beach
Voidokilia Beach
A near-perfect Omega-shaped sandy bay in Messinia, ringed by dunes and a ruined castle above.
11 km · about 20 min drive
Peloponnese, Greece · Europe
Chóra works well as a base: 15 minutes from Vlachópoulo, 14km from Polylimnio Waterfalls.
Chóra is a town located in Peloponnese, Greece. With a population of 2,609, it is an important destination in Europe.
On a road trip, Chóra sits in Greece, where you drive on the right. It's in the Europe/Athens time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Chóra to your route.
Volimidia (Greek: Βολιμίδια) is an archaeological site in Messenia, in the Peloponnese region of Greece. During the Mycenaean period, from the end of the Middle Bronze Age (c. 1700 – c. 1600 BCE), it was used as a cemetery, and was the site of a settlement from the Late Helladic I period (c. 1600 – c. 1510 BCE) untilRead more
the end of Late Helladic III in around 1180 BCE. The Bronze Age cemetery consists of 35 tombs, mostly identified as chamber tombs. It may have been the site known in the Mycenaean period as Sphagianes, which was a religious centre in the territory of the Palace of Nestor at Pylos.
The chamber tombs at Volimidia are morphologically unusual, with rounded chambers and domed roofs rather than the more usual square and sloped constructions. It has been suggested that this may have been in imitation of the more monumental tholos tombs, which are unknown at Volimidia but began to be constructed elsewhere in ancient Messenia at around the same time. Burials were generally made in an extended position, with few grave goods except pottery vessels, though flint and obsidian arrowheads were also commonly deposited. From the Late Helladic II period (c. 1510 – c. 1400 BCE), practices of secondary burial became common, by which older, skeletonised bodies were disarticulated and their skulls grouped together.
In the Iron Age, the tombs at Volimidia became the focus of ritual activities known as "tomb cult", by which people re-opened the tombs to leave offerings, perform sacrifices, or inter additional burials. This practice intensified in the Hellenistic period (323–30 BCE), following Messenia's independence from Sparta in 369, and continued into the following Roman period. The area also appears to have been inhabited during this time, with a kiln and a bath-house constructed at the site.
Almost all of the tombs at Volimidia were excavated between 1952 and 1965 by Spyridon Marinatos, working for the Greek Archaeological Service in collaboration with the excavations of Carl Blegen at Pylos. Marinatos also made small-scale excavations in the Mycenaean settlement. Further tombs were excavated by Theodora Karagiorga-Stathakopoulou in 1972, by the Archaeological Service in 1990, and by George S. Korres in 1991.
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Discover famous landmarks, scenic roads, and more near Chóra.
Chóra offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.
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Chóra is located in Peloponnese, Greece, Europe. The coordinates are 37.0511 latitude, 21.7169 longitude.
Chóra has a population of approximately 2,609 people, making it a town in Greece.
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Essential numbers in Greece
Tourist police (English-speaking): 171.
Full driving guide for Greece6 notable places within an hour's drive.
beach
A near-perfect Omega-shaped sandy bay in Messinia, ringed by dunes and a ruined castle above.
11 km · about 20 min drive
waterfall
A hidden gorge in Messenia holding a chain of some 15 waterfalls and jade swimming lakes with names like Kadi and Mavrolimna, linked by ladders and footpaths. Park above Kalochori-Haravgi village and descend into the ravine.
14 km · about 25 min drive
ancient ruins
One of Greece's most complete and least-crowded ancient cities: a vast 4th-century-BC site with an intact stadium, theatre, agora and the massive Arcadian Gate, spread below the village of Mavromati.
23 km · about 25 min drive
castle
A sprawling Venetian sea-fortress juts into the water on a causeway at the Peloponnese's tip.
26 km · about 30 min drive
mountain pass
Legendary mountain road between Sparta and Kalamata, carving through the Langada Gorge over the Taygetus range: hairpins, sheer drops and some of the finest driving scenery in the Peloponnese.
52 km · about 60 min drive
ancient ruins
A spectacular fortified Byzantine ghost city on a steep hillside near Sparta, with churches containing precious medieval frescoes.
58 km · about 65 min drive
April to October
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