Latest news with #Pylos
Time Out
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
The Kingdom of Pylos: Warrior-Princes of Ancient Greece
The Getty Villa reopens to the public five and a half months after its Palisades Fire closure with this international loan exhibition dedicated to the Greek Mycenaean civilization and the kingdom of Pylos, which Homer immortalized in the Iliad and Odyssey. It's the first major museum show in North America devoted to the Late Bronze Age Mycenaeans. See treasures excavators unearthed from Messenia, the Palace of Nestor and burial sites including the tomb of the Griffin Warrior (1450 BCE)—think clay tablets, gold cups, ornate weapons and tiny signets and sealstones adorned with awe-inspiring amounts of detail.
Forbes
07-06-2025
- Forbes
Costa Navarino: What To Know Before Visiting This Luxury Resort Destination In Greece
An aerial view of the Mandarin Oriental, Costa Navarino When you think of going on a beachy vacation to Greece, some of the famous islands may come to mind. However, there's a picture-perfect spot with pristine beaches and stunning resorts on continental Greece that you might not yet know should. The beach near Methoni Villa. Costa Navarino is a beachside haven you'll never forget after a visit. It's in the southwest Peloponnese peninsula in the Messinia region of Greece. It's near Pylos, a seaside town with charming restaurants and shops. This region has been influenced by 4,500 years of history, and you can see ancient ruins on short drives from the resorts in Costa Navarino. The Castle of Methoni is a popular spot for visitors to admire. Here are some things that you should know before visiting this seaside sanctuary. There's a growing interest in eco-conscious traveling, and Costa Navarino has long been one of the prime sustainable spots to visit in the Mediterranean. It was developed with deep dedication to preserving Messinia's natural environment and heritage, with conscientious actions taken to preserve the biodiversity that's unique to the area and minimize using natural resources. The resorts in Costa Navarino all have a focus on social responsibility and sustainable tourism. The landscaping itself was designed to promote the natural beauty of the area as well as blend in with it. Messinia has centuries-old olive groves, and that was respected. When construction was being done, no olive trees were cut. Instead, they were moved and later replanted. The principles of bioclimatic architecture were at the forefront of the design for the Navarino Dunes and Navarino Bay areas. The buildings blend into the natural world with places to build and materials chosen carefully. It was very important for the developers to protect the local landscape, horizon and ridgeline. For example, the Mandarin Oriental, Costa Navarino blends into the land with its earth-sheltered villas. Biking is popular in this area of Greece. There is something for sports lovers at every resort in Costa Navarino. It is well-known for its world-class golfing opportunities. The Dunes Course is located by the sea and is the first signature-designed golf course in Greece. The Bay Course takes golfers through three different landscapes: grove, canyon, and season. Costa Navarino's Mouratoglou Tennis Center is the first one in Europe, and it offers 12 state-of-the-art tennis courts, padel and pickleball courts, and a health club with an indoor pool. Then there's popular yachting and sailing excursion and water sports. Visitors to the area often enjoy biking, hiking, rock climbing, and a wide variety of outdoor adventures. Costa Navarino and its resorts are also very dedicated to fostering an inclusive environment that truly empowers them to welcome all guests. W Costa Navarino is the first internationally accredited hotel by the IGLTA for its inclusive practices. The area makes changes when they can to further enhance the comfort of guests. They have started to offer beach wheelchairs so everyone can enjoy the pristine beaches. They offer gender neutral restrooms, gender neutral amenities, noise-cancelling headphones, weighted blankets, prayer kits, and amenities for many hair and skin types. You can read more about its diversity and inclusion commitments on its site. One of the organizations that stands out for its excellent work is the Navarino Pet Community. Its volunteers seek to solve the problem of excessive stray animals and help find them loving homes. It is led by volunteers among the Costa Navarino associates, and so far over 250 dogs and cats have now found great homes. Tourists can visit the shelter, and sometimes cats or dogs in need of homes are brought out for tourists to visit. Some travelers decide to come home with a new companion animal. Also, Costa Navarino has worked