Ancient ruins

Ancient Messini

Recomendado por 41 personas locales,

Consejos de personas locales

Ioannis

August 27, 2022

Very close to “The Backyard”, (about 15 minutes), well preserved Archaeological site. Just before the site there is a caffe-Tavern called “Ithomi”were you can enjoy a “Mpaklava” or “Galaktompoureko” or other sweets enjoying the views. It is best known for the ruins of the large classical city-state of Ancient Messene. The site was founded in the Bronze Age as Ithome, an ancient city originally of Achaean Greeks which eventually came under the hegemony of the military state of Sparta with which it had a long struggle. During the latter period many inhabitants went into exile, and eventually it was destroyed by the Spartans and abandoned for some time. After the defeat of the Spartans at the Battle of Leuctra (371 BC), the Thebans invaded the Peloponnese and Epaminondas built the new city of Messene on the site in 369 BC over the ruins of Ithome and invited the return of the previous inhabitants and their descendants. The substantial ruins are a major historical attraction. Much has been archaeologically excavated and partly restored or preserved for study and public viewing, as well as for various events. The site was never totally abandoned. The small village of Mavromati occupies what was the upper city around the fountain called klepsydra.

Rebecca

April 4, 2018

30 kilometers from Kalamata, in the western foothills of Mount Ithomi near the present village of Mavrommati, Ancient Messini, one of the most important archaeological sites of Greece, spreads over a long stretch.