When you say you’re going to Greece the common question is: “Which island are you going to visit?”. It’s a natural reaction, since many tourists barely visit the continent. But, by focusing only on Aegean islands they stop exploring other incredible places.
One of these places is Costa Navarino a luxury complex with four resorts — including Greece’s first Mandarin Oriental —, golf courses, shops, restaurants and spas, located in the Messinia region, about a three-hour drive from Athens .
The southwestern region of the Peloponnese peninsula, on the Costa Navarino, also known for its rustic landscapes, Kalamata olives, ancient temples and a famous naval battle, turns into a world tourist destination . The place offers deep history, preserved villages and kilometers of untouched beaches, in addition to its new luxury options.
The Costa Navarino project, with its multiple resorts and residences includes The Romanos, a Luxury Collection Resort, as well as W and Westin hotels, spread across a 1,000-hectare complex. There’s even a square called Navarino Agora, a vibrant seaside hub with shops, restaurants, and cultural events ranging from wine tastings to free concerts.
Luxury travelers have started to include Costa Navarino in their itinerary, as well as destinations St. Tropez, Capri and Ibiza. The difference is that the Greek region is still a least explored gem and, consequently, without the crowds of these tourist spots.
An ambitious vision
It’s all part of a man’s dream: the Captain Vassilis Constantakopoulos . Founder of the largest private shipping company in the world, Constantakopoulos grew up in the village of Diavolitsi, in Messinia, and dedicated his life to revitalizing his homeland. He aimed to transform Costa Navarino into a luxury destination, with focus on sustainability .
This vision, which also sought to create opportunities for residents to remain in the region, began to take shape in the mid-1980s. In 1997, after acquiring much of the land for the project, he founded the development company Temes, which began the construction. Constantakopoulos passed away in 2011.
“He wanted to bring people back to Messinia,” he explains Giota Spiliotopoulou communications manager at Athens-based Temes. Costa Navarino is the main project of the Temes group, which has already invested more than 1.25 billion euros (R$7.6 billion) in development.
The captain’s dream has become a place that caters to families and golfers, with accommodations ranging from W Hotel focused on adults, until the Mandarin which opened in August 2023 .
Costa Navarino competes with other glamorous destinations in the Mediterranean but unlike many of these places, it was built with a sustainable approach .
“Captain Vassilis was a dedicated environmentalist. During construction, we moved 7,000 olive trees, 9,000 other trees and a million native plants, and then replanted them. Only 10 or 15 olive trees didn’t survive,” said Spiliotopoulou.
Furthermore, there are no disposable plastics in the complex, with three reservoirs being built for the sustainable use of the water. Costa Navarino also has a partnership with Stockholm University to operate an environmental observatory that measures the impact of climate change .
Apparently, if you build responsibly, people come. Spiliotopoulou mentions the growing number of visitors to the United Kingdom Germany and France who are discovering the southwestern Peloponnese and choosing it over more popular destinations such as Mallorca in Spain or the Algarve in Portugal.
Costa Navarino has not yet reached the prices of destinations such as Capri. Some of the hotels even offer daily rates in the triple digits. For example, room prices at The Romanos start at 345 euros (R$2123) in 2024. In high season, rates start at 700 euros (R$4308).
At the ultra-exclusive Mandarin Oriental, in the tranquil bay of Navarino, suites in low season cost around 1,000 euros (R$6,155).
To the gastronomic options are almost endless with more than 40 restaurants, cafes and bars available. At Mandarin Oriental’s Oliviera restaurant, olive oil — Messinia has some of the best in the world — is taken as seriously as wine, with a world-class tasting of local varieties.
Many of the restaurants’ ingredients come from a nearby farm, resulting in dishes like kayana (scrambled eggs with tomatoes) and Greek pies made with flour milled on site.
At The Romanos, there is Barbouni, a seafront restaurant considered the most beautiful in Greece by Instagram influencer voyage_provacateur.
Navarino Bay, where the Mandarin and W Hotel are located, is a paradise for nature and history lovers.
Spend time at Chrisi Ammos beach for a diving in turquoise waters or relax in a natural pool. Scattered across three uninhabited islands are monuments to the British, French, Russian and Italian navies that helped Greece gain independence in the 1820s when they ambushed Ottoman forces in Navarino Bay.
If you’re looking for an experience outside the complex, the village of Gialova is just a five-minute drive away. With a tranquil vibe, the Kochili beachfront restaurant is known for its fresh fish that you can pick yourself. But, true to the region’s style, it’s so relaxed that shoes are almost unnecessary.
Immersed in history
Costa Navarino is set in a rich setting with 4,500 years of history. The region is full of untouched villages, deserted beaches and a bucolic landscape dotted with olive trees.
A few minutes’ drive away is the iconic horseshoe-shaped Voidokilia beach. Considered one of the most beautiful and preserved in Greece, it is perfect for snorkeling . Above the dunes of Voidokilia is a tomb believed to be that of Thrasymedes, son of the legendary King Nestor from Homer’s Odyssey. The ruins of the Temple of Nestor, also nearby, are one of the region’s best-known historical landmarks.
The regional capital, Kalamata, famous for its olives, has an increasingly busy international airport and hosts a dance festival. Dormant for two decades, Kalamata airport has flights from major European centers.
There is a lot to explore, whether by bike, car, taxi, boat or on foot. THE Pylos castle located high on a cliff, offers a panoramic view of the sunset.
THE The region is also home to several waterfalls such as Kalamaris, which is about 5 km from Gialova and offers a charming trail for a refreshing swim.
For those who still want to visit a Greek island, just drive 20 minutes to Methoni and take a boat to Sapienza, where you will find isolated enclaves with crystal clear waters, and you can even spot dolphins and flamingos migrating in September. What you won’t find: beach clubs with beach chairs for 200 euros (R$ 1221) per day, as in Mykonos .
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The post Discover Costa Navarino, a luxurious and little explored tourist area in Greece appeared first on CNN Brasil V&G.
Source: CNN Brasil
Johanna Foster is an expert opinion writer with over 7 years of experience. She has a reputation for delivering insightful and thought-provoking articles on a variety of subjects. Her work can be found on some of the top online news websites, and she is currently lending her voice to the world stock market.
