Messinian Authenticity: Experiencing Traditions Firsthand in Costa Navarino
Edited by Paulina Björk Kapsalis
Stepping through the door at a traditional house near Pylos you’re greeted with treats: a plate of lallagia (dough fritters) soaked in petimezi (grape must), and fruit preserves. This is your first taste of Messinian hospitality (philoxenia) and of the local cuisine, as you join a different kind of cooking class organized by Costa Navarino.
Enjoy a different kind of cooking class
An invitation to lunch from local women comes with a footnote: leave formalities at the door and, of course, bring the children along. In this country kitchen, you’ll pick up authentic recipes and learn the secrets of the region’s culinary tradition; you’ll try your hand at rolling traditional fillo pastry, cook kokkoras krasatos (the local version of coq au vin), and prepare a galopita (milk pie), and other local dishes. But that’s not all. You’ll also get a taste of how the people here celebrate important occasions, as the women sing and dance. You can join in, too – they’re happy to teach you the steps of the classic Syrtaki or the Kalamatiano. The evening comes to a close in the courtyard under the stars with a glass of homemade liqueur and dessert.
From our Ambassador Director, John Brown ” The cooking class was a remarkable experience that combines participating in the making of a traditional Greek feast, enjoying local Greek wines and participating in some traditional Greek music and dance. All while overlooking the beauty of Navarino Bay. An evening you will never forget.“
Harvest olives like the ancient Greeks and do olive oil tastin
Take a master class on wine
Walk like a philosopher
Go on a countryside picnic
Learn the art of cheesemaking
Every part of a traditional Messinian meal is made locally – including the cheese. During a special cheesemaking class organized for large groups exclusively at Kafenio (traditional Greek café), local women will show you how they make tyromyzithra, a soft white cheese, from fresh goat’s milk. The cheese will then be served with honey and cinnamon. You’ll also sample other local cheeses, accompanied by delicious regional wines and seasonal fruits, and learn all the secrets of Messinia’s time-honored production methods, passed down from older generations.
Discover the enchanting night sky
Observe a local tradition for all the senses
On summer afternoons, the ladies of the Glyfada Cultural Association don traditional costumes, gather around a large wooden table and unite their voices in songs known as tragoudia tis tavlas (“songs of the table”). While they sing a capella, they prepare boukies (literally “small bites”), a type of homemade pasta that is offered to the guests at the end of the songfest.
Embrace the outdoors by birdwatching or fishing
Golf Inspired is hosting an event in Costa Navarino! This experience is sure to be unforgettable. Explore available packages for a Five Star, seven night, Greek vacation starting at only $3,555 Join us for the