Gialova

Gialova (Greek: Γιάλοβα) is a village on Navarino Bay in south-western Peloponnese, Greece about six kilometres north of Pylos. The name derives from Greek αιγιαλός - γιαλός (shore) and Turkish ova (lowland), i.e. "lowland shore".

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Topography

The village is in two parts. The beach/port part of the village consists of two short streets, one fronting the Bay and the other at right angles to it, leading to the main Pylos-Kiparissia road. This part is largely commercial rather than residential. Where the two streets meet there is a mole used by local fishing boats (and for car parking). The other, residntial and commercial part of the village is about 1km further north along the Pylos-Kiparissia road. The modern development of Gialova also consists of houses and holiday villas on the hill behind Gialova, called Dapia (Greek: Ντάπια).

Industry

Signs of the area's former agricultural industry are evident in the two abandoned wine factories (one demolished in 2008) and the stone warehouses formerly used to store carob and lemons, which were exported by boats from the mole. Today the main industry is small-scale tourism. There are two campsites and one hotel (Hotel Zoe) plus villas, apartments and rooms to rent.

Beaches and lagoon

A 1.5 kilometre long sandy beach, signposted "Golden Beach" but known as Divari (Greek: διβάρι meaning "hatchery") to local people, starts at Gialova and continues west to Old Navarino castle. The beach is actually a narrow bar separating the sea waters of the Bay from the brackish waters of Gialova Lagoon, a Natura 2000 site of major importance. It is the only location in Europe where the African chameleon is found. Immediately to the north of Old Navarino castle is the beach of Voidokilia.

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