Editing Pylos (section)

== Urban landscape ==

=== Navarino castles ===
[[File:Pylos Festung 379.jpg|thumb|upright=0.9|Entrance of the ''Neokastr''o in Pylos.]]
The city of Pylos has two castles (''Kastra''): the Frankish ''Paleokastro'' (old castle) and the Ottoman ''Neokastro'' (new castle). The first is located northwest of Navarino Bay and north of the [[Sphacteria|island of Sphacteria]], while the second is southwest of the bay, on the heights of the city of Pylos. The ''Paleokastro'', located on the top of the promontory of Coryphasium ''(Koryphasion)'' (which is in geological continuity with the island of Sphacteria from which it is only separated by the narrow pass of ''Sykia''), is built on the site of the ancient acropolis of Pylos. It offers a panoramic view, stretching from the [[Ionian Sea]] to the Plain of [[Pylia]]. Below is Nestor's cave, where, according to mythology, the king of Pylos raised his oxen, and the [[Voidokilia beach|bay of Voidokilia]], whose beach is regularly ranked among the most beautiful in the world.<ref name=":1">[[The Guardian]], ''[https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2016/feb/11/best-beaches-in-the-world-readers-travel-tips 'My favourite beach in the world'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101122319/https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2016/feb/11/best-beaches-in-the-world-readers-travel-tips |date=2020-11-01 }}'' – readers' tips, Thursday 11 February 2016.</ref><ref name=":2">[[The Daily Telegraph]], ''[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/beach-holidays/best-beaches-in-europe-for-may/ 20 last-minute holidays to empty European beaches] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028004213/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/beach-holidays/best-beaches-in-europe-for-may/ |date=2020-10-28 }}'', by Chris Leadbeater, 9 April 2019.</ref> It borders the [[Gialova Lagoon|Gialova lagoon]] (''Osman-aga lake''), located to the east and Navarino bay to the south. However, access to the ''Paleokastro'' may present some risks for the safety of visitors, due to its great deterioration. On the other side of the Navarino bay, the ''Neokastro'', which is in a better state of conservation, looks out onto the island of Sphacteria, the bay of Navarino, and the city. It is one of the best preserved castles in Greece. It contains within its walls the well-preserved ''Church of the Transfiguration of the Savior'', built by the Franks, later transformed into a mosque, then again into a Christian church. In the pine forest of the ''Neokastro'' is also the old barracks built by the French troops of the Morea expedition, which now houses the [http://odysseus.culture.gr/h/3/eh355.jsp?obj_id=19782 new archaeological museum of Pylos].

=== Navarino aqueduct ===
[[File:Pylos-Ancient aqueduct08.jpg|thumb|The aqueduct of Navarino]]
South of the city of Pylos, on the road to Methoni, is the old Navarino [[Aqueduct (water supply)|aqueduct]], built in the 16th century by the Ottomans to meet the water supply needs of the ''Neokastro''. Composed by two hydraulic systems, it led the waters from the water intakes of the ''plateau of Koumbeh'' (located near the town of Chandrinou about 15 kilometers northeast of Pylos on the road to Kalamata) and ''Paleo Nero'' (located near the village of Palaionero). The two systems combined into a single system that can still be seen today around Pylos in the district of ''Kamares''. Then, thanks to an underground conduit of the aqueduct, the water penetrated inside the fortress to feed there the fountains of the ''Neokastro''.''<ref>G. P. Antoniou, "The Architecture and Evolution of the Aqueduct of Pylos – Navarino", in "IWA Specialized Conference on Water&Wastewater Technologies in Ancient Civilizations, 22–24 March 2012", Istanbul 2012, [http://www.academia.edu/6066656/The_Architecture_and_Evolution_of_the_Aqueduct_of_Pylos_-Navarino "The older Aqueduct fed from Paleonero", p. 411] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211226004541/https://www.academia.edu/6066656/The_Architecture_and_Evolution_of_the_Aqueduct_of_Pylos_-Navarino |date=2021-12-26 }}.</ref>'' Fallen into ruins until 1828, it was restored in 1832 by the French engineers of the Morea expedition, and was used to supply Pylos with water until 1907.<ref name=":21" />

=== Pylos city center ===
[[File:Arcade in Pylos.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.2|Galleries in arcade of the buildings surrounding the central square of the Three Admirals in Pylos]]
Leaning against two hills, one of which is overlooked by the fortress of the ''Neokastro,'' the town of Pylos faces the bay of Navarino. Pylos preserves many houses from the 19th century. These are built of stone, with typical [[Messenia]]n architecture and surrounded by spacious courtyards and gardens. They are built mainly between narrow streets, generally symmetrical, and according to the original urban plan established by French military engineers of the [[Morea expedition]] at the beginning of the 19th century.<ref name=":21" /> Many of the streets have retained their original stone paving, and several of those which climb the hills, are pedestrianized and have steps.

