Methoni is a village in Messenia at the South-West part of the Peloponnese region. It is said that its name may be derived from Mothona, a mythical rock. During the Venetian occupation in the area the village was named by the Italian name of Modone. The small peninsula was fortified from the ancient times. According to Thucydides the fortification of the city during the Peloponnesian war in 431 B.C. wasn’t strong at all.
After the end of the 2nd Messinian War, people from Nafplio were settled in Methoni after they were chased away by the Argeians as allies of the Lacaedemonians. They had built a strong relationship with the inhabitants of Methoni and this is the reason that they remained at the city even after the independence of Messinia from Spartans in 369 B.C. when Messinians returned at their home town.
During the Byzantine years Methoni remained autonomous and continued to remain a remarkable harbor and one of the most important cities of the Peloponnese region. The geographic location of Methoni, a harbor in the middle of the route from Venice to the East, caused Venetians to have a close eye to the harbor and in 1125 they launched an attack against the pirates who used it as a shelter, because they had captured Venetian traders on their way against home from the East. During the Venetian occupation in the area in 1209 both Methoni and Koroni became important trade canters with great prosperity.
Directions for Methoni – HERE
The Castle of Methoni
The Castle of Methoni occupies the whole area of the cape and the South-West coast to the small islet that has also been fortified with an octagonal tower and is protected by the sea on its three sides. At the North part of the castle, where now extends the city of Methoni is located the heavily fortified acropolis of the Castle. Venetians, during their two occupations in Mehtoni had an important role on the construction and repairs to the Castle of Methoni.
The main entrance of the Castle is accessed by a stone bridge of 14 arches. The entrance gate ends in an arch framed on the right and left by pilasters with Corinthian capitals. Right after the central Gate a domed road leads to the interior of the Castle after passing two more gates with the last one being the place where the habitable part was and which separated from the north part with a vertical low wall aprox 6 meters long that was fortified with five towers.
In the interior of the Caste there are ruins of the houses of the Venetian lords, the paved street that led to the sea gate, the ruins of the Turkish bath, the Byzantine church of St. Sophia, parts of Doric pillars, a monolithic granite pillar.
Directions for the Castle of Methoni – HERE
Beaches near Methoni
Methoni Beach – Directions HERE
Beach Critika – Directions HERE
Lampes Beach – Directions HERE
Koumpares Beach – Directions HERE
Restaurants in Methoni
Sapientza restaurant – Greek cuisine – Directions HERE
Palia Istoria – Seafood – Directions HERE
Andreas Alector Cuisine – Mediterranean cuisine – Directions HERE
Nikos Tavern – Mediterranean Cuisine – Directions HERE
Peloponnese is the most beautiful region of the Greece mainland. With many nice cities and small villages, super family friendly, with amazing beaches and some of the country’s best traditional food!
Explore how you can use Nafplio as your base to explore Peloponnese HERE. Find more articles and suggestions at our blog HERE.
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