The town of Pyrgos, which, according to tradition, is built on seven hills, is the largest town of the prefecture of Elis, as well as its capital.
The town of Pyrgos flourished in the late 19th and early 20th centuries because of its location, which allowed the processing and trade of raisins. For many years, Pyrgos with its port, Katakolon, was a notable center for the export of black (Corinthian) raisins and wines. This product was the foundation upon which the modern and contemporary history of the town was built; one landmark associated with this history is the Raisin Institute, located at the entrance of Pyrgos.
The capital of Elis is adorned by some very special and beautiful buildings, creations of the famous architect Ernst Ziller. The Agora building is a characteristic feature, and remains even today the heart of the historical center of the town and the location of the Archaeological Museum, where some very important findings from all over Elis are exhibited.
Pyrgos has an excellent commercial center, a lot of restaurants and a public library, where one can find rare documents and plenty of reading options. One of the architectural gems that one will come across, while walking through the town’s central streets, is the Apollo Theater, also one of Ziller’s works, as well as many important Churches, such as Agios Nikolaos, Agios Dionysios and Agia Kyriaki. Furthermore, Pyrgos is only a few kilometers away from the port of Katakolon, which welcomes dozens of cruise ships every summer, as well as from some magnificent beaches. such as Skafidia, Spiatza, and Epitalio.