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Peloponnesos, Messinia

The Peloponnesos (Greece: Peloponissos or Peloponnisos) peninsula is south of Athens. The name Peloponnesos means island of Pelops. According to old myths, Pelops is a son of the Gods who ruled this area in long past times.

With its 250 km length and width, Peloponnesos is two and a half times as large as Crete. There are approximately 1.1 million of inhabitants.

Quote from the Dutch magazine Reizen January 2005:
The Peloponnesos has everything you could wish for: rugged and sweet nature, picturesque villages, a huge historic patrimony, beautiful beaches and a nice climate for the largest part of the year. One of the most pleasant holiday destinations.

Quote from the website of Greece expert Matt Barett U.K.:
The Peloponnesos; heart and soul of Greece. So much has been written and said about the beautiful Greek islands already. In spite of what many people say about Mykonos, Santorini, Rhodos and Corfu, the most beautiful and interesting parts of Greece are not the islands but can be found on the mainland: the Peloponnesos. To many visitors, the Peloponnesos is the real Greece and it is certainly more worth visiting than 10 combined islands.

Messinia
Messinia is the southern part (departement/nomi) of the Peloponnesos.  The mild climate and many hours of sun create an extremely fertile landscape.  Trees and plants grow abundantly.  Long-stretched sandy beaches alternate with rocky coast lines. Together with the mountainous hinterland, they create a magnificent bit of paradise on earth! The picturesque villages and their inhabitants of course complete the relaxed and authentic atmosphere.
Messinia has the mildest climate of the Greek mainland. From November to Febraury, the weather is similar to the climate in Tunesia and Algeria.  The landscape only gets better during this period against a background of snowy mountains and clear skies. No doubt April and May are the loveliest months with many flowering plants and trees, a pleasant sea water temperature and many snow-covered mountain tops.

 

Koroni is one of the most beautiful seaside resorts of Peloponnesos and is situated at the end of the most western peninsula. This small town is located in a green landscape with many vineyards and cypresses.  From this picturesque town, you look up to the fortress and monastery.  The harbour houses many cosy taverns. An absolute must for a relaxed Greek fish lunch! At the other side of the hill is the long-stretched Zaga Beach.

 

The village of Finikunda is situated between beautiful vineyards and fields with crops. This is a favourite resort for the Greek and foreigners alike. The beach taverns serve the local speciality: grilled sardines filled with peppermint and garlic!

 

Methoni and Koroni are sometimes called the eyes of Venice. The medieval city of Methoni was founded by the Venetians. With its white painted houses, red roofs and the impressive Venetian fort with the magnificent Bourtzi tower from 1209, there is no escape from nostalgia. Right beneath the walls of this powerful fortress, you can sunbathe and enjoy the relaxed Greek atmosphere.

 

This busy city is at the bay of Navarino. The view, when entering the city, is breathtaking! The long island of Sfaktira is an impressive presence in front of the bay, it is one of the largest natural harbours of the Mediterranean.  The cosy harbour of Pylos has a square with two huge sycamore trees where you can relax and enjoy the Greek life on and around the square.

 

To the north of the Navarino bay is the Voidokilibay. This bay is surrounded by one of the most beautiful beaches of Greece: miles and miles of long, find sandy beaches protected by high dunes. With strong winds, watching the surf in the narrow passage into the open sea can be breath-taking!

It seems like time has stood still in the authentic village of Gialova. The taverns serve traditional Greek dishes and you can observe the traditional Greek life.