Gargaliani
(Distance de Camping - 6Km)
In west Messenia, at a highland of 300 meters, there is the “balcony of Messenia”, the town of Gargalianoi. This special name was adopted due to the impressive view towards the immense olive grove and the Ionian Sea where the beautiful island “Proti” is put out as a natural seawall. Gargalianoi is also known for the best in the world olive and wine of special quality. The visitor can taste the local dishes at the central square which is enclosed by traditional cafés where you can feel the relaxing way of town life and the authentic agricultural esprit of the region.
The name of Gargalianoi is owed to the Venetian documents that mention the town as “Gargaliano”, name given to Venetian dignitary who lived in exile at the region. The history of the region is large. At the Homeric years the region was under the kingdom of the mythic king Nestor. Then Sarantis or Sarantellos, known as Telos Agras, had his origins in Gargalianoi, making its modern history great as he was joined voluntarily in the Greek army fighting against the Bulgarian comitadjies at Macedonia. Every July, in Gargalianoi a local festival called “Agapinia” is held in honor of the Messenian hero and endures for 20 days.