with the Captain Vassilis & Carmen Constantakopoulos Foundation and other NGOs, and they worked together to launch the initiative "Messinia Without Strays". This will support the goal of ending the suffering of stray animals. It will help protect them and find them homes. They strive to find homes while working on basic training, socialization and walking on the leash. The cats and dogs are also neutered or spayed, and they receive stellar vet care. With options for almost everyone, there are some spectacular resorts in Costa Navarino. There are family-friendly spots and those that are just right for couples seeking a romantic getaway. The Westin Resort is popular with families. Known for being the most family-friendly resort in the area, The Westin Resort Costa Navarino welcomes guests of all ages with open arms. It is beautifully surrounded by olive groves and vineyards, and its guestrooms and suites were newly renovated for the 2025 season. The resort's aqua park is beloved among young people with its three water slides and pool games. Toddlers and children have entertainment options like SandCastle, a special youth hub with recreational and educational programs. Many of the children's activities are specific to the Mediterranean, and they help kids build great memories while parents enjoy some quiet time. There's even a variety of day care options for infants. Guests can enjoy such activities as an olive-oil tasting session at Enoteca where they can learn about the many types of olive oil, local olive groves, their history, and how to tell olive oils apart. The exploration of the local olive traditions can continue at the renowned ANAZOE Spa where you can get an olive nourishing facial that utilizes local olives. Visitors may also book such things as a traditional Messinian cooking class with local teachers. The W Costa Navarino at Navarino Bay is a luxurious place to stay. The W Costa Navarino has been welcoming visitors since it opened in 2022, and it is the first of the W hotels to open in Greece. It's situated on the Ionian Sea, and it seamlessly fits into the environment with its stone, wood, and weed materials. The resort offers villas and suites with perks like one's own pool available, and guests can enjoy the hotel's Whenever/Whatever service that aims to ensure visitors have whatever they want whenever they need it. The W Costa Navarino also has six dining venues. The most popular is Parelia, an all-day Beach Club. The onsite AWAY Spa provides locally inspired treatments. Sports lovers can enjoy the water sports hub, four signature golf courses, and the nearby Mouratoglou Tennis Center in Navarino Dunes. The W Costa Navarino is great for an adults-only getaway; visitors should be at least 12 years old. The Mandarin Oriental, Costa Navarino is beautiful in all directions. Extreme luxury abounds at Mandarin Oriental, Costa Navarino. It's enough to leave you breathless, really, from the moment you see how it cascades down the hillside and looks over the sea. The resort invites guests to experience its unique blend of Greek hospitality along with the resort's Asian heritage. Mandarin Oriental, Costa Navarino is hosting a Masters In Motion series of events in which wellness experts lead holistic experiences for guests which are designed to nurture one's mind, body, and spirit. That's in addition to its constant focus on wellness at The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, which offers a holistic experience for each guest. The resort provides stunning villas and suites for guests that were designed to capture the beauty and warmth of the region. It also is a golf lover's dream with four signature golf courses, and it hosts prestigious golf tournaments throughout the year. The Romanos lobby is an iconic entranceway in Costa Navarino. Located by the Ionian Sea in the Navarino Dunes area, The Romanos, A Luxury Collection Resort is, like other area resorts, dedicated to sustainability and luxury in equal measures. Guests often remark on being wowed from the moment they arrive at The Romanos and see the stunning outdoors check-in area. This resort has a mile-long beach for guests to enjoy. It offers beautifully designed rooms, suites, and villas that have views of golf courses and the sea. Many suites also feature their own pool. All guests are treated to 24-hour butler services. Golfers also love this resort with its four 18-hole signature golf courses – The Bay Course, The Dunes Course, The Hills Course, and the International Olympic Academy Golf Course. That's in addition to its own golf academy. It also has the onsite Anazoe Spa, an award-winning spa that offers Thalassotherapy and a complete menu of other therapies and treatment that reflect ancient Greek health and beauty practices.
