In the 19th century Old Kardamyli - or Skardamoula as it was then called - was a fortified settlement of the Troupakides-Mourtzinos family. They asserted their sovereignty over neighbouring areas of the Mani-peninsula. The complex - with the Byzantine Agios Spyridon church and a clutch of abandoned fortified tower-houses (one of them nowadays is a museum) - is surrounded by a defensive wall and can be reached througd a large archway.