Listed 37 sub titles with search on: Sights for wider area of: "MESSINIA Prefecture PELOPONNISOS" .
GARGALIANI (Small town) MESSINIA
It is a piney hillock on the north side of Gargaliani
with a fantastic view on the plain and the island Proti
with a radius from Pilos
to Filiatra. When the
sky is clear you can even see the islands Strofades
and Zante.
KALAMATA (Town) MESSINIA
Neoclassical building with three floors. In form it is pedimental
at roof height, with pilasters with capitals at the corners.
It was built in 1833 and served as the 1st Hellenic Gymnasion. In
1960, by decision of the Ministry of Education, it was decreed a historical monument
to be preserved. In 1990, it became the Town-hall.
KALAMATA (Town) MESSINIA
It is situated behind the north part of the church of the Candlemas of our Saviour and it is believed that it's where the Acropolis of the homeric (1580-1120 B.C) and classical Faron (palace of Ortilohos and later Diokles) was. The medieval castle was built by Godefredo Villeardouino in 1205 A.D. and underwent many alterations inconstruction and additions by its subsequent lords; the Byzantines of Mystras, the Turks and the Eneti of Morozini. The entrance is dominated by the lion of St. Mark, a sample of the Eneti era, while in and around the castle have been found ostraka (fragments) and remains of the Mycaenean and Roman years as well as tombs of the hellenistic and roman era. On the north side there is a small byzantine temple and it has been speculated that it was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary the Kalomata, after which, according to some, Kalamata was named.
This text is cited March 2003 from the Messenia Prefecture Tourism Promotion Commission URL below, which contains image.
KORONI (Small town) MESSINIA
The castle of Koroni is erected in the south part of the city of Koroni.
In the classical years it was a simple, plain fort but it later became a byzantine
fort, which was conquered by the Franks(the French) of the 4th crusade in 1205.
With the treaty of the island of Sapientza (1209) it was given to Venetians, which
they turned into a fort for their port in order to promote their commercial products.
In August 1500, it is coquered by the Turks and many residers flee
for Zakynthos, Kefallonia and later for Lower Italy.
In 1532, the emperor of German and Spain, Charles the 5th, wanting
to create a distraction and provoke the sultan Souleiman the Magnificent, he
sends armed forces to the Peloponnese with the admiral Andrea Doria.
Doria's expedition was a failure and he had to leave Methoni in
1534 taking 2000 refugees from Koroni who settled in Lower Italy. The Venetians
come back (1685-1715) with Frank Morozini.
In 1715, the Turks come back and stay until 1828 turkish families
settle in the castle and both social and financial decay starts, which is completed
with the bombardment of Orlof (1770).
In 1828, it is liberated and given to the Greek goverment by the
French general Maizon with Nikitaras as commandant.
This castle is ruined today but, the old-calendar convent of holy
John the Baptist, the ruined Byzantine temple of St. Sophia, the church of St.
Haralambos and the «RESALTO», a place to honour the Greek fighters who tried
to conquer the castle in 1824, are preserved.
In addition, the hewn tombs, Venectian reservoirs, Turkish baths
and the magnificent «domes» are preserved. In every corner of the castle there
is a «dome», that is, a gunpowder storehouse or bizihanes, while the best «dome»
was blown up the Germans in 1944 during their withdrawal.
This text is cited Jan 2003 from the Messenia Prefecture Tourism Promotion Commission URL below, which contains image.
KYPARISSIA (Small town) MESSINIA
The castle which constituted the acropolis of ancient Kyparissia was built in the Upper Part of the Kyparissia and overlooked the blue endlessness of the Ionian sea as well as the tame valley. We don't know when it was built but the Lower Walls have been built according to the symmetrical style of fortification which constitutes a sign of mycaenaic style architecture, while during the Byzantine years, and under Justinian's ruling, the castle is restored and on the four corners, four turrets were built from which only the eastern one is saved. During the domination by the Franks(1205-1430 A.D) it was restored by the Franks and constitutes an impregnable fort for the flourishing city of Kyparissia while, during the Turkish rule, eminent Turks lived there and improved its infrastructure. Today, only a small amphitheater is saved where social functions take place.
