#uniquedestinations
Laconia is a Peloponnese region with numerous popular tourist spots, beautiful beaches, interesting archaeological monuments, Byzantine churches, charming villages, and much more. Few people are aware that Laconia is home to two of Greece’s and possibly Europe’s most important sunken ancient cities. Both are fairly accessible, and visitors can admire their beauty both on the coast and underwater.
Pavlopetri
The islet of Pavlopetri is located opposite Elafonisos port (near picturesque Neapoli). The world’s oldest sunken city can be found between the islet and the same-named beach. Some people refer to it as “Greek Atlantis” or “Atlantis of Laconia”. The majority of the city is sunken a few metres below the water surface. However, some of it is visible along the coast. Although it is believed to be 5000 years old, its name and political status are unknown. The city has a unique layout, with roads and a square 40 metres long and 20 metres wide at its centre. Most residences contained up to twelve rooms. Between the buildings, there are stone tombs, although an organized cemetery is found just outside the city.
The discovery of Pavlopetri
Nicholas Flemming discovered it in 1967, and a University of Cambridge team mapped it in 1968. At a depth of 3 to 4 metres, at least 15 buildings stand on the site. In 2009, British archaeologists conducted a new investigation and determined that the site covers 20 acres. Scholars initially believed builders constructed the city between 1600 and 1100 BC. Later studies showed that people had occupied the city before 2800 BC, at the beginning of the Bronze Age. A massive earthquake likely caused the city to sink around 1000 BC. The earthquake dramatically altered the coastline, severed the peninsula, and formed what is now the island of Elafonisos.
Since the city remained abandoned and people did not convert the region to farmland after the disaster, its submersion helped preserve the remains discovered today. The 2009 survey significantly advanced the mapping of the city. Researchers showed that a thriving textile industry operated there. They also uncovered numerous large jars from Minoan Crete nearby. Merchants stored and transported oil, wine, paints, and fragrances in these jars. This evidence shows that the city functioned as a major commercial port, most likely serving as a Minoan satellite.
The city under the waves
Such is the international interest for Pavlopetri, that in 2011 it became a BBC documentary entitled “The city under the waves”. The film documents the work of the British archaeological team of 2009. There are not many places in Greece, or even in the whole world, where you could swim at a wonderful sandy beach and at the same time over an ancient road or an ancient building.
Ancient Asopos
The sunken city of Ancient Asopos lies in the “Kokkines” area of the beach resort of Plytra in Lakonia. Even today, visitors can see its remains in the sea and along the shore. The city belonged to the Common of the Eleftherolakons, and Pausanias mentioned it in his writings. The city minted its own currency and maintained a secure port. The visible remains today come from the Roman city of Asopos, which builders most likely constructed on the site of the earlier ancient Greek city with the same name. In the western part of the settlement, tombs and architectural remains still stand. Near the harbour, additional building remains rest on the seabed.
The visitor might witness Roman bath apartments, the remains of a tiny theatre, and pieces of walls and flooring in the southeast section of the settlement, which was close to the sea. Large carved porous rocks are used to construct structures along the coast. This massive, extended structure is most likely the temple of the Roman emperors that Pausanias describes. Architectural elements like ribbed columns, tectonic capitals, and pillar bases are sporadically found in the surrounding area.
The coastal city was constructed three metres above its present site. Rectangular stone bricks from a nearby sunken quarry are used to construct the underwater structures that extend to the sea at a depth of roughly 7 metres. Although their exact purpose is unknown, they were most likely docks, piers, and other structures used for port purposes. The most likely account states that a powerful earthquake in 365 AD caused the city to sink and also caused the rock of Monemvasia to separate from the mainland.
Ancient Asopos today
The visitor today will notice a sign near the port of modern Plytra marking the entrance to Ancient Asopos. There, one can admire the impressive coastal ruins that stretch quietly along the shimmering shoreline. However, the finest way to explore this remarkable destination is by diving into the crystal-clear blue waters. Beneath the surface, visitors can admire the magnificent sight of the sunken buildings resting peacefully underwater. It is undoubtedly considered the very best location for snorkeling anywhere in the beautiful region of Laconia.
Next is a video from our visit this year to the sunken city of Ancient Asopos :
Two unique destinations that could be combined in one visit (the distance between them is 35 km) and could offer you a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It is really surprising that the Greek state left such treasures to their fate and has not used them as alternative tourist destinations.
