Kardamyli: the jewel of the Peloponnese
On our last day in the Messinia region, we went on a hike to the town of Kardamyli. Walking along the historic paths of Kardamyli took us through a beautiful green landscape full of old castles, fortresses, churches and towers. We walked along old paved paths among olive groves, admired the view of the sea and got lost in the magic of this place.
Kardamyli is a true gem of the Peloponnese, with its many different walking trails (which are well marked) that captivated us with its beauty. The town is charming and full of tourist attractions.
In the afternoon, we squeezed in another visit to an archaeological site.
Ancient Messene
Ancient Messene, or as I jokingly called it "85 more similar columns like we've seen before" 🤣, impressed us. This archaeological site may be less known than some of the others, but it offers a unique experience. We felt more relaxed here, we could compete in the ancient stadium and imagine how they used to live.
- The city was founded in 369 BC as the capital of the newly liberated Messenian state after Sparta lost control of the region.
- Ancient Messene is known for its well-preserved city walls, theater, stadium, sanctuaries, and other public buildings.
- The magnificent city walls surrounding the city were built for defensive purposes and are still in excellent condition. The wall was 9 kilometers long and 7 to 9 meters high.
Allow at least two hours for your visit, as the place is huge and there is a lot to see. I recommend driving a little further to the Arcadian Gate of Ancient Messene. Best of all, the place is not that crowded, so there are no 2465 other tourists in the photos.
