Katakolo () is a seaside village in the municipality of Pyrgos in western Elis,

Greece Greece, officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. Located on the southern tip of the Balkan peninsula, it shares land borders with Albania to the northwest, North Macedonia and Bulgaria to the north, and Turkey to th ...

. It is situated on a headland overlooking the

Ionian Sea The Ionian Sea (, ; or , ; , ) is an elongated bay of the Mediterranean Sea. It is connected to the Adriatic Sea to the north, and is bounded by Southern Italy, including Basilicata, Calabria, Sicily, and the Salento peninsula to the west, ...

and separating the Gulf of Kyparissia from the rest of the Ionian. It is west of Pyrgos. The small village of Agios Andreas, which in ancient times was the natural harbour for Ancient Olympia, lies northwest of Katakolo.

History

In the

Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and ...

, Katakolo was the site of the fortress of Pontikon or Pontikokastro (Ποντικόν, Ποντικόκαστρο), which the

Frankish Frankish may refer to: * Franks, a Germanic tribe and their culture ** Frankish language or its modern descendants, Franconian languages, a group of Low Germanic languages also commonly referred to as "Frankish" varieties * Francia, a post-Roman ...

rulers of the

Principality of Achaea The Principality of Achaea () or Principality of Morea was one of the vassal states of the Latin Empire, which replaced the Byzantine Empire after the capture of Constantinople during the Fourth Crusade. It became a vassal of the Kingdom of Thes ...

called ''Beauvoir'' or ''Belveder''. The fortress was built by the Byzantines and taken over by the Franks ca. 1205.

Climate

Katakolo has a hot-summer

Mediterranean climate A Mediterranean climate ( ), also called a dry summer climate, described by Köppen and Trewartha as ''Cs'', is a temperate climate type that occurs in the lower mid-latitudes (normally 30 to 44 north and south latitude). Such climates typic ...

(

Köppen climate classification The Köppen climate classification divides Earth climates into five main climate groups, with each group being divided based on patterns of seasonal precipitation and temperature. The five main groups are ''A'' (tropical), ''B'' (arid), ''C'' (te ...

: Csa), with hot, dry summers and mild winters with significant rainfall.

Visitor attractions

The port of Katakolo is a popular stop for

cruise ship Cruise ships are large passenger ships used mainly for vacationing. Unlike ocean liners, which are used for transport, cruise ships typically embark on round-trip voyages to various ports of call, where passengers may go on Tourism, tours k ...

s, offering an opportunity for passengers to visit the site of Olympia. Low hills with forests surround Katakolo. Visitors here have the opportunity to visit the ancient port of Olympia, the sunken ancient city of Pheia. Ancient Pheia was on the other side of the mountain of Ichthys, now Agios Andreas, within walking distance of Katakolo port. The lighthouse of Katakolo was built in 1865. One of the most important sites of Katakolo is the Museum of Ancient Greek Technology. Katakolo has a big market. It consists of more than sixty shops. Cafeterias, restaurants, clothing and traditional Greek products. The remains of the medieval Pontikokastro/Belvedere/Beauvoir castle still stand on a hilltop northeast of the modern port, but the castle is mostly ruined and its original appearance can only be surmised.

Historical population

Transport

Rail

A railway station connects Katakolo with Pyrgos and Olympia.

Notable people

*Carolos Cantounis aka. Magic Mizrahi (1983-) Jewish music producer of electronic music, well-known in Latin America & Israel. * Pavlos Haikalis (1959–) actor and member of parliament *

Yiannis Latsis Ioannis "Yiannis" Latsis (; 14 September 1910 – 17 April 2003), also known as John Spyridon Latsis, was a Greek shipping multi-billionaire business magnate notable for his great wealth, influential friends, and charitable activities. The year ...

(1910–2003) shipping tycoon

Gallery

File:Katakolo.jpg, The main street File:Katakolon.jpg, View of harbour File:Katakolo 2011-10-18.jpg, Cruise ships at the harbour File:Cruise Ship Costa Fortuna in Katakolo - April 2009.jpg, Cruise ship Costa Fortuna in Katakolo, April 2009 File:Ioannis Latsis renovated house in Katakolo.jpg, alt=Ioannis Latsis house in Katakolo, Ioannis Latsis house in Katakolo File:Katakolo train station 01.jpg, Train station in Katakolo

Notes

References

External links

Port of Katakolo "John Latsis"Katakolon official website
{{Pyrgos Mediterranean port cities and towns in Greece Populated places in Elis Pyrgos, Elis