Let me take you in Southern Greece, in Laconia of Peloponnese, near the coastal city of Neapolis and opposite the islet of Elafonisos: the point of the coast here is called Pavlopetri and it is today a small rocky islet that has around it, at the seabed, the ruins of the oldest sunken city in the world, recognized by UNESCO, as it is at least 5,000 years old!

In an area of the seabed equal to 10 acres, you can swim over the ruins of the most ancient sunken city after Atlantis, at a depth of only 4-5 meters, where the traces of 20, two-story, houses – buildings, from that era, can be seen, with their walls, stairs, lines from the foundations of the houses of the ancient city and abundant broken clay utensils, of everyday life in the city.
You can swim and freedive in the streets, the small tombs of the towns cemetery, the wall designs from the city’s houses, all of which are perfectly preserved at the shallow seabed, with crystal clear waters, a wonderful visibility.
The city was an agricultural and textile center, with a very commercial port, which was found filled with the famous huge Minoan, Cretan jars, for storing goods.
Pavlopetri was discovered in 1967 by Nicholas Flemming and mapped in 1968 by a team from the University of Cambridge.
To discover it and freedive in the ancient Pavlopetri, you will swim in front of the coast, from Pounta beach, which is located 800 meters to the northwest, and you will find the sunken city between the islet of Pavlopetri and its coastline there (see your route on our map).

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Sources
- https://el.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CE%A0%CE%B1%CF%85%CE%BB%CE%BF%CF%80%CE%AD%CF%84%CF%81%CE%B9
- https://www.visitelafonisos.gr/pavlopetri/
- https://www.pna.gr/afieromata/6013-pavlopetri-i-arxaioteri-vythismeni-poli-tou-kosmou/
- https://elafonnisos.gr/2023/08/22/elafonisos-pavlopetri-ancient/
- https://www.archaiologia.gr/blog/2022/05/03/%CF%84%CE%BF-%CF%80%CE%B1%CF%85%CE%BB%CE%BF%CF%80%CE%AD%CF%84%CF%81%CE%B9-%CE%BB%CE%B1%CE%BA%CF%89%CE%BD%CE%AF%CE%B1%CF%82-%CE%B1%CF%80%CE%BF%CE%BA%CF%84%CE%AC-%CE%B6%CF%89%CE%AE
- https://www.newsbeast.gr/travel/arthro/9712509/savvato-pavlopetri-enas-thisavros-tis-archaiologias-sti-lakonia
- https://www.allovergreece.com/Best-Sight/42/157/en








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