METHONI

The castle of Methoni lies at the southernmost end of the west Peloponnesian coast. The site was fortified as early as the 7th century B.C., and in the period between 395 A.D. and 1204 A.D. was used as a Byzantine fortress.

Franks for a very short period and in 1206 was captured by the Venetians who strengthened the fortification, incorporating the pre-Christian defensive structures.

In 1500 Methoni was captured by the Turk Bayazit Pasha, again came under Venetian occupation from 1685 until 1715, and was for a second time dominated by the Turks who kept it under their control until 1829, when it was liberated by the French general Maison, along with other towns of the Peloponnese. For many years the buildings of the castle have been restored by the Archaeological Service.

MONUMENTS

The castle and remains of secular and religious buildings inside the fortified area.

Byzantine church of Aghia Sophia

Remains of Turkish Baths

Ruins of a house which was used as the residence of Ibrahim Pasha in 1826, and of General Maison after the liberation

Church of the Metamorphosis (Transfiguration). Single-aisled church built in 1833 by the French liberation army

Remains of structures of the Second World War. Cisterns and remains of the cemetery of the British prisoners

"Bourtzi" .Fortified islet at the south end of the castle, occupied by an octagonal tower with isodomic wall masonry