Lovely Katakolo near Olympia

Welcome to Katakolo!

  A small maritime city with natural and historical beauty, situated at the Preference of Western Ilia, near the ancient city of Fia.

  Katakolo combines mountain and sea, as it is the current port of the preference's capital, the city of Pyrgos. The port is full of cafeterias and taverns which replaced the old raisin houses, giving a traditional tone to the area.

  During the summer season, Katakolo is plain of Greek and foreign tourists and its port is full of cruise ships. You need to have a lot of free time in order to explore the place's beauty and to go site-seeing (it's near the ancient city of Olympia) and swimming to its dreamy beaches.

  Every year the visitors' number increases, more cruise ships berth to the port and Katakolo has become tourists' first choice for their summer vacations. However, Katakolo is also a great destination for your winter vacations, as other places of the area wait to be explored by you!

  So, choose Katakolo for your summer holidays and you will see that if once come here, you will definitely come back! Have a nice stay!

Katakolo is 13 km far from Pyrgos, the capital city of the Prefecture of Ilia, and constitutes its port. Every year, about a million tourists visit Katakolo which gets full of cruise ships and visitors (second port - after Pireus- in cruise ships' arrivals).

  You can reach Katakolo by bus, train or vessel (if you have). For further information, click here. You can find more information about vessels at the website of Katakolo's marina.

   At the entrance of the port you can see the building of Katakolo's Port Authority as well as an Information Office. There is also a pharmacy store at the central square and ATMs of various banks (National, Emporiki, Agriculture and Pireus).

History

   In ancient years Katakolo was located in the ancient city of Fia, near St. Andreas' beach. Killini and Katakolo were the only two ports of the preference of Ilia. During the Homeric years, Katakolo was a famous fortress near the river of Iardano and in the second half of the 5th century B.C (during the Peloponnese war) Katakolo became Athenians' anchor point to conquer Ilia. The port was destroyed completely by a powerful earthquake (6th century A.C.), but until now from St. Andreas' bay we can see the two remaining small islands Korakas and Tigani. Many shells and remains from Neolithic period up until Romans' years have been found and witness Katakolo' s existence during the centuries. During the Byzantine period and the Middle- Ages, Katakolo had a strong strategic role and magical Pontikokastro, built by the Vilardouins at the remains of the acropolis of Fia, is the proof of it. After Greece's liberation from the Turks the centre of Katakolo was dislocated and obtained its current geographical place. It was one of the most important ports of Greece in raisin exportation, however today is only a famous touristic resort.

 

Katakolo in the 18^th century

  According to current history, Katakolo was a place for the exiles from Zante and Kefalonia and initially the name Katakolo, before its current significance, had a bad meaning. 

Finally, it's worth mentioning the importance of Pyrgos - Katakolo railway. 

photo  

 

Hotels: List of hotels in Katakolo

1. Arethousa: 3 stars

Contact: Telephone: (+30)2621042004/5
                Website: www.arethousahotel.gr

2. Vriniotis: 2 stars (St. Andreas area)

Contact: Telephone: (+30)2621041294, 2621041158
                Website: www.vriniotis.gr

3. Zeryfos: 3 stars

Contact: Telephone: (+30)2621041170
                Website: click here

4. Ionio: 2 stars

Contact: Telephone: (+30)2621041214, 2621041494
                Website: click here

5. Odysseas: 2 stars

Contact: Telephone: (+30)2621042190, 2621041021, 2621041777
                Website: www.epihotels.com

6. Villa Georgina (Korakochori)

Contact: Telephone: (+30)2621041595
                Website: www.villa-georgina.gr


    Accommodation is also recommended in the wider area of Katakolo, for example in Pyrgos or Skafidia which are only 10 minutes away.

 

Transportation

Katakolo, the port of the capital city of the Prefecture of Ilia, is only 13 km far from Pyrgos and 33 km far from the city of Ancient Olympia.

Other interesting destinations are:

• Athens: 314 km from Katakolo

• Patras: 98 km from Katakolo

• Araxos' Airport: 70 km from Katakolo

• Military Airport of Andravida: 40 km from Katakolo

• Kalamatas' Airport: 125 km from Katakolo

• City of Ancient Ilida: 45 km from Katakolo

    If you do not have your own car, you should find all means of transportation in Pyrgos. The only thing you must do to get there, is to take the local bus or the train from Katakolo! However, there is a direct train from Katakolo to the city of Ancient Olypmia!

For further information visit www.ktelilias.gr

   Train Timetable:

• Pyrgos - Olympia: 06:45

• Olympia - Katakolo: 07:20

• Katakolo - Olympia: 09:00

• Olympia - Pyrgos: 09:57

• Pyrgos - Olympia: 12:35

• Olympia - Pyrgos: 13:08

For further information visit www.trainose.gr

http://www.katakolo.info/