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The sights of Kalamata

The Old Town. At the foothills of the Castle, north of the modern town, lies the Old Town. With the metropolitan church of Ypapanti as its border, the Old Town is popular with the young people of Kalamata, particularly in the winter. Stroll through its narrow streets and discover the salvaged neoclassical mansions, stone churches, museums and shops with local products. You will also find the small Byzantine church of Agioi Apostoloi, the Municipal Conservatory, the Kalamata Historical and Folk Art Museum and the Archaeological Museum of Messenia.

The Castle. The Byzantine castle of Kalamata is located on a low, rocky hill above the River Nedonas. Within its walls, there is a fortified forecourt and a second, larger forecourt that protects a larger area on the east side. The relief of the Lion of St Mark is visible above the lintel of the entrance, evidence of the additions made by the Venetians. In the 18th century, the Castle was attacked by the army of Ibrahim Pasha of Egypt and suffered much damage. This led to the loss of its strategic importance and was thus abandoned in the 19th century. Its conversion into a copse is associated with the author Zacharias Papantoniou, who served as Prefect of Messenia in the early 20th century.

The Railway Museum. Steam trains, a diesel train, passenger and cargo trains of various kinds can be found in the two-storey old Station Master’s building. The museum recaptures the life of the railway station when in operation in the last century. Of interest is the water tower, with its cylindrical stone base and 28-metres long metal footbridge.

Kalamata Historic Town Hall is located on the edge of the Old Town, which nowadays hosts lovely cafés and restaurants.

Beaches near Kalamata

The large beach with its palm trees and sun umbrellas along the length of Navarinou Street, on the waterfront of Kalamata, is a good option for those who want to take a dip in the sea not too far from the town. There are, however, plenty of other options very close to Kalamata. The bays of Verga and Almyros are rather busy, while the crowds quickly drop off on the way to Kitries, and peaceful, pebble bays with clean waters await you.

The further you are from the town, the more choices you have, as beaches are just as delightful – if not even more so – than those of the islands. Towards Kardamyli, approximately 40 km east of Kalamata, lies the famous Foneas beach, as well as Delfinia and Kalamitsi. The little harbour of Agios Nikolaos also has crystal-clear waters.

The huge beach of Foinikounta, towards the west in the direction of Methoni, grabs everyone’s attention. The beach of Methoni is ideal for families, although its main attraction is the view towards the Castle. On the road to Tsapi beach you can also stop off at the two lovely bays of Marathi.

The region of Koroni has even more options, especially the beaches of Chomati, Kantouni, Kalamaki, Leivadia and Tampakario.

If you are determined to go as far as Pylos (50 km from Kalamata), you must take a stop at the wonderful Voidokilia beach (only in the mornings and at midday, though, as from afternoon onwards the beach is swarming with mosquitoes due to the otherwise beautiful wetland of Gialova). The beaches of Sykia and Divari are also great for a dip.

Excursions close to Kalamata

Ancient Messene. Just 30 km from Kalamata lies one of the most beautiful and best-preserved archaeological sites in Greece. The ancient city of Messene, dating from the 4th century BC, is almost unspoiled and includes temples, dwellings, fortifications and public buildings. The Arcadian Gate is the main gate in the city’s massive wall, erected in the 3rd century BC, along with eight surviving towers. Other buildings include the Agora (forum), the temple of Artemis Orthia-Phosphorus, the Stadium, the Heroon, the theatre, the fountain and remains of Roman villas. In the summer of 2013, the ancient theatre of Messene was restored and opened once more as a venue for cultural events.

The Palace of Nestor, a Late Helladic period megaron (palace), is located 14 km from Pylos and is the best-preserved Mycenaean palace discovered. Around 1 000 Linear B clay tablets were found during excavations, along with many artefacts dating from 1300 BC.

