Ancient Messene: A majestic ancient city

The archaeological park, which covers an area of 400 stremmata, constitutes about one third of the original ancient city founded in 369 BC by the Theban general Epaminondas and is a real revelation.

The excavations, which began in 1987 and have been continuing at a progressively faster pace up to the present day, have already unearthed most of the public and religious buildings that were once recorded by the traveller Pausanias: the Odeon, still preserved in excellent condition, the Asclepieion, the Stadium with the complete Heroon, the Sanctuary of Zeus, the Gymnasium, the Theatre, the Ecclesiasterion, the Fountain of Arsinoe and all the rest of the components of a flourishing cultural and political ancient Greek centre.