Gialova, Pylos and surrounding area




	The remnants of the Palaiokastro on the rocks above Gialova Lagoon. Photo by Andrea Bonetti
From either a historical, a cultural or an environmental point of view, Pylos and the area surrounding it is one the most interesting parts of Greece. Navarino Bay - at the boards of which Pylos and Gialova are situated - was the setting for the Battle of Navarino on October 20th 1827, in which the Turkish fleet was defeated and which finally freed Greece from the Turks. The wreckage of the Turkish vessels can still be seen at the bottom of the bay, right in front of the Voula Apartments. Around the area are several Frankish, Turkish and Venetian castles, some of them remarkably well preserved, like the ones in Methoni and Koroni. The palace of the legendary King Nestor, the great Mycenaean hero of the Homeric Ilias, lies just 9 km from Hotel Zoé. Ancient Pylos, Nestor's town, is said to be hidden under the sand of magnificent Voidokilia beach, just a short walk away along the beach from the hotel. And in the rocks above Voidokilia you can find Nestor's cave, where according to mythology the god Hermes hid the cows stolen from his divine brother Apollo. Other very interesting ancient sites like Olympia, Sparta, Mystrás, ancient Messini and the Diros caves can be visited in a day-trip. Near Gialova you can find the most important wetland area of Southern Greece, Gialova Lagoon. It is the last stop-over for thousands of European birds migrating to Africa, before they start their non-stop trip over the Mediterrenean sea and the Sahara desert. More than 270 species of birds have been spotted at the lagoon and particularly in spring it is a true paradise. A project run by the Hellenic Ornithological Society has started the process towards the creation of a prtected nature reserve. Click here for a 360° panoramic view of the area around Navarino Bay Click here for a map of the area around Gialova. Click here for a map of the Peloponnese.