Nestor’s Palace and Methoni Fortress

Nestor’s Palace and Methoni Fortress

Visit the Ancient Palace of King Nestor and enjoy a stroll around the impressive ruins of Methoni Castle.

The tour begins with a visit of the ruins of King Nestor's Palace. Here you will be able to admire the room where the queen took her bath as well as the remains of what must have been a magnificent throne room with a huge hearth in its middle. Since the majority of the roofs and walls were constructed out of wood and stone, today only the stone remains. Even so, the palace remains an impressive example of ancient Greek antiquity.

After visiting Nestor’s Palace, proceed by coach to the Methoni village. Methoni has been identified as the city Pedasus, that Homer mentions under the name "ampeloessa" (of vine leaves), as the last of the seven "evnaiomena ptoliethra", that Agamemnon offers Achilles in order to subdue his rage. Along with the rest of Messenia, the town gained its independence from the Spartans in 369 BC. During the 4th century BC, Methoni was elaborately fortified and continued to remain autonomous well into the Imperial Roman era, when it enjoyed the favor of some emperors. During the Byzantine years it continued to remain a remarkable harbor and one of the most important cities of the Peloponnese, seat of a bishopric. Nowadays the walls of the fortress, even though in ruins, continue to be impressive. The castle of Methoni occupies the entire area of the cape and the southwestern coast to the small islet that has also been fortified with an octagonal tower and is protected by the sea on three sides. A deep moat separates the castle from the land and access was by a wooden bridge. The Venetians built on the ancient battlements and added on and repaired it during both periods that they occupied the castle. After a guided tour, you depart Methoni for your return drive back to the pier and your SeaDream yacht.

Notes: A minimum participation is required to operate all Yachting Land Adventures, and some may have limited capacity. All adventures in the SeaDream Yachting Land Adventures program are subject to change. Final departure times will be published on-board.

Port: Pylos, Navarino Bay

Duration: 3.5 hours

Current Price: 189 USD