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The Islands of Messinia |
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Proti Island: Proti is located opposite Marathopoli or Marathos, in a distance of 1100 m. The coasts are steep and rocky, but there are some leeward coves that offer safe anchorage, and had been previously used as makeshift moorings.
Dense vegetation covers the territory, wild trees mainly.
On the east side of the island, there
is the unique sandy beach of Vourlia, in a quiet cove with crystal clear waters. If you decide to visit Vourlia by your own boat, you should give special attention to the entrance of the bay, because there is a sunken ship with some of its parts being very close to the surface or even slightly above.
Near Vourlia, on the north side, you will find a quiet cove that serves as a harbor for Proti's guests and especially for the visitors of the Monastery of the Assumption of Gorgopigi, which you will see on the hillside.
The name of the monastery comes from the homonym icon of 1832 that was found on the rocky coast in 1984, at the place where there is now a small chapel.
The two-aisled church of the monastery is dedicated, to the founding of the relics of St. Stephen and to the Assumption.
The monastery is celebrating on August 23 and on September 24 with many visitors coming to commemorate the day the icon was found.
You can visit Proti by boats from Marathopoli with scheduled trips.
Sapienza Island: You can visit it only if you have your own boat, because there is no other way to access it. It is located opposite Methoni and is the most beautiful and most important island of Oinousses, with a size of 9 square kilometers and the coastline is particularly steep and rocky. The only beach on the island is Ammos, located in its northern part, opposite Methoni, but it compensate the visitor with its beauty. It is protected from the winds and due to its small port is easily accessible.
The landscape of Sapienza is green with slopes covered by low vegetation, surrounded by dense bushes and crystal clear waters. At the center of the northern part of the island, in the created valley between the small mountains, you will find the only one arbutus forest in Mediterranean Sea. The remarkable thing is that arbutus are trees, their height is greater than 10 meters, and not bushes as we meet them more often.
The beautiful forest of arbutus and the surrounding area, in a total area of 24 hectares, has been designated since 1986 as a "monument of nature".
In the center of the island, the vegetation is replaced by a plateau, with a peculiar yellow-orange rock, which was formed by the accumulation of huge quantities of pollen and is a source of information for scientists about the age of the forest and the region. The site is named Spartolakka and is a major attraction of Sapienza Island.
In this lush vegetation and stunning surroundings, Cretan wild goats exist (the known Kri Kri), approaching the population of 200 animals. Also, in the area, there are wild sheeps (mouflon) and several species of birds (pheasants, grouses, woodcocks, thrushes, etc.).
The hunting is allowed on the island but under very strict conditions and with continuous and intensive monitoring.
Further south and after the narrowest point of the island (Lamos), an enclosed bay is formed, Porto Longo, serving as a safe anchorage for visitors. If you are approaching Porto Longo from the sea, at the entrance of the bay you will see the islet of Bomba, full of legends, according to them, there Apostle Paul had gone when he met a strong storm on the road to Rome.
The natural harbor of Porto Longo is the beggining of a trail leading to the lighthouse of Sapienza, a beautiful and impressive building, 18 meters high, created by Englishmen around 1890. The 75 stone steps lead to the top of the lighthouse with the stunning views of the island and the surrounding area.
The west coast of Sapienza is rocky and wild, except the quiet bay of Maneta. North of this bay and just before Visouni Cape, the steep cliffs have named "skipjack" from the local fishermen due to the large quantity of skipjack passing from there.
At the northern edge of Sapienza, at Carsi Cape, within walking distance from the shore and in shallow up to more deep waters (only 8 m), on the seabed, there are important discoveries of shipwrecks with impressive ruins, such as the pillars of the Great Peristyle from Caesarea of Palestine and the Roman sarcophagi from titanium stone. The place offers a unique experience to diving fans. In the minds of the persons in charge is to create an underwater archaeological park to showcase the region.
Two Brothers Islands:Across the southern tip of Sapienza, there are the Two Brothers rocky islets. On the largest islet, there are ruins of an age-old lighthouse, which was built by Englishmen before the construction of the modern one.
In the Ionian Sea, southwest of the Two Brothers islets, is the greatest depth of the Mediterranean Sea (5121 m), known as the "pit of Oinousses". There, pioneering studies of Greek and foreign research institutions have been done, for neutrinos and for the history of the universe..
Schiza Island:
Sfaktiria Island: An oblong island, in front of the bay of Navarino, that functions like a natural breakwater, making the port of Pylos, and generally the bay of Pylos, one of the safest anchorages in the Mediterranean Sea.
It is especially known for its rich history, beginning in 425 BC with the exclusion and finally with the surrender of the Spartans who were excluded by the Athenians.
Another point in its history is the massacre of Greeks by Ibrahim, including the philhellene Santarosa in 1825, after a heroic resistance. Then, in 1827, in the waters of the bay and two years after his last victory, Ibrahim will lose, along with his fleet and his hopes to quell the Revolution, when he excluded from the fleet of the Great Powers, and eventually he will lose 60 from 89 ships and many soldiers.
In Sfaktiria there are the monuments of the fallen Greeks, Santarosa monument, and the monument of Russian along with its chapel, all of which are dedicated to honor of the dead.
Chelonisi Island: A rocky islet in the center of the Bay of Navarino, on which is located the monument of the Englishmen, in honor of their dead in the battle against Ibrahim in 1827.
Pylos Island:
Venetiko Island:
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