Eira

On the hill, south of Kakaletri village, are the ruins of the ancient Messinian city of Eira, overlooking the lush valley of Neda and the much higher peak of Vigla. Eira was the last stronghold of the Messinians in their long struggle for independence against the Lacedaemonians. The Messinians, led by their legendary leader Aristomenis, defended Eira for 10 whole years. They fell into the 11th year, at the end of the 6th or the beginning of the 5th century BC, and were forced to leave their homeland. They immigrated to Sicily and founded the city of Messina (today's Italian city of Messina). They returned many years later, when Thebes with Epaminondas defeated and humiliated the Lacedaemonians at Lefktra (371 BC).