This text is cited March 2003 from the Messenia Prefecture Tourism Promotion Commission URL below, which contains image.
NIOKASTRO (Castle) PYLOS
Tel: +30 27230 22955
Two castles are built on the summits of the two hills at the ends
of the Bay of
Navarino, overlooking the town of Pylos: the older castle of Navarino, called
Palaiokastron or Palaionavarinon and the more recent castle, called Niokastron.
The latter was built in 1573 by the Turks, and in 1686 was given over
to the Venetians. It again came under Turkish domination in 1715, along with the
castle of Koroni and Palaionavarino. In 1816 it was captured by Ibrahim Pasha
and remained under his control until 1828 when it was liberated by the French
general Maison. During the Second World War it was used as the seat of the Italian
and, later, the German headquarters.
Large-scale restoration work has been carried out for many years.
The restored hexagonal Fortress on the top of the hill houses the Museum and the Underwater Archaeological
Research Centre.
The most important monuments of the site are:
The
Castle.It is divided into two main sections:
- Enceinte-Lower Castle; the larger of the two sections occupies the slope of the hill and is built of ashlar limestone blocks.
- Upper Castle; hexagonal fortress with massive battlements and projecting bastions which protect five of the six corners of the walls.
Church of the Metamorphosis (Transfiguration). Cross-in-square domed church dedicated to the Transfiguration of Christ. It was used as a Moslem mosque and was later converted into a Christian church.
General Maison's building. Rectangular, two-storeyed stone
building erected in the 19th century. It has been reconstructed and now houses
the Museum and the offices.
The most important monuments and architectural totals are:
- The castle which is divided in two parts:
Compound-Lower castrle: The bigger of the two parts spreads on the slope of the hill and its perimeter is 1566 m. It takes up on area of 80.000 m2 and it's built with hewn limestone.
Upper castrle: An hexagonal fort with strong ramparts and projecting bastions which cover five out of its six corners.
- The church of the transformation of the Saviour; Cross-shaped church with a gothic-style dome which was built by the Franks. It functioned as a Muslim mosque first and subsequently as a Christian Church.
- General Mezon's building: Rectangular two-storey building, with stones of the early 19th century, in which, after its restoration, there is a museum and offices.
This text is cited Jan 2003 from the Messenia Prefecture Tourism Promotion Commission URL below, which contains image.
METHONI (Small town) MESSINIA
The early christian cemetary - Byzantine Hermitage of St Onoufrios, which is carved
into the natural rock 3 km. north of Methoni close to the road going to Pylos.
The monument was excavated during August 1967 and the year 1968. It is a complex
of escavated chambers into the rock and open air graves. The area around the monument
has served during ancient and medieval times as a poros quarry his is where construcion
material for the building of the Castle of Methoni was used. To the east of the
monument and at a distance of 400 meters in the area called Agaki, lies another
equally important monument of the area, the Byzantine Temple of St. Bassileios.
The vistitor can visit the area easily, observe the monyments and enjoy the magnificent
view from the hill.
This text is cited March 2004 from the Municipality of Methoni URL below, which contains image.
On the Agios Nikolaos hill, 2km away from town.
AGIOS DIMITRIOS (Settlement) LEFKTRA
KALIANEIKA (Settlement) AVIA
MEGALI MADINIA (Village) AVIA
SCHIZA (Small island) INOUSSES
Στη Δυτική πλευρά της νήσου Σχίζας και σε απόσταση 400 μ από την θάλασσα, υπάρχει
ένα θαυμάσιο ανεξερεύνητο σπήλαιο γνωστό ως "Μαύρη Τρύπα". Το σπήλαιο
είναι διανοιγμένο μέσα σε Ηωκαινικό Παλαιοκαινικό ασβεστόλιθο. Η πορεία μέσα στο
σπήλαιο είναι πολύ δύσκολη. Εκεί που μπορεί να φτάσει ο παράτολμος εξερευνητής
είναι η αίθουσα, η οποία χωρίζεται σε μικρότερους θαλάμους. Το θέαμα των σταλακτιτών
και σταλαγμιτών είναι υπέροχο. Έχουν εντοπιστεί όστρακα προϊστορικών χρόνων. Το
σπήλαιο παρουσιάζει Αρχαιολογικό, Γεωλογικό και Τουριστικό ενδιαφέρον.
