The “Game of Thrones”, Peloponnese-style

Eight must-see castles in the most underrated Greek destination Methoni, Messinia One of Greece’s most impressive castles, Methoni Castle, was built in the 13th century by the Venetians and became a major commercial and transportation hub in the eastern Mediterranean; the Lion of St Marc can be seen at the castle’s gate. Interior structures dating back to various periods have been well preserved, while standout attractions include a stone bridge featuring 14 arches and an islet on which the eight-sided emblematic Bourtzi tower, once a prison during the Ottoman Occupation, stands. Koroni, Messinia Built in the 13th Century by the Venetians and restructured by the Ottomans in the 16th Century, Koroni Castle, served as a pivotal post for the Venetians in the southeast Mediterranean. These days, the spot, still inhabited, offers a superb view as well as an intriguing walk amid the little houses with flower gardens and the active Aghios Ioannis Prodromos monastery. Koroni remained in the hands of the Ottomans until 1828, when it was liberated by the French General Nicolas Joseph Maison, following the battle of Navarino. see full article here