NEAR BY CITIES

Kyparissia is the capital of Trifylia province of the prefecture of Messinia. It is a coastal town in the southwestern part of Peloponnese. It is the tourist, agricultural and commercial center of the region.

Situated on the northwestern slopes of Psychros Mountain, at the foot of Mount Egaleo, it is divided in two sectors: The sector of the old Upper Town which is a preserved traditional settlement and the newly built part-or Down Town which was recently built and with its excellent layout and town planning reaches the coast. The Upper Town is situated at the foot of a small hill of 150 meters, on top of which the ruins of a Venetian castle are still visible. The castle was built in prehistoric times and because of its strategic location there were numerous sieges over the centuries and especially during the period of the Venetian domination. We can trace back the first references to the town in Homer (Iliad, Book b, verse 593), where reference is made to the Kiparissians that contributed with ships to the Trojan War.

In medieval times it was called Arcadia, taking its name from the many Arcadians who fled to it persecuted by the Slavs. During the Turkish occupation, it was at the forefront of the struggles of the people of the region against their conquerors. The area of Kyparissia is rich in green and has endless sandy beaches. It has all the comforts of a modern city and is growing constantly.

It is a beautiful town with intense island influence, two-storey whitewashed houses with yards and flowers, long history and unusual architectural style. Τhe main characteristics are the building arches and its square with the cannons and the tall shady maple tree.

Built like an amphitheater on two hills, it has at the center of its port the rock of Marathonisi or Chelonaki (tortoise) and its breakwater, the historic island of Sfaktiria. It is located 50 km west of Kalamata and it has 2,473 inhabitants.

The present beautiful little town is not identical with ancient Pylos and its plethora of historical and mythological references. The city was built on plans designed by the French architects of General Maison in 1829, who because of his adoration for Greek antiquity named it Pylos.

Kakoskali is actually the first neighborhood of Koroni. To the left, the Messinian Gulf becomes an idyllic blue background. To the right the hill of Tourlakou, an eternal fortunate spectator perched in its natural balcony. The narrow road flanked by old shops and households descends quickly and you suddenly start to wonder whether you should go straight or if you have to deviate and go down the picturesque stairs on your left hand side.

However, any way you choose to approach it, Koroni kindly awaits you as if wanting to honour you. The process of descending the broad stone stairs with the newly planted trees will bring you right to the left and in front of the mansion of the chieftain Karapavlos. The small but lively street meets the traditional central square, the Piazza. The Cathedral of St. Demetrius, a basilica of Ionian art built in 1864, stands opposite. The clock tower was donated by Moudakis in 1909.

Methoni is a beautiful coastal town with an imposing castle and a romantic atmosphere. The ancient historians Pausanias and Strabo identify the since antiquity fortified settlement of Methoni with “Ampeloessa Pidaso” (Pidasos, teeming with vineyards) which was mentioned by Homer as one of the seven cities offered by the Agamemnon to Achilles, trying to persuade him to return to battle during the siege of Troy.

In the bay of Methoni a sunken settlement of the Middle Bronze Age (1900-1600 BC) was discovered. In History Times the Messinian important port was known as Mothoni. During the Byzantine Era, Methoni played an important role in navigation as a commercial port and a refueling station of warships.

During the Venetian domination, Methoni with its castle used to be a usual stopover for merchants, pilgrims traveling to the Holy Lands and travelers in the Mediterranean. Methoni has 1,169 inhabitants. It is about 61 km Southwest of Kalamata.

Welcome to Kalamata. Situated between the towering peaks of Mt Taygetos and the gulf of Messinia, lively city of Kalamata dances to a different tune! Arriving in Kalamata by car, will be around an hour and half as it is only 60 km from our hotel! When you first arrive, you will feel a sense of greatness while you see the magnificent Mt Taygetos which towers above the city.

Kalamata’s beaches seem to go on forever, as it main seaside road boasts with modern cafes, beach bars, restaurants, fine hotels, markets, historic buildings, a port, a summer dance festival and a pulsating nightlife! Everything is vibrant as the capital of Messinia, situated in a blessed land, knows how to enjoy itself. During your stay at Kalamata, you may as well make your way towards Mani, the southernmost and middle point of the Peloponnese, straddling the districts of Lakonia and Messenia in southern Greece. It is a treasure trove of Byzantine and post Byzantine churches, Frankish castles and stunning scenery.

The isolated aspect of this beautiful area, combined with the independent nature of its inhabitants meant that some traditions developed separately from the rest of the Peloponnese and Greece so that a distinct society made its mark on the landscape. To this day the architecture of the area is famed for the tower houses and fortified family dwellings from the period of the Ottoman occupation of Greece.