Beautiful Greek Villages

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Koroni

Koroni is a picturesque seaside village, built on a hill right above the Messinian gulf. Known as Corone by the Venetians and Ottomans, the town of Koroni sits on the southwest peninsula of the Peloponnese. This is a mainland town amphitheatrically built with many characteristics of an 'island' village. The town is nestled on a hill below a Venetian castle and reaches to the edge of the gulf.

It ιs a lovely well sheltered harbor which is home to a number of fishing boats, a relaxing place to stay with a waterfront lined by cafes, bars and restaurants, and a long sandy beach within walking distance. The village has narrow stone paved streets lined by artisan shops and pretty porch ways. Walking along the narrow little streets of Koroni, with the beautiful stately homes painted in light colours with characteristic blue or yellow windows and yards filled with colourful flowers.you realize that Koroni is a remote medieval town, which remains enchanting and untouched by time.

Upon entering the picturesque town of Koroni you can see the stately home of the chieftain named Karapavlos, while at the traditional central square the main sight is the Cathedral of Agios Dimitrios. The church, a basilica of Eptanisian style, was built in 1864.

The town was founded in ancient times. The 2nd century Greek geographer Pausanias in his book Messeniaka reports the original location of Koroni at modern Petalidi, a town a few kilometers north of Koroni. In the centuries that followed the town of Koroni moved to its current location, where the ancient town of Asini had once stood. In the 6th and 7th centuries AD, the Byzantines built a fortress there.

Koroni is very busy only during the month of August and this is partly because there are no package tour holidays. It is a tourist resort for a long time but mostly for Athenians. There are a few foreigners living in the area but you find more Greeks and you can be assured of good traditional greek food and an authentic Greek atmosphere.

In the Citadel there are several churches and the monastery of Agios Ioannis (Saint John) where several nuns still live, It is built next to the ruins of a Byzantine church. Below the castle, encircled in palm trees, lies the church of Panagia Eleistra, at a spot with a beautiful view to the beach of Koroni. The icon of Eleistria, found on the site where the church was subsequently built, is carried in procession around the town once a year on the Friday after Easter. Even nowdays the citadel is the heart of Koroni religious life.