Katakolo
“The sea is sapphire and the sky seems to be burning, like an opalescent stone in the air. The sails are raised; a breeze blows as we head to the azure lands of the east. From the high bow, Zakynthos appears, small forests of olive trees, the rock of Ithaca, the bays, and the snowy peak of Lycaeus, while beyond, the flower-sprinkled hills of Arcadia.
No sound! I only hear the thud of the sails against the masts, the waves breaking against the side, and the happy laughter of girls on the stern. And when the sun burned in a magnificent sunset and sank in crimson into the depths of the sea, I finally stepped on the soil of Greece!”
KATAKOLO
Oscar Wilde
(poem by the Irish writer titled “Impression de voyage,” written as soon as he arrived in Katakolo in 1877)
The historical presence of Katakolo dates back to the early 19th century, after which it gradually began to evolve into an important commercial port for the area. Its status as a significant port continues to be maintained until today, now with a tourist character, as the hundreds of thousands of tourists visiting every year make Katakolo one of the largest and most important tourist ports in the country, as well as one of the main gateways for tourists to Greece.
Katakolo also serves as the port of Pyrgos, the capital of the Elis region, which is located 13 kilometers away. It has 511 residents, according to the 2021 census, with fishing being one of the main activities—particularly in the past and to some extent today.
Access to the village is possible not only by vehicle and public transport but also by recreational boat, as Katakolo has a marina on the northern side of the port.”