Arab News
27-05-2025
- General
- Arab News
Greek court issues charges over 2023 migrant boat disaster
LONDON: A Greek naval court has charged 17 coast guards over one of the Mediterranean's deadliest boat disasters, which killed up to 650 migrants. The overcrowded Adriana fishing vessel capsized and sank near Pylos off the Greek coast in June 2023. Survivors told the BBC that witnesses were silenced by Greek coast guards, who had caused the Adriana to capsize by trying to tow it. Greek authorities have consistently denied the claims. Piraeus Naval Court's deputy prosecutor found that 17 members of the Hellenic Coast Guard should face criminal charges over the disaster. One survivor told the BBC on Monday: 'It has taken us two years just for these charges to come, even though so many people witnessed what happened.' Among those facing charges is the captain of the LS-920, the coast guard ship that intercepted the Adriana. The captain is accused of 'causing a shipwreck,' leading to the deaths of 'at least 82 people.' That figure represents the number of bodies recovered from the shipwreck, but it is believed that up to 500 more people died, including many women and children who were below deck. Four other officials, including the then-chief of the coast guard and the supervisor of the National Search and Rescue Coordination Center in Piraeus, were charged with 'exposing others to danger.' The LS-920 captain was also charged with 'dangerous interference of maritime transport' and a 'failure to provide assistance.' The coast guard ship's crew were charged with 'simple complicity' in all the actions allegedly committed by the captain. The Adriana, which left Libya for Italy with about 750 people on board, had been monitored by the coast guard for about 15 hours before the disaster took place. Only 104 survivors have been recorded. The BBC conducted a lengthy investigation that challenged the Greek coast guard's account of the sinking. Last year, a Greek court threw out a case against nine Egyptians allegedly tied to the disaster, amid claims that they had been scapegoated by Greek authorities. Syrian refugee Ahmad described the events to the BBC and accused the Greek coast guard of negligence. 'They attached a rope from the left,' he said. 'Everyone moved to the right side of our boat to balance it. The Greek vessel moved off quickly, causing our boat to flip. They kept dragging it for quite a distance.' Once survivors were rescued, they were ordered to 'shut up' by the official in charge of questioning, Ahmad added. The survivors, he said, were told: 'You have survived death. Stop talking about the incident. Don't ask more questions about it.' Ahmad said he is 'very happy' that the coast guards 'are eventually being held accountable for all that they have committed, but until I see them in prison nothing has been done yet.'
BBC News
26-05-2025
- BBC News
Greek coastguards charged over 2023 migrant shipwreck
A naval court in Greece has charged 17 coastguards over the deadliest migrant boat disaster in the Mediterranean Sea for a to 650 people were feared to have drowned when the overcrowded Adriana fishing vessel sank near Pylos, off the Greek coast, in the early hours of 14 June later told the BBC that Greek coastguards had caused their boat to capsize in a botched attempt to tow it and then silenced witnesses. "It has taken us two years just for these charges to come, even though so many people witnessed what happened," one of the survivors, a Syrian man we called Ahmad, said on Monday. Captain of coastguard ship charged The Greek authorities have always denied the claims against Deputy Prosecutor of the Piraeus Naval Court has found that 17 members of the Hellenic Coast Guard should face criminal them is the captain of the coastguard ship, the LS-920, who is charged with "causing a shipwreck", leading to the deaths of "at least 82 people".This corresponds to the number of bodies recovered, although it is thought as many as an additional 500 people drowned, including women and children who were all below disaster occurred in international waters - but within Greece's rescue then-Chief of the Coast Guard and the Supervisor of the National Search and Rescue Coordination Centre in Piraeus are among four officials charged with "exposing others to danger". The captain of the LS-920 is also charged with "dangerous interference of maritime transport" as well as a "failure to provide assistance" to the migrant crew of the ship are charged for "simple complicity" in all the acts allegedly committed by the captain. Doubts over Greek officials' account A coastguard ship had been monitoring the Adriana for 15 hours before it had left Libya for Italy with an estimated 750 people on board. Only 104 of them are known to have been investigating since the day of the