Located off the Peloponnesean coast lies a secret treasure of antiquity: the ancient city of Pavlopetri. This magical city is thought to have been submerged due to a series of earthquakes which occurred around 1000 BC.
Dating back 5,000 years, this UNESCO world heritage site represents the oldest archaeological city site in the world!
Only four meters under the sea, Pavlopetri is off of the southern coast of the Greek region of Laconia, between Pouda beach at Viglafia and the islet of Pavlopetri. This stunning city was discovered in 1904, revealing a wealth of information about the ancient civilization that once thrived there.
Ancient Pavlopetri is believed to have reached its peak during the dawn of Western civilization. It existed for some 2,000 years before meeting its fate at the bottom of the sea.
Pavlopetri is remarkably well-maintained, mostly due to its location which makes it difficult to access. Oceanographers and historians alike have studied the city and its infrastructure, which is considered to be advanced and modern for its time.
The discovery of Pavlopetri also provided an additional benefit: the ancient city is not like other underwater ruins, which are usually incomplete or difficult to verify as actual man-made constructions. Instead, this underwater city has a visible, comprehensible, and complete town plan, including discernible streets, architecture, and tombs.
Take a tour of this ancient underwater gem:
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