We arrived in the harbour of Pylos on September 26th. While we had the option of going ashore, I stayed on the ship for some champagne with my friends. The views of the coastline and the islands were beautiful.
Pylos has also historically been known by its Italian name of Navarino and it is the main harbour of the Bay of Navarino. There is evidence of human presence here since Neolothic times. It is located in Messenia, Peloponnese.
There were two excursions available for this port and I had chosen the one called The Castles of Southern Greece. The other was Ancient Messini. It probably was the one I should have done as it is a very famous site but I am tired of ruins. Also, as it turned out, that option also involved a 90 minute. The tour I had chosen gave a glimpse of the Costa Navarino’s scenic fortified monuments to its past as a key point of conflict between the Ottoman and Venetian empires. However, it also involved more ruins!
Pylos has also historically been known by its Italian name of Navarino and it is the main harbour of the Bay of Navarino. There is evidence of human presence here since Neolothic times. It is located in Messenia, Peloponnese.
There were two excursions available for this port and I had chosen the one called The Castles of Southern Greece. The other was Ancient Messini. It probably was the one I should have done as it is a very famous site but I am tired of ruins. Also, as it turned out, that option also involved a 90 minute. The tour I had chosen gave a glimpse of the Costa Navarino’s scenic fortified monuments to its past as a key point of conflict between the Ottoman and Venetian empires. However, it also involved more ruins!
We started by driving up a hill
which gave amazing views of the Bay of Navarino where the famous sea of the
same name was fought on 20 October, 1827, during the Greek War of Independence
(1821–32). Allied forces from Britain, France,
and Russia decisively defeated Ottoman and Egyptian forces trying to suppress
the Greeks, thereby making much more likely the independence of Greece. Another interesting fact about this naval
battle is that it was the last naval battle fought using sailing ships.
Our first stop was the castle of
Methoni which once controlled the pilgrimage route to the Holy Land. Combining French, Venetian and Ottoman
architecture, the site is surrounded by the sea and contains the remains of
Ottoman hammans and minarets as well as Venetian churches. Much of it is in ruins so it is difficult to
imagine it was it was when it was a functioning fortress. It was interesting but at some parts the
walking was a bit tricky on the rocky terrain and slippery cobblestones. Still, it is a very spectacular site and worth
seeing.
From there, we were driven to the castle of Neokastro (new castle). It towers over the harbour of Pylos which gave us views of our ship.
The castle was built by the Turks in 1573 and, due to its strategic importance, it quickly became one of the major castles in the Peloponnese during the Turkish occupation. It was captured by the Venetians in 1686 but was recaptured by the Turks some years later. Neokastro is one of the most well-preserved castles in Greece. Today, it is home of the Centre for Underwater Archaeological Studies. Within a few minutes, I left the group as most of the visit was going to involve a couple of little museums with marine relics and a little chapel. Instead, I wandered the grounds a bit, enjoyed the views out to sea, and then walked down the hill and back to the ship. That was much more pleasant. I am afraid my tolerance for guided tours of ruins has waned completely!
And, guess what! Another excursion tomorrow to more ruins!
From there, we were driven to the castle of Neokastro (new castle). It towers over the harbour of Pylos which gave us views of our ship.
The castle was built by the Turks in 1573 and, due to its strategic importance, it quickly became one of the major castles in the Peloponnese during the Turkish occupation. It was captured by the Venetians in 1686 but was recaptured by the Turks some years later. Neokastro is one of the most well-preserved castles in Greece. Today, it is home of the Centre for Underwater Archaeological Studies. Within a few minutes, I left the group as most of the visit was going to involve a couple of little museums with marine relics and a little chapel. Instead, I wandered the grounds a bit, enjoyed the views out to sea, and then walked down the hill and back to the ship. That was much more pleasant. I am afraid my tolerance for guided tours of ruins has waned completely!
And, guess what! Another excursion tomorrow to more ruins!
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