Cut off from the rest of Greece by the Taygetos mountain range, this southernmost peninsula of mainland Greece developed its own special character during centuries of Ottoman occupation. The northern, or Outer Mani, where the course is based, is a well-watered area of olive, cypress and citrus groves, between the majestic mountains and the picturesque coastal villages south of Kalamata. Further south lies the barren but magnificent world of the Deep Mani, with its towers, ruined fortresses and myriad tiny Byzantine churches adorned by marbles and frescoes.

For those who wish to get to know the Peloponnese better, there are some wonderful trips to archaeological sites within a day’s reach – Olympia, Bassae, Epidauros, Ithomi and Byzantine Mystras are among the highlights.

In early spring the wild flowers of the area bloom in glorious profusion, and by late spring it is still possible to find some in the higher meadows unless the season has been very dry. In autumn the sea is at its warmest and the temperature remains very mild until late October; combined with the season’s extraordinarily clear light, these are the perfect conditions for painting. If there has been rain, there can also be a second spring of wild flowers.