Listed 5 sub titles with search on: Information about the place for destination: "SAPIENTZA Small island METHONI".
The most important and beautiful island in the Oinoussai complex is
Sapientza. It has been the favourite docking place for every fleet that had business
with the cities of Methoni
and Koroni, these important
cities of the Mediterranean during the whole span of the middle ages. With the
Sapientza Treaty in 1209 it passed in the hands of the Venetians. It has been
used as adocking area for the Turks and the Venetians during the third Venetian-Turkish
war, and as a base of operations for the Greek fleet in 1825. The ships that usually
sailed near the coast of the island frequently crashed on its rocky coast resulting
in the discovery of many important shiprwrecks from all the historical periods.
One of these sank at the north part of Sapientza with its stolen cargo which was
the pillars from the Grand Peristyle built by Herod in Caissareia, Palestine,
in the 1st century A.D.
Another great shipwreck located in the northwest of the island, is
the Sarchophagi shipwreck as it is called (Roman sarchophagi by sculpted titanian
stone). The shipwrecks around Sapientza are so numerous and important that there
is a thought for the creation of an underwater archaeological park. Sapientza
is a low island with an area of 9 square kilometres, its highest peak being on
its north part, Foveri, at a height of 219 m. The slopes of the island climb up
in lush greenery, and the crlystal clear waters of the sea, have a unique exotic
colour.
This extract is cited March 2004 from the Municipality of Methoni URL below.
The coastline of the island is rocky steep in some parts, while gentle in others.
There is only one sandy beach on the island but is a real gem. This beach is located
on the north part of the island, facing Methoni
and is called Ammos. It is protected by the northwestern winds and has a basic
docking area and a wooden gazeebo where one can rest.
On the northern hills of the island is a location called "Fragkokklisia".
This may be the place where the Benedictine monastery (or St. John's of Jerusalem
order) was located, where the treaty of Sapientza was signed, in 1209.
To the south, we come accross a large closed bay, Porto Logo the safe harbour
of the sailors and the fleets. coming into the bay, we pass by the islet of Bomba,
where according to legend the Apostle Paul landed when his ship sailed into a
storm on its way to Rome. The bottom of the bay is strewn with shipwrecks.
The west coasts of Sapientza are steep and wild, almost always stormy. In this part the protected small bay of Maneta is located. Legends tell us that the renown pirate Manetas used the cave that was here as his hideout, and launched all attacks to passing ships from here. Nowadays, the cave does not exist.
This extract is cited March 2004 from the Municipality of Methoni URL below.
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