What to do in Western Messinia

Paleokastro: A forgotten Frankish castle
Don’t miss the opportunity to travel on foot to this “castle on a cliff,” one of the many attractions you’ll encounter in Western Messinia. It’s located on the Gulf of Navarino, and the view is so impressive that the locals claim, albeit rather imaginatively, that on a clear night you can see as far as the lights of Malta.

Neokastro: The impressive, listed Ottoman fortress
This is possibly one of the best-preserved fortresses in Greece and looking round it is an indescribable experience. Right in its centre is the impressive Transfiguration of the Saviour church (Metamorphosis tou Sotiros), which functioned as a mosque during Ottoman rule. It was erected in 1573 and, invisible from the sea, played a key role in the famous Battle of Navarino.

Pylos: ‘Hostess’ of the Peloponnese
The calm of today belies a troubled past in a city so synonymous with the Battle of Navarino.

Now it rests peacefully, built in the shape of an amphitheatre below Neokastro, reminiscent of an island hamlet. Enjoy a leisurely coffee in the shade at the traditional kafenia in the central square of Trion Navarhon with its exotic palm trees. Visit the Archaeological Museum. Take a stroll along the coastal road and then sit down for dinner at one of its many restaurants. A little outside town you can admire Kamares, a section of the old water tower. Your holidays here will be heavenly.

Voidokilia beach: A semi-circular summer dream
Images of the beach under Paleokastro, with its famous bay – shaped in a perfect semicircle – have travelled the world. Incredible turquoise water and fine white sand, hidden in which you’ll find beautiful seashells.

Gialova Lagoon: A habitat for rare birds and animals
Equipped with binoculars and camera, you’ll follow the footpath that leads to the bird observatory. Gialova is an incredibly beautiful natural reserve in the Peloponnese, home to 250 species of rare birds – among them flamingos, swans and mallards. Particularly important is the presence of the African chameleon. Gialova is the only place in Europe where it survives and reproduces!

Source : https://www.discovergreece.com/