Ancient Olympia.The archaeological site of ancient Olympia, one of the finest monuments in the whole of Greece, is around 1.5 hours away by car from Kalamata. The most glorious sanctuary of ancient Greece, the Temple of Zeus, lies in the valley of the Alfeios river. This is the birthplace of the Olympic Games, which were held every four years in honour of the father of the gods. Visitors to Ancient Olympia can explore this huge archaeological site with its impressive monuments: the Temple of Zeus, the Temple of Hera, the Bouleuterion, the Prytaneion, the palaestra, the gymnasion, the Leonidaion, the workshop of Pheidias, and many more. In the Museum of Ancient Olympia, highlights include the Hermes of Praxiteles, the Nike of Paeonius and the sculptural decoration of the Temple of Zeus.

Pylos - Methoni - Koroni. The three ports of Western Messenia, the three citadels, run along the coastline to the west of Kalamata. Niokastro, with sprawling Pylos and a fantastic view over the historic Navarino bay; Koroni, with its impressive Venetian castle and its wonderful lookout point over the sea; and Methoni, where the castle clearly defines the town. End your journey with Methoni so that you can admire the walls of the castle at sunset.

Kitries - Kardamyli - Stoupa - Oitylos. An excursion to the eastern side of Messenia reveals another dimension of the region, where the setting is dominated by Mt Taygetus. Begin your tour at Kitries, a picturesque fishing village just 12 km from Kalamata, charming and ideal for a swim and a meal. Next stop is Kardamyli, the undoubted star of this cluster of villages. Stone mansions, vast olive groves and beautiful beaches comprise the most sophisticated landscape in Mani. Very close by is Stoupa, which attracts many tourists. If you prefer less crowded places, then you can head to Agios Nikolaos for a similar but quieter beach. The landscape of Oitylos and the resort bay of Limeni at the boundary between Messenia and Lakonia will enthuse you.

Food and Entertainment in Kalamata

It is only to be expected that in one of the country’s most fertile regions, the local cuisine is rich and varied. The varieties of olive oil, olives and wine are among the best in Greece and are used in all kinds of recipes from Kalamata and the surrounding area. The Messenia land also has a great tradition in fig production, as well as in prickly pears, aromatic plants that grow in the foothills of Mt Taygetus and salt from the rocks of Mani.

Local dishes with a particular emphasis on meat are piglet (which its origins in the period of Ottoman rule), pork and leeks, rooster in wine with raisins, and sausages with orange. The gardens of Kalamata supply the local kitchens with the ingredients for delicious stuffed courgette flowers and courgette balls and Messenian salad (with potatoes, onions, olives and oranges). Other salad dishes are black-eyed beans with spinach and wild greens. Wherever you find them, try red mullet savoro (marinated and fried in a pan with garlic, raisins and rosemary), tsouchti (thick macaroni topped with a fried egg), liopita (pie made with olives and local olive oil), lalangia (fried dough ribbons). Among the desserts, pride of place go to diples (rolled pastry sheets in honey), galatopita and galaktoboureko (milk pie), semolina halva and, of course, the spoon sweets, with the fig variety being the most popular.

On your departure from Kalamata, make sure you buy some excellent quality Messinian olive oil, Kalamata olives, raisins and wine. Great souvenirs include the loom-woven silk scarves, which are closely identified with the region and sold in the traditional shops near the church of Ypapanti.

The nightlife of Kalamata is diverse, with something for everyone. In the summer, the bars and clubs along the coastal Navarinou Street take over. The historic centre and central square of the town (around the pedestrianised part of Valaoritou Street and Aristomenous Street) thrive all year round, with a more eclectic crowd; there, you can have a meal followed by a drink. As might be expected, the Castle area is a good choice if you are looking for a quieter evening out.

If you plan to travel to Kalamata during the summer months, it is worth visiting the town when the Kalamata International Dance Festival is being held. For 25 years, the festival has hosted some of the most prestigious names on the international dance scene, from Greece, Europe and the whole world.

How to get from the airport to Kalamata

Kalamata International Airport is located 9 km of the town. The airport can be reached by catching one of the KTEL buses from the centre of Kalamata, which also go to Messene, Koroni, Chora, Pylos, and Methoni. Alternatively, you can take a taxi.