Listed 10 sub titles with search on: Information about the place for destination: "MESSINIA Prefecture PELOPONNISOS".
In the following WebPages you can find an interactive map with all the monuments and museums of the Prefecture, with relevant information and photos.
Messinia consists of even and low mountains around the perimeter,
while in the middle lies the fertile valley of the river Pamisos.
In the east lies the mountainous mass of Taygetos whose highest peaks
are «prophet Elias» (2407 m.) «Neraedovouna» (2025 m.) and «Xerovouna» (1852 m.)
on the borders with Lakonia while the lowest peaks are on the borders with Arkadia,
like «Xerovouni» (1521 m.) and «prophet Elias» (1389 m).
Messinia is seperated from Arkadia with Mount Lykaeo (1421 m.) in
the northeast, and in the north it's separated from Elia with Mount Tetrazio or
Nomia (1389 m.). In the west part of the province, in Trifyllia, lie the mountains
of Kyparissia (1218 m.) while Mount Lykodimo (959 m.) takes up most of the area
of Pylia as far as Cape Akritas.
The big Messinian valley, which is crossed by the river Pamisos, is
divided by the holy mountain «Ithomata Dia (Zeus)», Ithomi (800 m.), while in
the coastal areas (along the Ionian Sea) from Kyparissia to Methoni small valleys
that are formed are cultivated. There are olive trees and early vegetables there.
The much-sung river of Pamisos springs at St. Floros at the feet of
Mount Taygetos and collects waters from the torrents that flow from Ithomi and
the north part of Taygetos and flows into an area close to Messini. Neda springs
from Mount Lykaeo and flows into the Gulf of Kyparissia and constitutes a natural
boundary with Elia.
This text is cited March 2003 from the Messenia Prefecture Tourism Promotion Commission URL below, which contains image.
The climate of Mεssinia is temperate with a mild winter and a cool
summer and annual temperatures range from 13°C to 19°C.
The valleys as well as the coastal areas maintain temperatures of
between 17°C and 21°C in winter due to the warm and humid southerly winds while
the areas which are not affected by the sea maintain temperatures below 16°C.
The summer in the coastal areas is cool because of the northerly winds
and the sea breeze while higher temperatures are found in the upper messinian
valley.
The relative humidity of the air is high in the coastal areas but
it is reduced when moving towards the mainland, reaching rates higher than 80
points on the hydrometric scale during the winter months and lower during July
and August.
Sunshine prevails upon cloudy weather but rainfall can be heavy along
the west (Ionian) coast and along the west slopes of Taygetos with average annual
rainfall of between 800-1500 mm.
The annual course of rainfall shows most of the rain in December and
May due to the thermic storms and the least in July.
Snow is rare and only on the higher of the mountain peaks of Taygetos
while the intensity of the winds is low and the winds are mostly northerly - north
- westerly in the mainland and southerly - southwesterly in the coastal areas.
This text is cited May 2003 from the Messenia Prefecture Tourism Promotion Commission URL below.
The big messinian valley starts from the inmost part of the Gulf and ends at the foot of Mountain Tetrazio in the north of the province. It is crossed by the river Pamisos and its tributaries which spring from the nearby mountains of Messinia and Arkadia. It is divided into, Makaria, the valley of Pamisos and the valley of Upper Messinia or of ancient Stenyklaro. It is rich in both surface and underground waters and has a good irrigation system which promotes the cultivation of potatoes, vegetables corn, citrus fruits etc. On the valleys and the semi-mountainous regions the olive trees thrive from which the best oil in the world is produced. Figs and raisins are also traditional products of the province. In the coastal areas of Pylia and Pylia and Trifyllia stretch some small valleys in which, in combination with the climate, apart from olive trees and raisins early vegetables are grown.
This text is cited March 2003 from the Messenia Prefecture Tourism Promotion Commission URL below, which contains image.
On the southest part of the Peloponnese the impressive and extensive
mountain range of Taygetos «intrudes» in the Mediterannean sea and forms the rocky
and dry peninsula of Mani.
