, the Medici established the Medici Brotherhood, acquiring a legal status and their own home in Oitylo. This way, they set a solid foundation to continue and preserve the secret of their ancestors.
The eternal Secret
Meanwhile, the moment comes when the Medici brothers go and isolate in a special room
What happens or being said in the room, has been kept secret for more than five centuries. Apart from brothers. no one else knows about it.
Medici from Mani are proud that no one dared toreveal the secret either to their mother or to their wife.
Medici in 1977 established the Medici Brotherhood, acquiring a legal form and their own acommodation in Itilo. In this way, they made the fundamentals even stronger in order to continue and maintain the Secret of their ancestors.