Katakolo ( el, Κατάκολο) is a seaside town in the municipality of Pyrgos in western

Elis Elis or Ilia ( el, Ηλεία, ''Ileia'') is a historic region in the western part of the Peloponnese peninsula of Greece. It is administered as a regional unit of the modern region of Western Greece. Its capital is Pyrgos. Until 2011 it was ...

Greece Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders with ...

. It is situated on a headland overlooking the

Ionian Sea The Ionian Sea ( el, Ιόνιο Πέλαγος, ''Iónio Pélagos'' ; it, Mar Ionio ; al, Deti Jon ) 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 C ...

and separating the

Gulf of Kyparissia The Gulf of Kyparissia ( el, Κυπαρισσιακός Κόλπος, ''Kyparissiakos Kolpos'') is a long, curving indentation along the western coast of the Peloponnese peninsula, Greece. It lies between Cape Katakolo at the north end and Cape Kon ...

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 Olympia ( el, label=Modern Greek, Ολυμπία ; grc, Ὀλυμπία ), officially Archaia Olympia ( el, label=Modern Greek, Αρχαία Ολυμπία; grc, Ἀρχαία Ὀλυμπία, links=no; "Ancient Olympia"), is a small town in E ...

, lies northwest of Katakolo.

History

In the

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

, 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 * Francia, a post-Roman state in France and Germany * East Francia, the successor state to Francia in Germany ...

rulers of the

Principality of Achaea The Principality of Achaea () or Principality of Morea was one of the three 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 o ...

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 temperate climate ''Cs'') is a temperate climate sub-type, generally characterized by warm, dry summers and mild, fairly wet winters; these weather conditions are typically experienced in the ...

(

Köppen climate classification The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by German-Russian climatologist Wladimir Köppen (1846–1940) in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen, notabl ...

: 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 tours known as "s ...

s, offering an opportunity for passengers to visit the site of

Olympia The name Olympia may refer to: Arts and entertainment Film * ''Olympia'' (1938 film), by Leni Riefenstahl, documenting the Berlin-hosted Olympic Games * ''Olympia'' (1998 film), about a Mexican soap opera star who pursues a career as an athlet ...

. 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 The Kotsanas Museum of Ancient Greek Technology is situated in Katakolo, Elis, Greece. It has three permanent annexes (in Athens 6 Pindarou Str. and Akadimias), Ancient Olympia (9 Praxiteli Kondyli Str.) and at Katakolon port (paternal home of Gia ...

. 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 Katakolo ( el, Κατάκολο) is a seaside town in the municipality of Pyrgos in western Elis, Greece. It is situated on a headland overlooking the Ionian Sea and separating the Gulf of Kyparissia from the rest of the Ionian. It is west of Pyr ...

with Pyrgos and

Notable people

*Carolos Cantounis aka. Magic Mizrahi (1983-) Jewish music producer of electronic music, well-known in Latin America & Israel. *

Pavlos Haikalis Pavlos Haikalis (also Chaikalis; el, Παύλος Χαϊκάλης) is a Greek actor and politician. Biography Pavlos Haikalis was born in Katakolo, Elis, on 30 October 1959. He, and his older brother Thanasis Haikalis (1948-2022), was rais ...

(1959–) actor and member of parliament *

Yiannis Latsis Yiannis Latsis (1910–2003), also known as John Spyridon Latsis, was a Greek shipping multi-billionaire tycoon notable for his great wealth, influential friends, and charitable activities. The year of his death (2003), ''Forbes'' magazine rank ...

(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"GTP - KatakoloKatakolon official website
{{Pyrgos Mediterranean port cities and towns in Greece Populated places in Elis