Messinia
The ideal destination
Class | Company Name | Telephone | Destination | Address |
---|---|---|---|---|
L | Buca Beach Resort | +30 211 7802822 | Messinia | Analipsi, 24200 |
L | The Romanos a Luxury Collection Resort Costa Navarino | +30 27230 96000 | Messinia | Navarino Dunes, Costa Navarino, 24001 |
L | The Westin Resort Costa Navarino | +30 26230 95000 | Messinia | Navarino Dunes, Costa Navarino, 24001 |
A | Akti Taygetos Resort-Hotel | +30 27210 42000 | Kalamata | 24100 |
A | Elite City Resort | +30 27210 22434 | Kalamata | 2 Navarinou Str., 24100, Messinia |
A | Grecotel Filoxenia Kalamata | +30 27210 23166 | Kalamata | Navarinou Str., 24100 Messinia |
A | Pharae Palace | +30 27210 94421 | Kalamata | Navarinou & R.Ferreou Str., 24100, Messinia |
A | Rex Hotel | +30 27210 94440 | Kalamata | 26 Aristomenous Str., 24100, Messinia |
A | Sunrise Village Beach Hotel | +30 27220 32120 | Messinia | Achladochori, 24005 |
B | Best Western Irida Resort | +30 27610 71376 | Messinia | Kalo Nero Beach, 24500, Kyparissia |
Location
Welcome to Messinia, the southwest end of Peloponnese is a region of magic and beauty. With outstanding archaeological sites, stadiums and theatres, fortresses and castles, churches and monasteries, overwhelming landscapes with forests, lakes, rivers, caves, gorges and wonderful sandy beaches, is a destination not to be missed but well worth exploring.
Visit the numerous archaeological sights some of which being the Ancient city of Messini with its solid fortification system well maintained till date, the castles of Methoni and Koroni, and tour around the traditional villages of Pylos, Kardamili or Kiparissia situated at the mainland as well as its coast. In the area some of the most profound luxury hotels of the country are situated at spots of magnificent natural beauty, to offer high quality services along with excellent conference facilities. The natural beauty of the region and the diversity of the landscape offer a number of outdoor activities in the country side as well as the coast.
Currently the prefecture of Messinia is a destination for all forms of tourism agro tourism, religious tourism, sports tourism, cultural tourism and environmental tourism, thermalism tourism, golf tourism with a variety of areas to admire and explore as part of one’s summer or winter holidays. Suitable for relaxing, as well as educational, historical and cultural holidays, Messinia satisfies each and every visitor, bringing past and present together in a seamlessly simple way.
Getting There

Popular Destinations
The capital town of Messinia is Kalamata, with historical significance while having excellent infrastructure and local facilities. The town is overlooked by a 13th century castle offering wonderful views towards the sea and sandy beaches, as well as the green flourishing plains. Visitors of Kalamata while having a walk around can visit the famous Byzantine church of the Virgin Ypapanti, well known for the nuns weaving the famous Kalamata silk, along with some other churches and monasteries at the surrounding areas. Kalamata is also a town of archaeological interest housing an archaeological and folklore museum, along with a library hosting over 60,000 volumes of work. Several cultural events and festivals take place at the town throughout the year, a nice way to experience the past and the present side of the region.
Pylos, a tranquil town with long history, wonderful views, some of the most luxurious hotels and resorts around the country with excellent hospitality and congress facilities, is definitely a must visit destination in Messinia. Situated in Navarino Bay, where the famous Battle of Navarino in 1827 took place, looking out to the Isle of Sfaktiria,is a great spot for a harbourside stopover at some of the traditional taverns or cafes, right next to 19the century beautiful mansions. The main square of Pylos, overlooking the harbor, with cannons and arched buildings is where the heart of the town beats. Right off the main road leading to Methoni is the Turkish and Venetian Neo Kastro, a vast place set in beautiful grounds, recently restored to include a small museum to exhibit some beautiful prints and lithographs and some fully costumed heroes of the 1821 Independence War. To complete the picture of this unique town of Messinia, just a few kilometers away, right at the end of the coast is the widely known sandy beach of Voidokilia with an elliptical shape of striking beauty reaching a dune landscape, as well as Romanos beach.
The countless options for small excursion within the prefecture of Messinia make the area perfect for relaxation, along with a touch of history. Finikounda is a seaside resort village ideal for yachting as a small harbor is a place for resting fishing and sailing boats. Known for its wonderful beaches and the tourist development of the area gradually growing, Finikounda is a place for fun and relaxation. Kiparissia is another coastal resort of great natural beauty with cobblestone streets and a pine-covered hilltop right above the little town to host a small Byzantine Castle. A picturesque by the sea village and right beside the Virou gorge is Kardamili offering a trip back in time having stone built houses, a medieval castle with five impressive towers, the tombs of Dioskouri, one of the oldest churches in Greece dating back from the 6th century, while having a lovely view of the islet of Metopi with the chapel of St. Nicolas.
Sightseeing & Monuments
Ancient Messini is an immense archaeological site almost intact in time, founded by Epaminondas in 369 B.C., right after his victory over Spartans, as the capital city of the independent state of Messinian and flourished during the Macedonian and Roman years. The city was protected by an excellent fortification system consisting of a 9km long thick wall with four massive gates with two-storey watchtowers and battlements, along with an Acropolis. The stones used to make the surrounding walls of the city are not only surprisingly bulky but also so tightly arranged to make Ancient Messini considered as one of the finest examples of military architecture of the 4th century BC, also explaining how the whole defensive system is so well maintained. Within the premises of the ancient city lies the Temple of Asklipios and its Conservatoire as a place of rhetorical demonstrations and assemblies, the Temple of Artemis, the Sanctuary of Zeus where the is statue as a child was found, a couple of theatres and a stadium, all wait for you to visit and admire the long history of the area.
The historical castles of Koroni and Methoni facing the east and the west side of the Messenian cape, share a similar history. Initially used as fortresses by the Byzantines, the two castles went under the occupancy of Venetians and Turks till their liberation by a French general. The caste of Koroni nowadays houses the Byzantine Temple of St Sofia, St Charalabos and Eleistria, while the castle of Methoni is a house for remains of a Byzantine Temple, Turkish baths and residence ruins, the Temple of Metamorphosis of Savior, as well as reservoirs and relic of cemetery of British captives during the World War II.
Things To Do

Gastronomy

Useful Telephone Numbers
Kalamata Bus Services: +30 27210 26428
Kalamata Police: +30 27210 44600
Kalamata Tourist Police: +30 27210 24680
Kalamata Hospital: +30 27210 85203