Near the seafront is the [[Town square|central city square]], the Square of the Three Admirals, surrounded by buildings whose ground floor houses, most often under [[Arcade (architecture)|arcade]] galleries, markets, bakeries, shops and traditional cafes. The seaside, to the north-west of the city, follows a recently [[Pedestrian zone|pedestrianized street]] which leads from the central square to the [[Port|modern port]], passing through the ''Francomahalas'' district. In this street, aligned along the old port, are several traditional [[Tavern|fish taverns]]. The port is dominated by the [[Town hall|City Hall of Pylos]]. Next to it is recently renovated two-story house of the [[Konstantinos Tsiklitiras|Olympic champion Kostis Tsiklitiras]], in which a museum has been installed, which exposes a collection of paintings, engravings and ancient documents collected by the French philhellene, historian and writer [[René Puaux]] (1878–1936). A little further, still following the seaside, is the historic building of the College of Pylos which was founded in September 1921 by royal decree and built in 1924.<ref name=":11">''[https://www.archaiologia.gr/blog/photo/%CE%B9%CF%83%CF%84%CE%BF%CF%81%CE%B9%CE%BA%CF%8C-%CE%B3%CF%85%CE%BC%CE%BD%CE%AC%CF%83%CE%B9%CE%BF-%CF%80%CF%8D%CE%BB%CE%BF%CF%85-1921-1987/ The Historical College of Pylos (1921–1987)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200606142140/https://www.archaiologia.gr/blog/photo/%CE%B9%CF%83%CF%84%CE%BF%CF%81%CE%B9%CE%BA%CF%8C-%CE%B3%CF%85%CE%BC%CE%BD%CE%AC%CF%83%CE%B9%CE%BF-%CF%80%CF%8D%CE%BB%CE%BF%CF%85-1921-1987/ |date=2020-06-06 }} (Ιστορικό Γυμνάσιο Πύλου)'', Archaiologia.gr, 4 June 2020. In Greek.</ref> After the cessation of its activities in 1987, the building housed until very recently the Institute of Physical Astrophysics "Nestor" of the National Observatory of Greece. The institute is in charge of the international research project NESTOR and its [[Neutrino detector|underwater neutrino detector]], which is installed more than 4,000 meters deep, in the deepest [[Oceanic trench|marine trench]] of the Mediterranean Sea, 31&nbsp;km off Pylos.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nestor: Unravelling the universe's mysteries from the bottom of the sea &#124; News &#124; European Parliament |url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/headlines/security/20140327STO40046/nestor-unravelling-the-universe-s-mysteries-from-the-bottom-of-the-sea |language=en |date=2014-03-28 |access-date=2020-04-24 |archive-date=2019-08-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190808190023/http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/headlines/security/20140327STO40046/nestor-unravelling-the-universe-s-mysteries-from-the-bottom-of-the-sea |url-status=live }}</ref> In September 1992, the historic building of the College of Pylos was classified by the Ministry of Culture as a ''Preserved Historic Monument<ref name=":11" />'' and will house soon in the near future the public library and gallery of the municipality of Pylos.

The city also has bank branches, a post office, various clinics, a health center, a fire station, a sailing school, nurseries, primary schools, a college, a high school and a music conservatory recognized by the State. The city is also home to several cultural and development associations.

=== The central square of the Three Admirals ===
[[File:Pylos, Monument to the Battle of Navarino.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|Monument to the Battle of Navarino in the central square of the Three Admirals in Pylos]]Also built by French troops of the [[Morea expedition]] in 1829, the central square of Pylos is characterized by its triangular geometric pattern, one of the sides of which opens onto the sea and the port of Pylos, and whose two other sides are bordered by covered galleries with [[Arcade (architecture)|arcades]], built with a succession of contiguous [[arch]]es, each supported by a [[colonnade]], recalling the architecture of the central squares of the [[bastide]]s of Southwest France and those of the cities of the [[Ionian Islands]] (such as [[Corfu]]).<ref name=":21" /> These galleries are home to many small markets and businesses, as well as traditional and more modern cafes and restaurants. Most of their terraces extend over the square itself, which is shaded by several hundred-year-old [[Platanus|plane trees]]. In the center, surrounded by two majestic [[Phoenix (plant)|phoenix]], is a monument commemorating the [[battle of Navarino]], an [[obelisk]] dedicated to the victory of the Allied fleets and their three [[admiral]]s, the British [[Edward Codrington]], the French [[Henri de Rigny]] and the Russian [[Lodewijk van Heiden]].

=== Churches ===
On the eastern slope of Pylos hill is the Church of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary (''Ieros Naos tis Kimiseos tis Theotokou''), while to the west, inside the ''Neokastro'', is the former Church of the Transfiguration of the Savior (''Ieros Naos tis Metamorphosis tou Sotiros''), both of which belong to the Metropolis of Messenia. The Church of the Transfiguration occasionally organizes religious activities (it has been converted into a museum and exhibition center), while that of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary still gathers many faithful during its regular services, and particularly during the celebration of Easter and the Myrtidiotissa Virgin (the Virgin with [[Myrtus|myrtles]], to whom the church is dedicated) which attract many pilgrims from Athens and abroad who come to take part in processions that take place in the center of the city.<gallery widths="280" heights="280">
File:Pylos, Holy Assumption Church 1.jpg|The Church of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary
File:Ναός της Μεταμορφώσεως του Σωτήρος (Νιόκαστρο, Πύλος) Θέα απο το κάστρο.STG 7387-2.jpg|The Church of the Transfiguration of the Savior
</gallery>

=== The port and the marina ===
[[File:Pylos_mit_Sfaktiria.JPG|thumb|upright=1.3|View of the port and marina of Pylos]]
The port of Pylos is one of the safest boarding destinations for ships traveling in the [[Mediterranean Sea]]. Navarino Bay continues to regularly serve as a shelter for ships during storms in the Mediterranean Sea. In addition, its strategic location between the [[Ionian Sea]] and the [[Aegean Sea]] makes it an ideal destination for an intermediate station on the route to the [[Cyclades]], the [[Dodecanese|Dodecanese Islands]] or to [[Crete]]. With its modern pier, it frequently welcomes many [[cruise ship]]s during the summer season. To the east of the port, there is also the [[marina]] of Pylos, for which a project of modernization is currently running to meet the requirements for the rapid tourism development of the region.