Greece 6: Messene

Messenia (not to be confused with Mycenae) has a weird history. For a long time the region was dominated by Sparta which wouldn't let the area develop into a typical Greek city/state, keeping the inhabitants as more or less serfs. 

Once Thebes defeated Sparta in 371 BCE they helped build Messene into a strong city, working from the time-honored tradition that the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Here are pictures of that city.

 

Next stop: Methoni