Το κείμενο παρατίθεται τον Μάρτιο 2004 από την ακόλουθη ιστοσελίδα του Δήμου Μεθώνης
EXOCHORI (Village) LEFKTRA
The forest of Vasiliki is in a natural «fortress» of Taygetos in the
west of the Messinia-Lakonia boundary and 6 km south of its highest peak, Prophet
Elias. Administratively, it belongs to the municipality of Exochorio and it is
controlled by the Forest Inspectorate of Kalamata while it covers an area of 10900
stremmata and it lies at altitudes from 950m to 2000m.
It has an oval shape and the Stream of Vasiliki or Stream of Vyros
flows through it. It passes through Vyros and flows into the Messinian Gulf, close
to Kardamyli. The climate of the forest is «continental» with harsh winters and
cool summers and the hot days of summer are followed by cold nights. Snowfall
is present from December to February and the snow which reaches heights of 2m,
is kept for weeks. Fog is also common and the winds are north-westerly.
The rock of the ground is calcareous (of limestone) on the highlands
and crystalline slate at lower altitudes which form clay-marmarygium grounds with
good natural qualities for forest vegetation.
The forest is on the thermal boundaries of the cold zone of vegetation
that thrives on water. The main forest products are PINUS NIGRA (black pine) and
ABIES CEPHALONIGA (cephallenean fir). It belongs to the botanic-social formation
of the less heat-thriving Mediterranean conifers. In the slate part of the ground
the forest is covered by black pine while at higher altitudes there are clusters
of firs.
Access to the forest from Messinia is only feasible by car via Kardamyli-Proastio-Exochorio
or Neochorio Lefktrou-Saedona, while from Lakonia via Gythio-Kokkina Louria-St.Nikolao-Kastania.
This text is cited March 2003 from the Messenia Prefecture Tourism Promotion Commission URL below, which contains image.
LABENA (Village) ITHOMI
The fountain of Ano Labena and the surroundings is a monument closely
associated with the existence and life of the settlement since the mid-nineteenth
century. The historical, cultural and environmental value of the fountain was
recognized by the Modern Monuments Ephorate of the Ministry of Culture. It is,
therefore, "a listed monument of overwhelming natural beauty". Conservation and
restoration projects are already in progress.
This text is cited April 2003 from the
Municipality of Ithomi tourist pamphlet.
RINTOMO (Settlement) AVIA
The Ridomo Gorge is one of nature’s wonders of exceptional beauty
with wonderful geological and morphological formations and a great diversity of
fauna and flora. It is ideal for recreation, physical exercise and walking and
is of particular aesthetic and tourist importance.
The gorge is situated at the beginning of the Messinian part of Mani,
at 15 km from Kalamata, originates at the mouth of the Sadova stream and stretches
up to the Prophet Elias top of the Taygetos mountain at a distance of 21 km. It
was first mentioned by Pausanias (160 BC), who crossed this gorge that was the
natural boundary between the Messinians and the Spartans, and refers to it as
the Choerios Nape (=gorge of the pigs).
The inhabitants of the area used it as a way of communication with
the Taygetos and Lakonia and, therefore, many cultural elements have survived
to this day, such as the well preserved, stone paved footpaths of Sotirianika
- Altomyra - Pigadia - Vorio and Sotirianika - Tubia, as well as the arched bridges
at Koskaraga and Tubia.
The itinerary, is characterized by particularly beautiful geological
formations, rocky slopes, rare formations, areas of layers with typical chromatographic
areas and slopes with caves the stalactites of which are visible from the stream
bed.
