Kalamata
Kalamata in the Peloponnese is the area's
second-biggest city and is world-famous for the quality of its olives and for
the nearby site of Ancient Messene.
Kalamata Marina
Kalamata is the second-largest city in the
Peloponnese after Patras,
with a population of about 70,000. Like Patras, it's never really become a big tourist
destination. Instead, Kalamata's top-quality olives have made its name known
around the world. In Greece it's also known as the home of a dance called the Kalamatianos.
Location of Kalamata in the Peloponnese
(c) Google Maps
Kalamata
History
Kalamata has had as chequered a history as
other Greek cities, being occupied by the Ottomans, the Venetians, and then the
Ottomans again. However, it has one particular note of distinction – it was the
first Greek city to be liberated in the Greek War of Independence against the
Turks.
Kalamata at Night
What
to See in Kalamata
There are a few things for the visitor to
see in Kalamata, including a municipal art gallery and a folk art museum. Some
of the other attractions include:
Archaeological
Museum of Messenia
The Archaeological Museum of Messenia
naturally contains finds from all over the region, especially from Ancient
Messene (see below). They’re displayed in four different sections for the four
different areas making up Messenia: Kalamata, Messene, Pylia and Triphylia.
A Church in Kalamata
Cathedral
of Ypapanti
Kalamata’s cathedral was built from 1860-1873
but was badly damaged in the major earthquake which devastated Kalamata in
1986, and was subsequently restored.
Kalamata
Castle
Kalamata Castle dates from the 13th century and was built on the site of a church that had been there since the 6th century. An icon of
the Virgin Mary became known as the kalo
matia, or ‘beautiful eyes’. This name was later applied to the church, too,
and is one theory as to how the city got its name.
A back street in Kalamata
Kalamata
Municipal Railway Park
The Kalamata
Municipal Railway Park is the only open-air railway museum in Greece, and
though it’s a specialist interest there’s still plenty for non-railway
enthusiasts to enjoy in its collections.
Ancient
Messene
The site of Ancient Messene is about a
40-minute drive northwest of Kalamata, and not to be confused with the modern
town of Messini which you pass through on the way. The archaeological site is
25 minutes further on, after you drive through Messini.
The site sprawls over the sides of Mount Othoni, which is about 800m (2,625ft) high and which is also home to the lovely little village of Mavromati. There are some rooms to rent here if you want to spend the night, rather than down in Kalamata. If you climb to the top of Mount Othoni you'll get great views over a lot of the southern Peloponnese.
When you see the extent of the remains you
realise what an important city this must have been. What's also remarkable is
that the city was protected by walls which were about 10m (33ft) high and ran
for 9km (5.6 miles). The walls were built in about 369BC and stood almost
undamaged for 750 years.
Kalamata
Olives
Kalamata Olives
Kalamata is part of the Messenia regional
unit, one of several regional units that make up the Peloponnese. According to
European Union (EU) law, only olives grown in this region can be called
Kalamata olives. The same applies to olive oil from the region. However, this
type of olive is grown in many other parts of the world where there’s no law
against calling them Kalamata olives.
Kalamata olives are dark brown olives that
are very plump and meaty, which is why they are so highly-regarded. They are a
dark purple/black colour, and must be hand-picked to help prevent them getting
bruised. If you ate one straight from the tree it would taste very bitter,
which is why they are first soaked, with various methods used to get almost all
of the bitterness out of them.
Where to Stay in Kalamata
Other Peloponnese pages
The top archaeological sites in the Peloponnese in Greece include Epidavros, Olympia, Mycenae, Mystras, Tiryns, and Argos.
The Temple of Bassae in Messenia in the Peloponnese of Greece is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece.
The Peloponnese in Greece has such sights as Olympia, Mycenae, the Mani, Nafplion, Corinth and Epidavros.
The Greece Travel Secrets guide to the ancient archaeological site of Tiryns, near Mycenae, in the Peloponnese of Greece, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Patras, or Patra, in the Peloponnese is Greece's third-largest city, home to Greece's largest Carnival, with many Roman and Greek remains, museums and churches.
The Nemean Games, like the Olympic Games, take place every four years but, unlike the Olympics, anyone can apply to take part and run in the original stadium.
Sparta (or Sparti) in the Peloponnese of Greece was one of the most important city-states of ancient Greece and has significant archaeological remains.
Nafplion in the Peloponnese was the Greek capital before Athens and today is a charming waterfront town with good restaurants, museums, shopping, beaches, old fortresses and a delightful atmosphere.
The ruined Byzantine city of Mystras sits on the top and the slopes of a hill that juts out from the plain and is one of the most remarkable places in Greece.
Mycenae in the Greek Peloponnese was a royal palace and is famous for the royal tombs, Lion Gate, and was excavated by archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann.
Greece Travel Secrets reviews the photography book Monemvasia with extracts from works by Yiannis Ritsos and Nikos Kazantzakis.
The Mani in the south of the Peloponnese is the most southerly part of the Greek mainland and famous for its rugged landscape, feuds, and tower houses.
The ancient theatre at Epidavros is one of Greece's greatest attractions, ranking alongside the Acropolis and the Palace at Knossos in Crete, and it is easily the finest theatre in Greece.
Corinth has four aspects to it, which are the Corinth canal, the modern town of Corinth, nearby Ancient Corinth, and above that Akrokorinthos or Upper Corinth.
The Bradt Guide to the Peloponnese is the best book on the Greek region which includes attractions like Mycenae, Epidavros, Olympia, Monemvasia and Nafplion.
Travel guide to Ancient Olympia in the Peloponnese of mainland Greece, home to the original Olympic Games.
Monemvasia in the Peloponnese is the Greek Rock of Gibraltar and is a huge offshore rock which conceals a tiny town connected to the mainland by a single road.
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