The southern part of the Peloponnese is renowned for its fortress cities, but one stands out above the rest. It is the Methoni Castle, widely regarded as the most beautiful castle in Greece, and it’s uniquely built in the sea!
The Methoni Castle majestically dominates the southwestern tip of the Peloponnese.
Spanning approximately 93 acres, it is one of the most iconic fortress cities in Greece. At the far edge, where the land meets the sea, stands the Bourtzi tower, accessible via a cobblestone path through the Sea Gate.
The Methoni Castle was constructed in 1209 by the Venetians on a rocky promontory that extends into the sea, separated from the land by an artificial moat. One of the most impressive features of the castle is the bridge that connects it to the mainland, along with its beautifully adorned gate, complete with bas-reliefs.
The stone bridge, consisting of fourteen arches, was built across the moat by engineers from the Expedition scientifique de Morée, which accompanied General Maison in 1828. On either side of the entrance, two large bastions are still preserved, while at the western tip stands the Bembo Bastion, built during the 15th century.
The northern side of the Methoni Castle reached its final design in the early 18th century and has remained unchanged to this day. The height of the wall on this side is approximately 11 meters.
The vaulted road starting from the main entrance leads to a second gate, and then a third, allowing access to the inner parts of the castle.
Inside the castle, there are remnants of the houses where the Venetian lords lived during its peak, the cobblestone road leading to the Sea Gate, the ruins of a Turkish bath, and the Byzantine church of Agia Sophia. Near the church, a stone tablet with Latin inscriptions was found, dating back to 1714, along with parts of Doric columns and a monolithic granite column. The column is believed to have originally supported either the Winged Lion of Venice or a bust of Francesco Morosini, a Venetian Doge – which is why it’s called the "Morosini Column."
The castle’s peak period was during the First Venetian Rule, from the 13th to 15th centuries, while its eventual decline came after 1828 when the population was moved outside the walls.
To enter the castle today, visitors must walk across the impressive stone bridge with fourteen arches and admire the breathtaking sights that have been preserved, such as the Church of the Transfiguration of Christ, the 19th-century Turkish baths, the Ibrahim House, and the Bourtzi tower, built by the Turks in 1500.
Watch the castle from above: Methoni | Methoni drone Dji Phantom 3
