Ancient Messini
Each day a few buses pass through the village but they don't run at convienent times for lazy beach bums. Car hire is expensive but a jeep for a couple of days is a great way to discover out-of-the-way places.
Crossing the central mountains of the Messini peninsula is moderately hair-raisng with shear drops which you have to get precariously close to when meeting on-coming traffic.
The beaches on the west coast are better than those on the east although they are more touristy with predominantly German visitors.
Crossing the central mountains of the Messini peninsula is moderately hair-raisng with shear drops which you have to get precariously close to when meeting on-coming traffic.
The beaches on the west coast are better than those on the east although they are more touristy with predominantly German visitors.
Methoni castle
Homer mentions the town of Methoni & its position made it an important stop-off route for east – west trade. The castle is an impressive mix of 13th century Venetian & 16th century Ottoman architecture as both powers occupied & enlarged it.
The Bourtzi or tower, reached by a little bridge, is very Turkish in style while on the battlements there are crumbling emblems depicting the Venetian winged lion of St. Mark. The shallow water of the bay was very warm but something about the place made me not want to linger.
The Bourtzi or tower, reached by a little bridge, is very Turkish in style while on the battlements there are crumbling emblems depicting the Venetian winged lion of St. Mark. The shallow water of the bay was very warm but something about the place made me not want to linger.
Messini
Just north of Kalamata is the ancient city of Messini. It seems strange that the seafaring Greeks built a major city 30km from the sea but that’s probably my ignorance about ancient Greek times.
Set in a baking hot dip surrounded by olive tree covered hillsides, this 300BC city was never built upon so its layout is slowly being uncovered & visitors can stroll around unimpeded.
Even though it was early October the sun beat down mercilessly & there was no shade; crickets & cicadas were happy enough with the heat, a herby fragrance hung in the air & tantalising underground water gushed underneath the amphitheatre of the stadium.
Set in a baking hot dip surrounded by olive tree covered hillsides, this 300BC city was never built upon so its layout is slowly being uncovered & visitors can stroll around unimpeded.
Even though it was early October the sun beat down mercilessly & there was no shade; crickets & cicadas were happy enough with the heat, a herby fragrance hung in the air & tantalising underground water gushed underneath the amphitheatre of the stadium.
Messini
It’s a huge site that is fabulously open, there were only 6 other people at the site whereas someone who had just come from the less impressive Olympia said the place was packed with tour buses – I’m just glad they all stayed there.
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