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The Landscape
 The
Peloponnese is a distinguished part of the Greek Mainland. With long
unspoilt coastlines, rolling green hills, steep mountains, wild flowers,
forests and authentic traditional villages.
It is the place for exploring monasteries, castles, and some of the
world’s most impressive historic sites.
It is a superb area for touring as every region, village and small hamlet
within is a point of attraction for the foreign traveler.
The peninsula of Messenia will impress you the most. The castles of Pilos,
Methoni and Koroni are strong reflections of the varied culture and
history that has washed over the area through the centuries and which
lives on to the present day. The little towns where land meets sea are
warm nests of life. The sandy beaches are more abundant here then anywhere
else in Greece and up to now very few have experienced their clear crystal
waters so they are still unspoilt.
The Village of Gialova
 Gialova
with it’s long sandy beach, is a small village with it’s scattered houses
spread out between the farms, embedded in greenery of sweet smelling lemon
and orange trees and of course the ever important olive trees.
Here the cultivation of olives is quite a social event in which every one
participates.
Eleonas means olive grove in Greek and it is this connection that inspired
us to build properties respecting both nature and our local architecture.
The whole area produces the finest quality olive oil; some would say the
best of the entire Mediterranean coast. Our own oil is extra virgin olive
oil as it is solely made from our own trees on this one hillside and not
mixed with any other and is also oil from first ‘pressing’ only. Do
enquire if you would like to taste or buy Eleonas extra virgin olive oil.
From Eleonas walking to the little center of the village near the beach
the church of Agios Konstantinos will attract your attention along with
the old disused factory hidden behind high eucalyptus.
In the picturesque stone paved street leading to the beach and the pier
you will find a couple of cafeterias and a few characteristic restaurants
and taverns.
This tiny street has always been the heart of the village as the pier was
used in the past for transportation of agricultural produce and the
farmers from the surrounding villages used to come here to meet with the
traders and deliver their harvest. This has built up a culture of warm
hospitality and the local inhabitants are renowned for being the best
hosts. You can feel this strongly as you meet people who come back year
after year and are welcomed as returning friends of the village.
A remnant of days gone by is seen with the local farmers sitting in the
old fish-taverns discussing loudly the news over some glasses of wine and
savoring freshly fried fish.
A little further towards Pilos you will find the only wine factory that
still produces delicious wine from local vineyards.
 The lagoon of Gialova is a fine example of a productive ecosystem and one
of 10 major lagoons in Greece. It is one of the most important migratory
stop over points in Europe and its brackish waters are a refuge for rare
birds and the reeds and other water plants that grow in fresh water
marshes full of fish.
The lagoon of Gialova is an excellent area for walking and bird watching.
On the outskirts of the lagoon the sand dunes provide the perfect habitat
for reptile populations such as the African Chameleon.
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