Peloponnese, Greece Area Information
Awe-inspiring ancient sites, medieval castles, unblemished countryside and a coastline full of wonderful golden sand beaches, this unspoilt peninsula at the most southerly point of the mainland offers the greatest diversity of anywhere in Greece.
A haven of pristine beaches, peaceful seaside villages and excellent food and wines. The first ever Olympic games took place here and the area as a whole is liberally endowed with important archaeological sites, most notably Olympia itself. The serene coastal towns of Nafplion and Monemvasia are incredible showcases of medieval Greece and astonishingly well preserved.
With a profusion of sweeping sandy beaches, deep, lush gorges and densely forested mountains the choice of activities and pastimes is vast. Messinia, the westernmost area of the Peloponnese, is green, luxuriant and fringed by a proliferation of glorious golden beaches, including the horseshoeshaped Voidhokilia.
Surrounded by the Ionian Sea, the Messinian Gulf is ideally suited for lovers of nature and archaeology rich as it is in ancient sites and well preserved castles such as Pylos, Methoni and Korini.
Gialova, home of Voidhokilia beach, is a delightful
little village from which to explore the local sights
Koryphasion Hill, to the west, is a wonderful view
point. Nearby is Nestor's Cave where, according to
mythology, Hermes hid the cattle he stole from
Apollo. The cave is now adorned by impressive
stalactites and stalagmites. Gialova Lagoon is a
magnet for ornithologists and has recently benefited
from having some interesting nature trails (great fun
for children) laid out along it's shores.
Picturesque Pylos is a beautiful little harbour town
on the south west coast. At the Bay of Navarino it is
well worth exploring the hilltop castle of Neokastro
and admiring the stunning views from the ramparts.
The rugged Mani, with its imposing mountain ranges
and wild, untamed landscape is little known and, as
such, remarkably unspoilt. It is one of the few Greek
regions never to have been occupied by either the
Turks or the Venetians and thus boasts a unique
cultural identity.
The enchanting seaside village of Kardamyli at the foot of the majestic Taygetos Mountains is a particularly delightful place to spend an afternoon wandering through sleepy, flower-filled lanes or venturing into the hills immediately behind the village to discover a maze of criss-crossed walking trails.
The magical and spectacular caves of Diros can be found south of the charming village of Areopoli. Crammed with stalactites, the natural reflections on view are truly remarkable. In the Alepotrypa Cave recent excavations have unearthed evidence of prehistoric occupation and as a result the caves have become one of the most important natural sites in Greece, with great archaeological significance.
Local Cuisine
The traditional Greek taverna is where you can eat
anything from freshly caught fish and grilled meats
to home cooked casseroles. Harbour front settings
offer freshly prepared produce and excellent locally
produced wines, accompanied, of course, by that
world famous Peloponnese export, the succulent
Kalamata olive.
Saints' days
'Name' days are considered much more important
than a person's actual birthday. In most cases,
it is a tradition now in Greece, that when a person
has a 'name' day, he or she gives a party where
refreshments such as locally produced liquors and
cake are offered to family and friends. During a
'name' day, it's important to call your friends to wish
them 'chronia polla', (have a good year) as a sign
of acknowledgement and respect.
Climate
The Peloponnese enjoys a temperate Mediterranean
climate. Early summer and autumn months are
comfortably warm during the day and cooler at
night. July and August are hotter with temperatures
approaching 40 degrees Celcius, thankfully offset by refreshing
mountain breezes.
Getting there
Charter flights to Kalamata in the Peloponnese
currently run from Gatwick, Manchester, and
Newcastle. The area is also easily accessible by
road from Athens (about a 4hr drive).