Messinia (in modern Greek: Μεσσηνία) is a region of South-West Peloponnese whose capital is Kalamata, known throughout the world for its famous olives.
It is separated on the east by Mount Taygetus from the region of Laconia, south by the Mediterranean Sea and north by Mount Tetrasion.
To the west of Messinia opens the bay of Pylos where took place the battle of Navarino in 1827, the last of the great naval battles of the sailing navy. In Pylos is also Nestor Palace, among the best preserved Mycenaean palaces, and a few kilometers away from the Gialova region, protected under Natura 2000.
In Messinia we can find also Voidokilia, the most famous beach in Peloponnese.
Finally, it is the region that includes most of the olive groves of Peloponnese. The most famous variety of olives produced in Messinia is the Kalamata olive, which is purple and very fleshy.
