Methoni - a small port town on the southwest coast of the Peloponnese (Messinia prefecture). It is located in a cozy natural harbor about 11 km south of Pylos. Today Methoni - one of the most popular resorts of the Peloponnese with excellent beaches and excellent infrastructure.

The settlement on the site of modern Methoni existed since ancient times. It is believed that the Mycenaean era of the city was located here Pidasus referred Homer called "ampeloessa" as one of the seven cities that Agamemnon offers Achilles, to curb his anger. Greek traveler and geographer Pausanias calls the city "Moton."

In 369 BC, the town gained its independence from Sparta and has been thoroughly reinforced, to maintain its independence and during the Roman Empire. In the Byzantine period Methoni has not lost its position and was one of the most important and prosperous cities of the Peloponnesus. After the Byzantines in Methoni some time dominated the Franks, and in the early 13th century the land came under the control of the Venetians, for which this place has long been of great interest because it has the right on the way from Venice to the East. Venetians are well fortified city and turned it into a large shopping center.

In August 1500, after nearly a decade of siege, the city was occupied by the troops of the Ottoman Sultan Bayezid II. The Turks ruled Methoni 20-ies of the 19th century (except for a short break in the years 1686-1715, when the government was again in the hands of the Venetians). Methoni was released, as well as other cities of the Peloponnese, in 1829.

The main attraction and hallmark Methoni, of course, is a medieval fortress built by the Venetians in the early 13th century .  Fortifications occupy the whole territory of the elongated cape that in order to strengthen the protection was separated from the mainland by an artificial moat and where, in fact, is the Venetian Fortress, as well as a small island on which stands the two-story octagonal tower, built already by the Turks in the 16th century, used as a prison and an additional strengthening .  The island is connected to the stone bridge cape .  To this day in the fortress remains of buildings of various ages, including the ruins of the Venetian Lords of houses, cobbled streets that lead to the sea gate, the ruins of the Turkish baths, the Byzantine church of Hagia Sophia, etc. . d .  You can get to the castle on the stone arch bridge, which was built in the 19th century (the Venetian original design was made of wood) .