Messini is built on the right side of the Pamisos River, in the lower part of the Messinian Plain. Messini is a municipal unit and the seat of Messini Municipality within the regional unit of Messinia. Earlier of 2011 the same hierarchy prevailed, with the only difference that Messinia was a borough and the Municipal unit was a locality.
Messini (modern pronunciation) shouldn’t be confused with its ancient namesake, Messene, located 15 kilometres (9.3 miles) to the north under the shadow of Mountain Ithomi. Ancient Messene is an equally large but abandoned site of historically important ruins and also worldwide known. Messini did not gradually become nor it was created by population transfer from Ancient Messene. Formerly known as Island, it underwent a name change to Messini in 1867.
Messini gradually became a well known tourist location not only for the ancient monuments by also for the local tourist resorts, locations and hospitality of locals.
Messini began its communal existence as Island, a settlement placed on an island in the extended marshland at the “mouth” of Pamisos river. The ethnic content of the population in the vicinity at that time were Greeks and Christianized Slavs, which is also reflected in the names of the villages around Messini. After 1432, once the Byzantine Empire fell and was commandeered by the Ottoman Empire, some Turks entered the region. Apart from the names, these distinctions have more or less disappeared in modern Greece.
The government of Greece changed the official name to Messini in 1867. Baedeker‘s for the later nineteenth century and early twentieth centuries mentioned Island as “now formally Messini,” a phrase that was widely used in travelogues of the period. Prior to 1887 Island isn’t treated as Messini. Subsequent references to the place usually refer to Island as “the popular name”.
In 1962 a number of ancient finds were discovered in Messini.
The modern town bases its economy on agriculture. Oil, raisins, potatoes and early vegetables are grown, while the area is quickly developing in terms of tourism industry with the creation of infrastructure at the beaches of Bouka, Analipsi and Velika.
In Messini, similarly as throughout the prefecture of Messinia, you’ll find a rich traditional cuisine and plenty of pure and healthy native products. The main agricultural foods produced in Messinia are olives, grapes, raisins, figs, citrus and fruit and vegetables.
Some of the specialties of the local cuisine are salads, boiled goat, scrambled cod with garlic, roast pork, and sage-smoked sausages unique to their taste and quality.
Try even marvelous “diples”, “lalagia” and oil bagels. Don’t forget to shop the far-famed Kalamata olives, honey, that are of excellent quality, “pasteli”, “ouzo”, balsamic vinegar, “trachana”, noodles, herbs and organic products.
Messini offers all of the traditional and local tastes with excellent quality.
The most noteworthy sight of modern Messini is ancient Messene that is a world known and crowded tourist spot! More sights are its Park, the fountains that follow music rhythm and the beach of Messini Bouka, which has been awarded the Blue Flag. Services such as sports facilities (football stadium, basketball, beach volleyball and tennis), water marina and sand cleaning are provided free of charge by Messini Municipality. It is also famous for the traditional carnival events that are hosted there. The fires on Sunday evening of the Apokreos, the hanging of the “Sikos” in the morning of “Kathara Deutera”, the satirical speech of carnival in the afternoon with the parade of the tanks and the carnivalists which give a unique tone, having made the Messini carnival well known. On Easter Monday a Messinian feast is organized. The feast is combined with the descent of the miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary from Monastery of Voulkanos (Ithomi). The descent of the image takes place for 20 kilometers throughout the night, while the temple of Zoodochos Pigi is annexed to the monastery, which is a pilgrimage for thousands of people flocking from many parts of Greece and not only.
At the beginning of August 2013, the theater of Messini was reopened, revealed by archaeologist Petros Themelis.
Spring Breaks
Visitors who head to Messini between late March and May should expect to find clear skies and temperatures that hover between ten and twenty five degrees, making sightseeing pleasant and creating perfect walking conditions. It’s not uncommon for water temperatures to be warm enough for swimming throughout the early Spring also. The important Easter preparations that take place this time of year, where you see locals flooding the streets for the biggest celebration of Christianity. Next day is followed by music, dancing, eating and drinking as a tradition. By avoiding the summer rush, tourists should be able to find smart deals on flights and accommodation, making Spring a good season for budget travellers to visit Messini.
Summer Sun
Sunscreen and shades are essential for a Summer visit to Messini, and the dry heat, which is possible to exceed 40 degrees, can feel stifling. If you intend to visit Messini at this time, don’t attempt to pack too much clothes into your trip. Arrange several of lazy beach days and make sure your hotel room or apartment is air conditioned. Greek holidaymakers flock here during the summer months, so you should expect crowded beaches so book your lodgings earlier as well.
