ATTRACTIONS OF KALAMATA

Despite much destruction caused by wars and cataclysms, Kalamata is a place where you can find many monuments from different eras. However, tourists will not only encounter the past, but also the contemporary culture of Greece.

The Archaeological Museum of Messenia is located in the center of Kalamata. The exhibits include items from prehistoric, ancient and medieval times. The museum consists of four parts, where you can see things from each of the lands that make up the province of Messenia - Kalamata, Messene, Pylia and Trifilia. In the city you can also find a museum with monuments closer to our times. The Municipal Railway Park was located on the area of 54,000 m². In its area, you can see the old Kalamata - Limin railway station with four platforms, a stationmaster's building and a water tower. You can also see the old rolling stock. This city is not only full of history, but also modernity. The Kalamata Dance Festival takes place every July. This event is a celebration of contemporary dance. In addition to performances by dancers and performers, the festival program includes exhibitions and workshops where you can learn to dance.

What is worth seeing in the area? With a history stretching back more than three thousand years, the whole of Greece is dotted with monuments from different times. At a distance of 90 km from Kalamata, there is Bassaj, an archaeological site with a temple to the god Apollo from the 5th century BC. It is the second best-preserved Greek temple after the famous Hephaestion located on the Athenian Acropolis. The distinguishing feature of the sanctuary is its design in all three architectural orders - Ionic, Doric and Corinthian. The medieval castle of Godfrey I Villehardouin is 53 km from Kalamata. It was built in 1249. The walls of the fortress also hide four Byzantine churches. Its historical value was appreciated by the UN, which in 1989 included Mistras on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Being in the vicinity of the castle, it is impossible to refuse a trip to Sparta, located 9 km away. It is one of the most famous and powerful cities of ancient Greece. In the surrounding area, it is worth visiting the ruins of the ancient appeal and the theater, as well as monuments from the Byzantine era.

Kalamata olives are purple to chocolate in color and crunchy. Staying with the kitchen, we should mention diples - a Peloponnesian dessert They are prepared by frying a thin dough in oil. It is then rolled and soaked in honey Then they are sprinkled with nuts or cinnamon.