The name Small Mantinia appeared for the first time after 1700. Where from do the inhabitants come? There are many points of view. One claims that they came from Big Mantinia, another that they were the men of Liberakis Gerakaris who came from Mesa Mani and a last one that they originate from generations that got equal parts of land in that area.
The last version is also sustained by the local tradition, which says that during the Venetian Empire, after an earthquake, Small Mantinia was dwelled by the residents of Marvinitsa (Sotirianika). “Mantinia of 1700…”by Theodoros Belitsos.
Today, it belongs to the Municipality of Kalamata. Yet, it is still part of the broad area of Mani. It is within a distance of 7 km from Kalamata, whereas the population is 687 people (census of 2001) contrary to the census of 1991, 606 people and the census of 1928, 177 people and it is still growing since many people from Kalamata choose to live there permanently. Most of the people are dealing with tourist businesses (accommodation, tavernas, etc), while others continue the agricultural tradition. Many tourists from all over Europe, as well as Greeks come here for their summer holidays. In Mili there is the tower of Kapetanakis family, which takes the visitor to the past, eventhough it needs immediate repair. The church of Agios Nikolaos, in the center of the village, is still erect, in spite of the big earthquake in 1944 that was devastating for the area. There is also the church of Prophet Ilias and the tourist kiosk, which are places of religious worship and social events. The vastness of the blue sea with the pebbles attracts many visitors, whereas the olive trees and the bushes embellish the stony areas between the mountain and the sea.
Small Mantinia lies on the foot of mountain Kalathio (Borolva) on a sloping point and is connected by road to Kalamata and the Municipality of Avia. The delay to the delimitation of the gorges resulted in the delay of new constructions. Now, it is coming to the end as within a few days the project will be presented to the Department of Town-planning, then to the Municipality of Kalamata and last to the office departments of the Peripheral Peloponnese, in order to be approved. The road towards the rest of Mani has not finished yet. The project for biological cleaning to protect the shores from sewage as well as the protection of the coast from the dangerous weather phenomena in winter are still under discussion.
Small Mantinia is developing very fast, especially, during the last decade.
The respect to the environment should become the main concern. Only in this way will the place with the beautiful beaches and the deep blue sea remain an attracting pole for thousands of tourists.