The most impressive part of the gorge is the point where its bed becomes
very narrow, an area 100m long, about 2m wide and 60m high, at the footpath leading
from Kedro (Gaitses) to Pigadia. The double, stone bridge linking the vertical,
solid slopes of the aforementioned especially beautiful formation is a traditional
art monument of great significance.
Having a narrow bridge of the gorge at the Kalamata-Kabos road and
at a length of 12km, as a reference point, the gorge splits into two streams,
the Ridomo stream and the Kareas stream. This is the location of the «Panagia
Kapsodematousa» Monastery (=Blessed Virgin Mary who burnt the haystacks), celebrated
on July 2nd with a traditional feast. Similarly, on the opposite side and on the
Ridomo stream, one finds the Aghia Marina church, celebrated by the stock breeders
of the area on July 17.
Moving up along the gorge, towards the alpine zone of the Taygetos
mountain, from Kitries to the mouth of the Sadova river, in the Mediterranean
zone there are lentisks, a type of chickpea plants, bushy oaks, white beamstrees,
sage leafed pear trees, different types of arbutus etc., while in the semi-mountainous
area there are hornbeams, commences and cedars and in the mountainous area there
are oak trees, fir trees, maple trees, hawthorns and wild plum trees.
This text is cited March 2003 from the Messenia Prefecture Tourism Promotion Commission URL below, which contains images.
SAPIENTZA (Small island) METHONI
On the south part of the Porto Loggo bay, a path starts, via which the visitor
can visit the south part of the island where the lighthouse of Sapientza is located.
It is an impressive octagonal stone building of 18 metres in height built by the
English circa 1890. At its base there are rooms for the lighthouse personnel.
By climbing the 75 stone steps we reach the top of the lighthouse. The view is
spectacular. The distance covered byt the lighthouse beam duriing the first years
of its operation was 40 miles, while today, this distance has been reduced to
27 miles.
This extract is cited March 2004 from the Municipality of Methoni URL below.
MESSINI (Town) MESSINIA
In the centre of Messini, the central square becomes a meeting place for friends. They can enjoy the coolness of pine and of a green park with the impressive clock and the dancing figures of the waters of the fountain which dance to the music with the help of a computer.
This extract is cited March 2003 from the Messenia Prefecture Tourism Promotion Commission URL below, which contains images.
MESSINIA (Prefecture) PELOPONNISOS
The towers of Mani constitute a peculiar and unique in Greece category
of popular architectural designs whose existence is justified by the need to confront
the Turks as well as by the very social system which prevailed in the area, the
distinction in «patries» and the exhausting -among them- fights.
Apart from the towers that are built on strategic places and were
meant to defend the people of the area, there are others which are either isolated
or in communities and attain a peculiar and characteristic physiognomy as, apart
from others, the height of the tower of a «patria» defined the power and worth
of the family that owned it.
There are stone-built and multi-storey structures which, according
to their size, constitute either a complete house or the fortified part of it
which is erected inside a yard that is surrounded by walls. The men of the house
live in that part to ensure the protection of the house. The towers are usually
4x4m, while on their sides there are small openings to be used as embrasures.
On the top part they have protruding circular or hexagonal watchtowers and their
top room is surrounded by a high parapet. The floors of the lower floors are supported
on domes, while those of the higher ones are always wooden and communication among
them is possible by means of wooden stairs. The older towers are built with xerolithia
(=dried earth bricks) while from the 18th century and after they have been built
with lime mortar and are far more durable, and have corners which are constructed
carefully with big blocks.
The construction of towers stopped in the late-19th century when the
central authorities prevailed gradually and replaced the patriarchal status quo
in the area. Today there are 800 of them and are scattered around Mani like those
in the communities of Vatheas, Mourtzinou, Kardamyli, Tzanetaki and Kapetanaki
which constitute worthwhile popular architectural works dictated mainly by the
historical and social conditions on the peninsula of Mani.
This text is cited March 2003 from the Messenia Prefecture Tourism Promotion Commission URL below, which contains image.
VALTA (Village) GARGALIANI
They are near the Municipal Region of Valta, 5 kms north of Gargaliani.
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