Ancient Messene

An incredibly preserved archaic city,which is  undoubtedly the most impressive monument of the cultural heritage of Messinia. On your tour of the streets you will find the ancient theatre, Asklipieio, the holy Isis and Sarapidos, the Arsinoe fountain, the Agora, the sanctuary of the Saviour Zeus, an early basilica, a villa of the late Roman times and the impressive stadium

SOME HISTORICAL NOTES...

In 370 BC  General Epaminondas,from Thiva defeated the Spartans at the Battle of  Leuctra while entered Laconia. Freeing Messinia (which was until then under the occupation of the Spartans) chose to build the capital of Messinian at the foothills of Mount Ithomi. The city was populated quite  immediately by Messinians from the lower Italy, Sicily and also Libya who have migrated  so as not to end up helots/slaves under the dominion of the Spartans.