Pylos, Navarino Bay, Greece

Pylos, Greece

Pylos (or Neokastro) is a small town of Messinia, with 2,345 inhabitants. Located on the southwestern tip of the Peloponnese, the Ionian coast, it's one of the most unspoiled and breathtaking seaside landscapes in the Mediterranean sea. It is built in the natural bay of Navarino, that is covered from the island Sfaktiria, operating as a natural breakwater, making Pylos' port one of the safest anchorages of the Mediterranean.

Sfaktiria island

Pylos was mentioned by Homer as the Kingdom of Nestor, which, in antiquity, it was almost constantly under the dominion of Sparta. Later on, during the Greek War of Independence against the Ottomans, in Navarino Bay was fought the naval Battle of Navarino on 20 October 1827, where the Ottoman armada was completely destroyed by an Allied force of British, French and Russian vessels.

Map of the area

Nowadays, Pylos is an important shipping center and is experiencing a significant tourism development, taking advantage of the beautiful coastline and other tourism investments being made in the area, mainly because of the recently opened luxurious resort of Costa Navarino. 

Not far from Pylos, someone can enjoy the beach of Voidokilia, one of the best beaches of the world according to the Times. In the shape of Greek letter omega (Ω), the beach of Voidokilia is a place of particular natural beauty and it is part of the Natura 2000 protected areas. 

Voidokilia beach

Gialova Lagoon

 Just above the Voidokilia beach, stands the Paliokastro (Old Castle), built in 1287 in a fortified position, controlling the north entrance to the Navarino Bay.  The castle sits atop an imposing 200-m rock formation on the northern edge of the bay. When the Ottomans gained control of the region they constructed Niokastro (New Castle) on the southern end of the bay controlling the main (south) entrance to the Navarino Bay, causing the old one to lose it's importance.

Paliokastro (Old Castle)

Niokastro (New Castle)

 Pylos is easily accessible by car and regional buses, from the close big city of Kalamata. In addition, the recently transformed military airport of Kalamata, now also operates civil flights, attracting a lot of tourists from abroad, wanting to discover the unspoiled lands of Messinia.