Travel time 1.0 hour - Welcome to Greece
The city of Kalamata (the meaning in English is Good Eye) is the capital of the Messinian Mani. It lies between the Taygetos Mountains and the Messiniakos Bay. Kalamata has it own fortress, which stands over the city and also has an amphitheatre that hosts cultural events such as dance and music festivals during the summer. It is southern Greece’s largest port and cruise ships can often be seen docked here, and there is a marina with all types of yachts and pleasure craft.
There is a local market where you will find olives, olive oil, figs, tomatoes, local sausages and ouzo. Kalamata is renowned for its superior quality olives and olive oil, figs and currants, which are exported to many countries. The sesame covered "pastelli" pastry is also made here and is well worth tasting.
In the castle of Kalamata you can visit the church of Agios Georgios and the Convent of Agiou Konstantinou kai Elenis, a building dating back to the 18th century, famous for the fact that it still has, to this very day, the traditional method of weaving on traditional looms, which produce beautiful silk scarves of exceptional quality. Nuns from the Convent of the Kalograies weave these lovely silk scarves and table linens, which are for sale in a shop just inside the entrance. You can ask to step into the serene cloister while you're there.
Also worthwhile visiting are the churches of Agia Apostoloi and Ipapanti, which was completed in 1879 A.D. The icon of Ipapanti is supposedly miraculous and thousands of people visit the church every year on the 2nd of February. Make a point of taking a look at the castle and the archaeological museum
Every summer cultural events like concerts featuring jazz, rock and classical Greek plays put on by the Kalamata theatre are held in the amphitheatre of the fortress.
You can even arrange to watch a show at the internationally acclaimed Kalamata Dance Festival, held every summer at the Kalamata Castle, above the town.
Visit the train park with its old colourful trains.
In the evening, the town comes alive, especially along the sea front which is lined with tavernas, seafood restaurants and rotisseries serving local dishes and drinks, fresh fish, roast suckling pig, chicken, sausages, cheese, olives, raki and ouzo and many other speciality dishes.
The summers are long and hot and the winters extremely mild and the Mani Peninsular boasts some of the best and cleanest beaches in the whole of Greece.
Kalamata is definitely worth a visit with its spectacular blue sea and the Taygetos Mountains in the backdrop.
