Pylos - Navarino Bay - Sfaktiria

Pylos is a beautiful seaside town looking out on Navarino Bay, which is inextricably linked with the 1827 naval battle that ended in victory for Greece’s allies. If you catch a glimpse of it from above at night it looks spectacular with the harbour and the imposing Niokastro castle sparkling in the dark. There’s lots to do, and you can take a boat trip to some of the islands in the Bay.

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Pylos is a beautiful seaside town looking out on Navarino Bay, which is inextricably linked with the 1827 naval battle that ended in victory for Greece’s allies. If you catch a glimpse of it from above at night it looks spectacular with the harbour and the imposing Niokastro castle sparkling in the dark. The town was built outside the fortress which was abandoned in 1830. 
Life in Pylos often revolves around the sea and the town’s big central square called Trion Navarchon (Three Admirals) with cafes and restaurants nestling in the shade of the large plane trees. Around it there are shops. 
A marble memorial column commemorates Admirals Codrington, Derigny and Hayden who were involved in the historic naval battle of Navarino in 1827. 

In the settlement there is also the Kostas Tsiklitiras Cultural Center housed in a neoclassical mansion. He was a gold medallist in athletics at the 1912 Stockholm Olympics and this was his family home. Another attraction on the main Pylos-Methoni road is Kamares. At this point the two 16th - 17th century aqueducts that took water to Niokastro meet, and a large and impressive section is still standing.  

Pylos looks out over Navarino Bay which is one of the safest anchorages in the Mediterranean thanks to the long narrow islet of Sfaktiria that protects it and acts as a natural breakwater. You can explore the bay by boat, and discover the small islands and their historical monuments while enjoying stunning views to Pylos, Gialova, Divari and more. 
At Tsichli Baba (Fanari) islet the rocks form an impressive geological phenomenon that resembles a giant arch. It is worth climbing up to see the 1890 French Fallen Monument, which has been declared a Historical Monument.
On the south side of the Sfaktiria there is a marble column dedicated to the Greek fallen, and a short distance away is the tomb of captain Alex Mallet and the grave of the philhellene Paul Marie Bonaparte, Napoleon's nephew. Further to the north is built the monument to count Santore Santarosa. On Sfaktiria you may admire the monument to the Russian fallen of the battle of Navarino and the Russian chapel of St. Nicholas. After the liberation, the chapel of Ascension (Panagoula) was built next to it on the site of a small Byzantine church. Finally, the monument of the English is located on the tiny Chelonisi islet.
A nice experience is scuba diving in Sfaktiria where there is rich underwater life and a cave.

The naval battle of Navarino
Between 1824-27 the Greek Revolution was jeopardized by an alliance between the Ottomans and the Egyptians. Britain, France and Russia decided to take an active role and, based on the Treaty of London signed in June 1827, they asked the Ottomans to agree to a ceasefire. To enforce this policy, they sent fleets to the Eastern Mediterranean. The heads of the allied forces (Codrington, Derigny, Hayden) gave Ibrahim Pasha an ultimatum he ignored. And so, on October 20, 1827, the famous naval battle of Navarino Bay took place. The Ottoman-Egyptian fleet was trapped and completely destroyed during the battle, something which determined the progress of the Greek revolution. 
Download the app to see the virtual museum of the ships that took place in the battle of Navarino (created as part of the Eugenides Foundation NAVIS project.) 

Did you know that

In August the Municipality of Pylos-Nestoros organises the Cultural Summer events including concerts, theatre and music performances held in the squares and outdoor spaces of Pylos.

Pylos is 52 km away from Kalamata.

Location

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