Two fortresses – the Ottoman-era Néokástro and medieval Paleokastro – welcome you to the Bay of Navarínou, a natural harbor in the Peloponnese. Established after the 1827 naval battle that paved the way for an independent Greece, Pylos now guards the entrance to this beautiful bay. The area’s many beaches are unspoiled, most notably Voïdhokiliá, a picture-perfect semicircle of white sand that separates the Gialova Lagoon from the sea. A short drive from town takes you to the hilltop ruins of Nestor’s Palace. The best-preserved royal complex of Greece’s Mycenaean civilization, this renowned site has yielded priceless insights into Bronze Age history. Back in Pylos, take a seat for dinner in at one of the lively cafés and tavernas that surround the war memorial in the town’s main square.