Pylos (or Neokastro) is a small town in the prefecture of Messinia and a port of the Southwest Peloponnese.

It is located 50 km west of Kalamata and has only 2,104 residents, according to Census of 2001.

It is amphitheatrically built on two low hills and has a unique architectural design. Characteristic elements are the arches of the buildings, the square with the cannons and the tall shady plane tree.

Today, the pretty Polihni is much irrelevant to the ancient Pylos, which is mentioned in history books.
In the city, valuable archaeological treasures have been discovered. Stone walls, pieces of frescoes, floors and Mycenaean vases were those which first came to light.

Sights:
The ancient city of Pylos, which was in the northwest of the city, gained importance during the period of the Peloponnesian War. From the citadel, one can see the traces of the early Christian and Hellenistic Age.

Paleokastro, which was built by the Franks in 1278, "closes" the north side of Navarino Bay. Its shape was rectangular and it enclosed an area of approximately 200 meters.

Nowadays, it is not in a very good condition although some efforts have been made, which yielded deterioration on the external profile of the castle.

Near the castle is the cave of Nestoras, as mentioned by Pausanias, and it is connected to the castle. Like the castle, neither the cave is in good condition apart from the outer wall.

At the entrance of the bay of Pylos, at the newest Castle of the town, is located the former Navarino. It was built in 1573 by the Turks to fortify the city.

The castle is one of the most impressive castles of Greece and is kept, until today, in good condition. Inside the castle there are ruins of the Gothic Church of the Transfiguration, which, under the Turkish rule, converted into a mosque and then into a church.

At Sfaktiria island, located in the bay of Navarino the visits are conducted by boat. On the island there are plenty of monuments.

On the northern edge, on the hill of Prophet Elias, there are remnants of an ancient fortress wall from the Peloponnesian War.

On the south, there is the cenotaph of Tsamados, inside is the tomb of prince Paul-Marie Bonaparte, nephew of Napoleon, while in the southern part is the tomb of French officer Megie, who was killed in a duel at Navarino.

North of Pylos, just 4 km, is the imposing church of Virgin Mary of Sgrappas, in Eleophyto.