Methone. Ancient. Medieval. Modern.

The Middle Ages arguably constitute the golden age of
the prominent fortress town of Methone. Its medieval
magnificence is reflected in the strong fortification
walls, built by the Venetians, who expelled the Frankish
garrison of Geoffrey of Villehardouin in 1206, and took
over the town three years later, following the signing of
the Treaty of Sapientza in 1209. When the Venetians
conquered Crete, Methone functioned as a bulwark of
their colony in their competition with the Genoese. The
fortress turned into a station on the way to the coasts
of Asia and the Holy Land. Chroniclers of the West
describe the Peloponnese as “L’ ile de Modon” (Island
of Methone). The significance of the fortress becomes
evident in the note verbale of Doge A. Barbarigo in
1500 (after its capture by the Ottomans) to the Pope,
the king of Spain and other princes: “we have lost
the marvellous base for all ships sailing towards the
East”. In the wake of the Naval Battle of Navarino,
the liberating French troops of the commander-in-
chief Maison, built a new town outside the walls.
What survive today within the fortress are the ruins of
Ottoman baths (hammam) and a minaret, underground
cisterns, a gunpowder magazine and the church of the
Transfiguration of the Saviour.