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Administrative Region : Peloponnese
Regional unit : Messinia

Foinikounta (Greek: Φοινικούντα, before 1930: Ταβέρνα - Taverna[1]) is a seaside village and a community in the municipal unit of Methoni, Messenia, Greece. It is situated in the southwestern tip of the Peloponnese peninsula, 9 km east of Methoni and 37 km southwest of Kalamata. It is most notable for its beautiful beaches which attract mostly Greek and other European visitors during the summer months. It has a small port. The community consists of the main village Foinikounta, the small villages Anemomylos, Chounakia, Grizokampos and Loutsa, and the island Schiza.

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Population
Year Village Community
1981 519 -
1991 588 -
2001 559 626
History

The ancient town Phoenicus (Φοινικούς) was mentioned by Pausanias as a port west of Cape Akritas.[2] It is believed that it was a small commercial port where the fishers of murex trunculus (a sea snail from which a known indigo dye is produced) could trade their product. The name most likely refers to the ancient Phoenicians whose trade routes came through this natural port.

The present village was founded in the 1840s by inhabitants of Lachanada, that had fled from Crete. It was initially called Taverna, after a tavern in the village. It received its present name in 1930.[1] The main resources of the inhabitants are agriculture and tourism, which has flourished since the 1980s. Each of the three long sandy beaches in Foinikounta has been rated a Blue Flag beach.
See also

List of settlements in Messenia

References

^ a b 1st and 2nd name change
^ Pausanias Description of Greece 4.34.12

Sources

http://www.methoni.gr/
http://www.finikunda.com/
Foinikounta at the GTP Travel Pages

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