The impressive walls of ancient Messene were described by the ancient traveller Pausanias as stronger than the walls of other strongly fortified cities. Their length reached 9.5 kilometres and surrounded not only the ancient city, built with the Hippodamian town plan, but also the mountainous area of Ithome, which was suitable for logging, quarrying and grazing, as well as areas to the south, west and east of the city centre for agriculture and livestock farming. The fortifications were built with stone blocks from quarries on the slopes of Mts. Ithome and Eva. Their towers are square or round and two-storeyed.

To the east the Laconian Gate led to Sparta, while to the west the Arkadian Gate led to Megalopolis. The Arkadian gate was circular in plan, flanked by two square towers and had two entrances, one internal and one external. Graves and burial monuments have been discovered outside the gate.