Sightseeing in Kalamata - what to see. Complete travel guide

Kalamata is a small Greek town with rich history located just 250 kilometers away from Athens. Just like in the majority of Greek towns, the climate in Kalamata is mostly Mediterranean. On summer this is a wonderful beach resort with hot sun and almost no rain. Winters in Kalamata are preferably mild and so even during its coldest months the resort is ready to accept tourists, who usually find ultimate pleasure in visiting historical sights and places of interest.

An old fort is so called signature place of Kalamata. The building of the fort is connected with economic rise and development of this place. Rich history couldn’t have failed to make its impact on the culture of this place. In 1715 Kalamata was conquered by the Turkish aggressors and after this Turks ruled the town for over than a hundred years. Some buildings and districts of the town still remind of those uneasy times. In 1821 Kalamata was freed and in the beginning of the 19th century started the building of a port that became an important factor in success and prosperity of the town. Today this port is the second largest port in Peloponnesus.

It’s time to return to cultural and historical heritage and here we simply cannot fail to mention a beautiful Church of Saint Apostles that was built in the 5th century. Nearby the church is located a railway park – the biggest park in the city. Benakis Museum features a collection of historical artifacts found during the excavations. The Municipal Gallery and Gallery of Modern Greek Art will show you collections of art created by local painters and sculptures. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

One of the main holidays of Kalamata is the International Dance Festival. In the town are opened several internationally famous dancing schools, which students traditionally participate in the festival. Tourists, who visit Kalamata during the festival, will enjoy this fascinating event and find real pleasure in watching performances of participants.

The most interesting historical sight is the Kalogreon monastery for women. For several hundred years now its nuns have been producing fashionable silk products. The monastery has always been famous for its luxurious scarves and hankies. Also, beautiful ties are sewn in it. All interested persons can buy magnificent textiles in it even now. Recently, a small museum was opened on the territory of the monastery, in which visitors can see the best creations of local craftsmen. One of the most visited cultural centers of the city is the Archaeological Museum. It was opened in a restored mansion, which previously belonged to the noble family of Benaki. Now in this museum are not only exhibits found in the vicinity of Kalamata, but also archeological artifacts brought from other regions of Greece. A significant part of the exhibits is devoted to the ancient Greek culture and art. Some of the most valuable exhibits are tombstones and sculptures, which were created more than 1,500 years ago.

Economical travelers will be able to visit the Railway Museum, which is located in one of the main city parks for free. Here, in the open air, old locomotives and wagons are installed, as well as other mechanical accessories directly related to the railway. In this museum you can make a lot of spectacular photos. It is especially popular among holidaymakers with children.

One of the busiest places in the city is the central square – the Plaza de Espana. Near it, there are many interesting historical buildings, including the beautiful Cathedral, which was built in 1873. The history of the construction of this cathedral is very interesting. It was decided to erect it on the site of the old church, which at the end of the 19th century completely lay in ruins. During construction works, among the ruins, a valuable relic was found – the icon of the Virgin in Ipapandi which is still the main artifact of the cathedral.

Nature lovers will be offered an interesting excursion to the Ridomo Gorge, located in the vicinity of Kalamata. This is an incredibly beautiful place with a variety of rare representatives of flora and fauna. The path to this natural treasure is not easy, but patient tourists will be rewarded with dignity. They will be able to see unique landscapes.