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Voidokilia Beach, Greece

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What to see in Messenia

Messenia or Messinia is a region located in the far south of the Peloponnese, mainland Greece. It is one of the most popular destinations of the mainland, notable for its natural beauty and its history. Below is what you should not miss in a trip to Messenia:

Kalamata

The regional capital city of Messenia is Kalamata, a city built along the Messenian gulf and on the foot of Mt Taygetus, the biggest mountain in the Peloponnese. In Kalamata you should first and foremost visit the Old Town, with its traditional hat shops, the Church of Panagia Ypapanti, the Archaeological Museum of Messenia and the Byzantine Church of the Apostles. There you will also find the War Museum and the Folk Museum of Kalamata, which houses one of the best collections of Greek traditional costumes from the entire country. The Old Town is close to the city center, where the central square of King George is, as well as most shops and restaurants. Kalamata can be explored with bikes, as it is one of the few Greek cities in which the citizens prefer this mode of transportation. Of course, it is impossible to miss the most important feature of the city, its long waterfront and beach where you can take a stroll or a swim.

I could have gone with a more typical travel photo but I saw this cute picture, apparently taken during the the Carnival, and could not resist it.

Pylos and Voidokiliá

But when it comes to beaches, the obvious answer is Voidokilia in Pylos, one of the prettiest beaches in the country. Aside from the pristine and dramatic coastline, in Pylos one can see several Byzantine and Frankish fortresses, such as Niókastro and Palaeókastro of Navarino and the castle of Methoni. In Pylos is where you will also find the best preserved Mycenaean royal archaeological site, the Palace of Nestor.

Voidokilia beach || eftopia_gr (IG)

Messene and Messenia

As of late however, the archaeological site that draws the most attention is the ancient city of Messene or Messini, which gave its name to the whole region. The archaeological site keeps being excavated and its archaeological museum is brand new. Nature is another strong attraction for Messenia though: some few examples are Polylímnio and Neda, hidden gorges with waterfalls and lakes, the coast of Finikounda but also the beautiful Koroni with its spectacular views.

Ancient Messene

The Shadowy Mani

Also known as Messenian Mani or Outer Mani (as opposed to its other side in Laconia, which is called Laconian Mani or Inner Mani or Sunny Mani), this is the Messenian part of the Mani peninsula that is formed by Mount Taygetus. A remote place of natural beauty with many pristine beaches and traditional villages. While - maybe counter-intuitively - the Shadowy Mani offers a more green and less stern landscape than the Sunny Mani, it still comes with its fair share of impressive landscapes combined with Byzantine monuments. The region has also several caves and gorges that can be hiked and explored but the ultimate gem is probably the area of Kardamyli.

In the small gorge of Neda in Messinian Mani || arethousahotel.gr

What to eat

Let's start with the obvious one; when you hear "Kalamata", does anything come to mind? Messenia is home to some of the best olive groves and quite possibly the most famous olives in the world. They are known as "Kalamata Olives" abroad, we call them "Eliés Kalamón". Messenia is also renowned for its olive oil obviously, its figs, its peanuts and the "lalángia", which are like oily breadsticks that can be found in every bakery. For the sweet tooth, the diples and the pastelia (pastries with honey and nuts) should be tried, as well as a curiously named one; "the tongue of the mother-in-law", a dessert with filo crust and cream.