Autumn and Winter in Messini
As the temperatures drop, also do the tourist numbers, and the early Autumn is a very pleasant time to visit Messini. During September the waters are still warm enough for swimming, and you’ll have plenty of space for splashing into. Sightseeing becomes more comfortable as the heat becomes less oppressive, so October, November and forward are good times of the year to explore the mountains. During the Winter, there are fewer international flights to Kalamata, but it is always possible to fly in to Athens and take the transport through the beautiful newly created highway and inside the graphic villages along the way.
Modern Messini has around ten thousand inhabitants. It is the second largest municipality of Messinia. The town center is three kilometers from the Messinian Gulf coastline, near the right bank of Pamisos river. The capital city of Messinia, Kalamata, is only 12 km to the east. The town is accessed by Greek National Road 82 (Pylos – Kalamata – Sparta). Also Kalamata’s International Airport is two kilometers to the east from the center of Messini town. Since 1892, Messini had a railway station, on a branch line from Korinthos–Kalamata railway. It was closed in 1976, reopened in 2007, and again closed from 2011.
Driving: You’ll be able to drive from Athens to Messini in about two hours fourty minutes on the National Road. Its not a bad drive and you will pass some attention-grabbing countryside. After all it’s a lot more interesting for the passenger than it’s for the driver who should keep his eye on the road in order to be alert for all the crazy things Greek drivers do. However even that may be amusing and if you’re a good driver you will not have any issues. Rent a Car
By bus: Coach services are operated by KTEL between Athens, Kalamata, Messini. The trip time depends on bus schedule. Ticket value depends on bus schedule also. You don’t have to pre-book for a price ticket. You’ll pay at the terminal, before bus departure or on the bus. If you’re there half an hour before departure you must find a seat. Find a Bus
By taxi: You’ll be able to rent or hire a taxi transfer from Athens directly to Messini through the contact form and also you can arrange the price with the driver! This can be a simple solution if you don’t wish to drive all the way by yourself! Taxi Transfer
Messini is built on the right side of the Pamisos River, in the lower part of the Messinian Plain. Messini is a municipal unit and the seat of Messini Municipality within the regional unit of Messinia. Earlier of 2011 the same hierarchy prevailed, with the only difference that Messinia was a borough and the Municipal unit was a locality.
Messini (modern pronunciation) shouldn’t be confused with its ancient namesake, Messene, located 15 kilometres (9.3 miles) to the north under the shadow of Mountain Ithomi. Ancient Messene is an equally large but abandoned site of historically important ruins and also worldwide known. Messini did not gradually become nor it was created by population transfer from Ancient Messene. Formerly known as Island, it underwent a name change to Messini in 1867.
Messini gradually became a well known tourist location not only for the ancient monuments by also for the local tourist resorts, locations and hospitality of locals.
Messini began its communal existence as Island, a settlement placed on an island in the extended marshland at the “mouth” of Pamisos river. The ethnic content of the population in the vicinity at that time were Greeks and Christianized Slavs, which is also reflected in the names of the villages around Messini. After 1432, once the Byzantine Empire fell and was commandeered by the Ottoman Empire, some Turks entered the region. Apart from the names, these distinctions have more or less disappeared in modern Greece.
The government of Greece changed the official name to Messini in 1867. Baedeker‘s for the later nineteenth century and early twentieth centuries mentioned Island as “now formally Messini,” a phrase that was widely used in travelogues of the period. Prior to 1887 Island isn’t treated as Messini. Subsequent references to the place usually refer to Island as “the popular name”.
In 1962 a number of ancient finds were discovered in Messini.
The modern town bases its economy on agriculture. Oil, raisins, potatoes and early vegetables are grown, while the area is quickly developing in terms of tourism industry with the creation of infrastructure at the beaches of Bouka, Analipsi and Velika.
In Messini, similarly as throughout the prefecture of Messinia, you’ll find a rich traditional cuisine and plenty of pure and healthy native products. The main agricultural foods produced in Messinia are olives, grapes, raisins, figs, citrus and fruit and vegetables.
Some of the specialties of the local cuisine are salads, boiled goat, scrambled cod with garlic, roast pork, and sage-smoked sausages unique to their taste and quality.
