The picturesque village of Charakopio is 5 km from Koroni and 33.5 km from Pylos. It is built at an altitude of 120 meters and has about 650 permanent residents.
In ancient times, the village area was under the control of the ancient city called Asini, which later developed into modern Koroni. Charakopio, as well as its wider region, was inhabited at all stages of its history. This is evidenced by the Mycenaean tombs and the various archaeological findings, while of particular importance is the Roman mosaic of the villa found in the village of Agia Triada. Charakopio is mentioned, at least, from the time of the Venetian occupation (Caracapio) and is considered as one of the picturesque villages of the Koroni area.
According to local tradition, there are two versions of the origin of the village’s name. According to the first version, the name came from the festivities and the "joy" (chara) created by the shopkeepers who travelled to Koroni. According to the second version, the name came from the clay ceramics made in the area with characteristic grooves. Until the 1960s, large clay jars, also known as "tzares", were made in Charakopio to transport various local products. Today, unfortunately, this art has disappeared.
In the village, the visitors can admire the traditional houses and the building of the first Primary School, which operated for the first time in 1856. Today, the building is used for the needs of the Rural Medical Clinic. The main church of the village is the church of Agios Georgios. Near Charakopio is the small beach of Gargarou, while just 2 km away is the famous Peroulia beach with crystal-clear waters and fine and thick sand. Finally, at a distance of 4 km from the village, the visitors can enjoy their swim at Zagka beach, which reaches the Castle of Koroni.
