Pylos and the NeoKastro
Pylos has known several locations. According to tradition one Pylos in the 14th century BC founded a city on the Hill Engliános, 17 km north of the current Pilos. Neleus drove him out of the Hill, built a Palace and made an important town of Pylos. His son Nestor succeeded him and fought with Odysseus in the Trojan war. Nestor expanded the Palace of his father. When the Dorians around 1200 BC, destroyed the Palace, the inhabitants fled to sea.
At the port of the Palace, on Cape Korifásion, the northern tip of the Bay of Navarino, they founded a new Pylos. Until the 2nd century AD Pylos was a lively city. Then it’s history is silent for centuries. Until the beginning of the 13th century the Franks occupied the Pelopponesos. The modern city of Pylos was called Navaríno in the middle ages, a corruption of the Greek words “των Αβαρίνων” (ton Avarínon), meaning “of the Avars”, a reminder of the nomadic tribe that invaded this area in the 6th century. The Neokastro (“New Fort”) at the South end of the Bay of Pylos (or Bay of Navarino) is built by the Turks in 1573, and was in Venetian hands between 1686 and 1715.
During the Greek war of Independence, Greek freedom fighters were able to conquer the fortress temporarily, but they had to surrender to Ibrahim Pasha in 1825. He made it his headquarters and took relentless attacks and massacres on the Peloponnese.
Until on 20 October 1827 Great Britain, France and Russia with 27 ships sailed into the Bay of Pylos to force the Turkish/Egyptian fleet to withdraw. The Turks and Egyptians lost the subsequent Battle of Navarino 55 of their 91 ships and 6000 man got killed. This won battle was an important step forward in the Greek struggle for independence. The French moved in to Neokastro from 1828 to 1833 and built at its foot, a square with the first houses. The growth of the modern Pílos could start.
Source: https://www.cruisetravel.nl/havens/pylos/
