Messinia is located in the southwestern Peloponnese and is a
prefecture of Greece. Geographically, it is the region defined to
the north by the Neda River and the Arcadian Mountains (Lycaios,
Mainalos), to the east by Mount Taygetos, to the south by the
Messinian Gulf and to the west by the Kyparissia Mountains and the
Ionian Sea. It borders to the north with the Prefecture of Elis, to
the northeast with the Prefecture of Arcadia and to the east with
the Prefecture of Laconia.
The Prefecture of Messinia, with
its capital at Kalamata, is one of the 51 prefectures of Greece,
which is currently identified with the electoral district of
Messinia, based on the current political and electoral system and is
represented in the Greek Parliament with 5 members of parliament.
Until 2010, the Prefecture of Messinia also corresponded to the
Prefecture of Messinia, which was a secondary local government
organization (prefecture) and constituted a level of Greek public
administration, in the period between 1833-2010. From 1 January
2011, when the Kallikrates Program of Law 3852/2010 came into force,
the prefectural self-government of Messinia was abolished and
replaced by the Regional Unit of Messinia.
According to the
current self-government system, the Regional Unit of Messinia, based
in Kalamata, from 2011 and subsequently based on the Kallikrates
Program (3852/2010) is one of the 74 regional units of the country.
It extends to the southwestern part of the geographical region of
Peloponnese and is administratively subordinate to the Region of
Peloponnese, headquartered in Tripoli, as well as to the
Decentralized Administration of Peloponnese, Western Greece and the
Ionian Sea, headquartered in Patras.
Kalamata: economic center of
the southern Peloponnese. The famous Kalamata olive oil also comes from
its surroundings. In addition to the old town and the large pebble
beach, the city is a good starting point for day trips. Kalamata has an
airport with international connections, mainly for charter flights.
Iamia: settlement
Kardamyli:
small town of around 350 inhabitants, attractive for individual tourists
Koroni: fishing village
Messene
Methoni: small village that, in
contrast to Pylos or Koroni, still seems sleepy and has been spared from
tourism. The enormous Venetian fortress, which is now half-ruined and
washed by the sea, is a surprise.
Petalidi
Pylos:
small fishing village in the southwest of the Peloponnese, where tourism
has long since arrived. The village nestles charmingly on a hillside and
offers a beautiful view of the historically important bay in many
places. In the immediate vicinity there are beautiful beaches, the
Palace of Nestor and a ruined Venetian fortress.
Stoupa: small town
with one of the few sandy beaches on the Mani peninsula.
Foinikounta
Kyparissia
Korobi and Methone
From Athens you can get to Kalamata either by train or by car. Kalamata also has an airport that is served by charter airlines as well as regional flights, including from Athens (Olympic Airways). Until 2011, a narrow-gauge railway ran the route from Athens to Kalamata in seven hours.
As in the whole of the Peloponnese, the cities of Messinia are connected by a more or less well-developed bus network. Several buses run between the larger cities and towns every day, while smaller towns may only be served once or twice a day. In any case, you should find out about the departure times in good time, preferably a day in advance, to make sure that you get to the place you want to go and don't miss the only bus that morning.
Messenia has been inhabited since prehistoric times, mainly due to
its fertile plains. There are a number of finds from the Neolithic era.
Near Chora are the remains of the Mycenaean palace of Nestor, the
mythical king mentioned in the Homeric epics. The descent of the Dorians
in the 12th century BC put an end to the Mycenaean civilization.
From the 8th to the 5th century BC, the Spartans enslaved Messinia in
the Messenian Wars. The Thebans liberated it in 369 BC, but it was
finally conquered by the Romans in 183 BC.
The Byzantine Era followed and in the 13th century it was conquered by the Franks, only to pass completely into the hands of the Ottomans in 1498.
The region of Messinia during the Second Venetian Rule (1683/84-1715), that is, the thirty-year period (1683/84-1715), during which the Venetians reoccupied the Peloponnese, through their possession (Stato da Mar), which is also known as the Kingdom of the Morea (1688-1715), was referred to as the Theme of Messinia or the Province of Messinia (Provincia di Messenia) and was one of the 4 themes or 4 provinces (Provincie), into which the Venetian Senate (per ordine dell'Eccellentissimo Senato) divided, according to the Venetian census of 1704, then the Peloponnese (Romania, Achaia, Laconia and Messinia with capitals in Nafplio, Patras, Monemvasia and Neo Navarino respectively). In Messinia, as in each of the other provinces (themata), a prefect (prevedouros) was also appointed for political and military administration, a director of justice and a financial commissioner.
Papaflessas declared revolution against the Turks on 23 March 1821 and after the devastation caused by Ibrahim's Turkish-Egyptian army, the Battle of Navarino (20 October 1827) led to the liberation of the Peloponnese and the creation of the new Greek state.
The highest mountain is Taygetos (2,404 m, peak of Prophet Elias), which Messinia shares with Laconia and whose chain continues with other high peaks to the northwest. On the northeastern border with Arcadia and a short distance from Andritsaina in Elis is Mount Lykaio (1,420 m). On the northern border with Elis is Tetrazio. To the west and towards the Ionian Sea, the Kyparissia Mountains (Mount Egaleo, 1224 m) extend from north to south, in the extension of which, on the western Messinian peninsula, is Mount Lykodimos (960 m). In the center of the prefecture and from north to south, the fertile plain of Messinia extends.
The largest river is the Pamisos, which crosses the Messinian plain and flows into the Messinian Gulf. On the border with Ilia is the Neda River. Smaller rivers are the Velikas and the Nedonas, which crosses the city of Kalamata.
Kalamata is the commercial and industrial center of the prefecture, as well as an important port. The agricultural sector remains important with the main products being figs, raisins, grapes and wine, oranges, olives and olive oil.