Try even marvelous “diples”, “lalagia” and oil bagels. Don’t forget to shop the far-famed Kalamata olives, honey, that are of excellent quality, “pasteli”, “ouzo”, balsamic vinegar, “trachana”, noodles, herbs and organic products.
Messini offers all of the traditional and local tastes with excellent quality.
The most noteworthy sight of modern Messini is ancient Messene that is a world known and crowded tourist spot! More sights are its Park, the fountains that follow music rhythm and the beach of Messini Bouka, which has been awarded the Blue Flag. Services such as sports facilities (football stadium, basketball, beach volleyball and tennis), water marina and sand cleaning are provided free of charge by Messini Municipality. It is also famous for the traditional carnival events that are hosted there. The fires on Sunday evening of the Apokreos, the hanging of the “Sikos” in the morning of “Kathara Deutera”, the satirical speech of carnival in the afternoon with the parade of the tanks and the carnivalists which give a unique tone, having made the Messini carnival well known. On Easter Monday a Messinian feast is organized. The feast is combined with the descent of the miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary from Monastery of Voulkanos (Ithomi). The descent of the image takes place for 20 kilometers throughout the night, while the temple of Zoodochos Pigi is annexed to the monastery, which is a pilgrimage for thousands of people flocking from many parts of Greece and not only.
At the beginning of August 2013, the theater of Messini was reopened, revealed by archaeologist Petros Themelis.
Spring Breaks
Visitors who head to Messini between late March and May should expect to find clear skies and temperatures that hover between ten and twenty five degrees, making sightseeing pleasant and creating perfect walking conditions. It’s not uncommon for water temperatures to be warm enough for swimming throughout the early Spring also. The important Easter preparations that take place this time of year, where you see locals flooding the streets for the biggest celebration of Christianity. Next day is followed by music, dancing, eating and drinking as a tradition. By avoiding the summer rush, tourists should be able to find smart deals on flights and accommodation, making Spring a good season for budget travellers to visit Messini.
Summer Sun
Sunscreen and shades are essential for a Summer visit to Messini, and the dry heat, which is possible to exceed 40 degrees, can feel stifling. If you intend to visit Messini at this time, don’t attempt to pack too much clothes into your trip. Arrange several of lazy beach days and make sure your hotel room or apartment is air conditioned. Greek holidaymakers flock here during the summer months, so you should expect crowded beaches so book your lodgings earlier as well.
Autumn and Winter in Messini
As the temperatures drop, also do the tourist numbers, and the early Autumn is a very pleasant time to visit Messini. During September the waters are still warm enough for swimming, and you’ll have plenty of space for splashing into. Sightseeing becomes more comfortable as the heat becomes less oppressive, so October, November and forward are good times of the year to explore the mountains. During the Winter, there are fewer international flights to Kalamata, but it is always possible to fly in to Athens and take the transport through the beautiful newly created highway and inside the graphic villages along the way.
Modern Messini has around ten thousand inhabitants. It is the second largest municipality of Messinia. The town center is three kilometers from the Messinian Gulf coastline, near the right bank of Pamisos river. The capital city of Messinia, Kalamata, is only 12 km to the east. The town is accessed by Greek National Road 82 (Pylos – Kalamata – Sparta). Also Kalamata’s International Airport is two kilometers to the east from the center of Messini town. Since 1892, Messini had a railway station, on a branch line from Korinthos–Kalamata railway. It was closed in 1976, reopened in 2007, and again closed from 2011.
Driving: You’ll be able to drive from Athens to Messini in about two hours fourty minutes on the National Road. Its not a bad drive and you will pass some attention-grabbing countryside. After all it’s a lot more interesting for the passenger than it’s for the driver who should keep his eye on the road in order to be alert for all the crazy things Greek drivers do. However even that may be amusing and if you’re a good driver you will not have any issues. Rent a Car
By bus: Coach services are operated by KTEL between Athens, Kalamata, Messini. The trip time depends on bus schedule. Ticket value depends on bus schedule also. You don’t have to pre-book for a price ticket. You’ll pay at the terminal, before bus departure or on the bus. If you’re there half an hour before departure you must find a seat. Find a Bus
By taxi: You’ll be able to rent or hire a taxi transfer from Athens directly to Messini through the contact form and also you can arrange the price with the driver! This can be a simple solution if you don’t wish to drive all the way by yourself! Taxi Transfer
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€1.650,00
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Free
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