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Palace of Nestor at Chora

A renowned Mycenaean archaeological site 11 km away, on the hill of Chora. Dating from the Bronze Age, it preserves the remains of the Homeric palace described in the Odyssey, where the famous Linear B tablets were discovered.

~11 km from Navarino Greek Houseby car
The remaining walls of the Mycenaean Palace of Nestor
Palace of Nestor at Chora

The Palace of Nestor is the best-preserved Mycenaean palace in mainland Greece and stands on a hill near Chora, eleven kilometres from the house. What you see are not columns and pediments but the plan of the building: the low walls trace the rooms, the storerooms and the great central megaron with its hearth.

It is the palace the Odyssey attributes to Nestor, the old king who welcomes Telemachus when he comes in search of news of his father. The part that changed the history of scholarship, however, is the clay tablets in Linear B found here: Bronze Age administrative records that made it possible to read that script and to understand how a Mycenaean kingdom worked.

The visit takes about an hour and is best done at a relaxed pace. The site is covered by a protective roof, which means you can visit even on the hottest days, when the rest of outdoor Messinia is hard going.

Practical tips

  • A good hour is the right amount of time for an unhurried visit.
  • Opening hours and tickets change with the season: it is best to check them on the archaeological site’s official channels before setting off.
  • It pairs well with a visit to the archaeological museum in Chora, in the same municipality.

Other places to visit: Voidokilia Beach · Navarino Castle · Gialova Lagoon