The mountain village of Aetos is built at an altitude of 377 metres. It is 7 km from Kopanaki, 24 km from Kyparissia and has about 300 permanent residents. The village is included in Greece’s martyrdom villages and cities, characterised as a "martyrdom village" by the Greek State. On September 11th, 1943, it experienced Nazi atrocities when bombed and burned to the ground. Its inhabitants died tragically in retaliation for their resistance. Aetos was rebuilt after the war.
Theodoros Kolokotronis’ mother, Zambia Kotsiopoulos or "Kotsaki", as the locals called her, came from Aetos.
The village has a long history with habitation elements from the Prehistoric era. Cyclopean walls, one kilometre long, dating to the Late Helladic period, have been found under the village. During the Frankish rule, Aetos was one of the most important cities of Messinia, while a Frankish fortress was built, which later became Byzantine. The castle was known as the Castle of Aetos (Eagle) (Chateaux de l’Aigle or Castello dell’Aquila).
Visitors can admire the traditional stone houses in the village and enjoy their coffee in the centre of the village (Kefalovryso) with the age-old plane trees and the running waters. There is the Monument of the Heroes in memory of the fallen of the war in the square. Finally, the Church of the Virgin, which dates back to the 9th century, is worth visiting. The parish church of Agios Dimitrios is next to the church.
