Castles of Pylos and Methoni
During this tour you will get acquainted with medieval Greece. You will visit the Fortress of Methoni located on a rocky promontory near the village of Methoni on the edge of the Ionian Sea, and the Neokastro castle located in the picturesque town of Pylos. The castle of Methoni is one the most important in Greece and one of the largest in the Mediterranean, a complete walled city with a natural harbor and a stone bridge of 14 arches. The place offers a great pleasure for visitors who love exploring historic places and buildings. Today, even though the fort is almost destroyed, its’ walls are still impressive. The courtyard retains some ruins such as houses, Turkish baths, the Church of the Transfiguration, and more. The Neokastro fort was built by the Turks in order to control the southern entrance to the bay of Navarino. The fate of the fort was not different from other forts in Greece as they were owned in turns by the Turks, the Venetians, and the Turks again. Within the fortress there are many preserved buildings and the impressive Cathedral of the Transfiguration. In 1987, the Neokastro fortress reconstruction was completed and as a result, became the home for the National Center for Underwater Archaeology of Pylos. The thematic exhibition “Shipwrecks” and the artefacts on display in the Archaeological Museum represent a great interest for those seeking to familiarize with the region.