The first inhabitants, according to the traveller Pausanias, were
the Leleges, while during the homeric years it was divided into small kingdoms
(«polismata»).
During the roman time the cities of the region, after a request made
by Rome, formed the «Public of the Freelakones» in 195 A.D., the ancestors of
the contemporary Maniards, to counter the sovereighty of Sparta, while its Byzantine
presence was intense during the period 1263-1453 when there was the Despotato
of Mystras.
The unsubdued spirit and the faith in freedom inspired the struggle
of Maniards against the turkish invader which helped them achieve a special regime
of privilege which included internal autonomy, permission to carry weapons but
also an obligation to pay annual taxes.
Mani was governed by the beys who had Petrobeis Mavromichalis as a
leader who declared the Greek Revolution in 1821 against the Turks.
This text is cited March 2003 from the Messenia Prefecture Tourism Promotion Commission URL below, which contains image.
Outer Mani stretches from Verga, in the southeast of Kalamata, to
Doloi and Kambos where Homer had placed «Iri Poiessa» and «Enopi» which were flourishing
cities back then(1580-1120 B.C).
Iri was where M. Mantinia is today, and was named, after the first
doric King of Messinia, Kresfondis, while the archaeological findings prove the
existence of a civilization during the promycaenaic and mycaenaic era.
The homeric Enopi, or Gerinia during the classical years, was where
Kambos Avias is today and where Nestoras, the king of Pylos carried and buried,
in the area Rodon (=rose) the body of Mahaona, the son of Aesculapuis after the
Trojan War.
The domed royal «tomb of Mahaona» is in good condition in Garbelia
in Kambos.
St. Theodores at Kambos, the Convent of Helmos at Gaetses and other
Byzantine churches, the towers of Mani of Koutifari -Aloupidon at Malta of Stavropirgio,
of Garbelia, at Kambos, where the ex-Prime Minister Alexander Koumoundouros and
the Kapetanakis Family were born, at M. Mantinia as well as the castle of Zarnata,
are characteristic monuments of the civilization that developed in Outside Mani
from the 10th century A.D. to 1821.
The sunny and coastal area of Avia, from Almyros to M. Mantinia and
Kitries the ravine of Sandava ends up on the west slopes of Taygetos overlooking
the Messinian Guif, constitutes a holiday resort close to Kalamata with pebbly
beaches and excellent touristic infrastructure, like rooms to rent and fish tavernas.
This text is cited March 2003 from the Messenia Prefecture Tourism Promotion Commission URL below, which contains image.
It stretches from Velona and Prosilio to St. Nikona and includes the
valley of Kardamyli and St. Nikolaos as well as the surrounding slopes of Taygetos.
Kardamyli, the Mycaenaic Lefktro of Mani, Thalames and Pefnos were
cities that prospered during the Mycaenaic Era, as it is proved by the archaelogical
findings while, during the roman era, they participated in the «Public of the
Freelakones» which were financial centres due to their geographical positions.
Kardamyli was a base of the kapetania during the turkish rule and,
subsequently, became the base of the bey of Mani, the homeland of Mourtzinos of
the Troupakis' family, while the first Bey of Mani Tzanetos Koutifaris was from
Thalames.
The twin tombs of Dioskouroi at Kardamyli and the brass statues erected
in the harbor of St. Nikolaos, prove the worship of the Dioskouroi in the surrounding
area St. Nikolaos at Platsa, St. Sophia and St. Spyridon at Kardamyli, as well
as other Christian monuments of the Byzantine era, show the faith of the Maniards
to Christianity, while the tower of Mourtzinos at Kardamyli constitutes a sign
of the traditional architecture and the organisation of family and social life
during the Turkish rule.
The traditional environment, the hospitality of the inhabitants and
the natural beauty of the enclosed bays of Fonea, Kalogria, Stoupa, Trahela, and
the shelters at the Ravine of Viros are the reasons why Mani attracts so many
visitors who seek the harmony between the calm sea and the wild scenery of Mani.
This text is cited March 2003 from the Messenia Prefecture Tourism Promotion Commission URL below, which contains image.
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