GREECE PELOPONNESE MESSINIA PYLOS TOWN

In 1573 the Turks erected the Neokastro ("New Castle" to distinguish it from Palaiokastro, the Old Castle at Voidokoilia) to guard the southwest flank of the Peloponnese at the highly strategic point overlooking the entrance of Navarino Bay. This was the beginning of a small settlement originally called Navarino.

Except for a short Venetian interlude in 1686-1715, the town and the castle were in tight Turkish grip until 1827. In 1825, the legendary Ibrahim Pasha established his headquarters here and organized the devastation of Messinia. - The momentous Naval Battle of Navarino on 20 October 1827 finally brought an end to Turkish oppression. The town was then named Pylos after Nestor's ancient kingdom (whose "palace" is about 17 km North at Ano Englianos).

Modern Pylos is a vivid, picturesque town with much atmosphere and about 3000 inhabitants. It is built amphitheatrically on the sloping terrain around the small harbour (which is not very frequented by boats) and the central Platia. Here is the focus of Pylos' social life, where everyone meets - in the shade of a huge plane tree, which is claimed to be more than 200 years old - thus it would have been planted already in Turkish times.