The ruined but impressive Old Navarino Castle dominates the bay of Navarino.
Although there are castles in the Messinia area which are in much better condition and are easier to access than the ruined but impressive Old Navarino Castle of Pylos, such as Niokastro, Methoni, and Koroni, it is still worth making an effort to see it.
You will quickly see that the difficult effort was worth it once you see the 360-degree view.
Old Navarino Castle (Paleokastro) dominates the bay of Navarino. The view from up there is so impressive that the locals say - exaggerating, of course - that you can even see the lights of Malta on clear nights.
The Franks built it on a hill to defend against enemies. From the top, you can see why they chose this location.
To the west is the Ionian Sea; to the north is the Bay of Voidokilia; to the east is the lagoon of Gialova; to the southeast is the bay of Navarino and Pylos; and to the south is the islet of Sfaktiria.
Large spiders set up intricate webs you don't want to mess up, tree branches get in your way, wildflowers beautify the landscape, and the trail gets harder the higher you go. The heat is intense in summer, so start walking early in the morning.
The ruins you encounter on your way to the top tell the story of the castle that played an important role in the area's history until it was abandoned in the middle of the 16th century.
It was built in the 13th century by the Frankish crusader Nicholas II de Saint Omer, ruler of Thebes, on the ruins of an ancient fortification. Experienced Venetian engineers continued its construction in the 15th century to defend against the Ottomans.
In 1573, the Venetians began to build Niokastro on the other side of the gulf to control its southern entrance. Therefore, the castle lost its importance and was renamed Old Navarino Castle (or Paleokastro).
Before all this happened, however, the castle did not have the same fate as the others in the Peloponnese, which were occupied by the Ottomans from 1460 but remained in the hands of the Venetians.
Its defenders surrendered so that it would not suffer the same fate as Methoni when Sultan Bayezid II, with his army, occupied and destroyed it in 1500.
From a drone, the Old Navarino Castle resembles a trapeze. Its total area reached 50 acres. An expert will tell you that its ruins reflect the many different building phases and additions it underwent. Today, you mostly see the form it had in the 16th century.
The outer part of the walls and some towers are preserved.
You will see only ruins inside the walls because restoration work still needs to be done.
How to get there: a path starts from Voidokilia and another one from the side of Divari Beach, on the castle's south side.
Vali Vaimaki is a columnist for Travel. Translated by Paul Antonopoulos.
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