disaster and our series of findings has cast serious doubt on the official Greek version of a week, we obtained shipping data which challenged the claim the migrant boat had not in trouble and so did not need to be rescued. A month later, survivors told us the coastguard had caused their boat to sink in a disastrous effort to tow it and then forced witnessed to stay silent. Last year, a case against nine Egyptians was thrown out, amid claims they had been scapegoated by the Greek authorities. Earlier this year, audio recordings emerged which further challenged the official Greek version of events. Syrian survivors feel 'vindicated' We first met Syrian refugees, who we called Ahmad and Musaab to protect their identities, a month after the said they each paid $4,500 (£3,480) for a spot on the younger brother was also on board and did not described to us the moment when - he alleged - the Greek coastguards caused their boat to sink."They attached a rope from the left," he said. "Everyone moved to the right side of our boat to balance it. The Greek vessel moved off quickly causing our boat to flip. They kept dragging it for quite a distance."The men claimed that once on land, in the port of Kalamata, the coastguard told survivors to "shut up" when they started to talk about how the Greek authorities had caused the disaster."When people replied by saying the Greek coastguard was the cause, the official in charge of the questioning asked the interpreter to tell the interviewee to stop talking," Ahmad said officials shouted: "You have survived death. Stop talking about the incident Don't ask more questions about it."Today Ahmad - who is now living in Germany - said he felt vindicated by the charges that had been brought. "I'm very happy they are eventually being held accountable for all that they have committed, but until I see them in prison nothing has been done yet," he said. "To be honest, the Greek legal system is very unreliable." Legal team for victims welcome charges The joint legal team representing survivors and victims of the disaster said the decision to pursue a case against the 17 coastguards was a big step forward towards justice being a statement it said: "Almost two years after the Pylos shipwreck, the prosecution and referral to main investigation for felonies of 17 members of the Coast Guard, including senior officers of its leadership, constitutes a substantial and self-evident development in the course of vindication of the victims and the delivery of justice."It is understood the 17 men who have now been charged will be questioned in the coming weeks by the Deputy Prosecutor of the Piraeus Naval court will then decide whether to send them to full trial or dismiss the is not immediately clear what punishment the coastguards could receive if found has previously told the BBC its Coast Guard fully respects human rights and has rescued more than 250,000 people at sea in the past decade.
Arab News
23-05-2025
- Arab News
Greek court charges 17 coast guard officers over 2023 migrant shipwreck, say sources
ATHENS: A Greek naval court has charged 17 coast guard officers over one of the Mediterranean's worst shipwrecks two years ago, in which hundreds of people are believed to have drowned, three sources said on Friday. The shipwreck of an overloaded migrant boat in international waters off the southwestern Greek town of Pylos on June 14, 2023, sent shockwaves across Europe and beyond. The naval court is still investigating the circumstances around the incident. A coast guard vessel had been monitoring the boat, named Adriana, for 15 hours before it capsized and sank. It had left Libya for Italy with about 750 people on board. Only 104 of them are known to have survived. Greek coast guard authorities have repeatedly denied any wrongdoing over the handling of the case. Three legal sources said the 17 coast guard officers would be summoned by a judge to respond to accusations ranging from obstructing transport to causing or helping cause a shipwreck. Contacted by Reuters, a Greek coast guard official said the service had not been officially informed about the charges and had asked to be briefed by the naval court. Greece's judicial system has several preparatory stages and the compilation of charges does not necessarily mean that an individual will face trial. Human rights activists and other protesters plan rallies across Greece on June 21 to mark the second anniversary of the Pylos shipwreck. In February, the Greek Ombudsman recommended disciplinary action against eight coast guard officers, the first national probe into the incident to conclude. Greece says that the coast guard operates with respect to human rights and that it has rescued more than 250,000 people since 2015, when the country was at the frontline of Europe's migration crisis.
