Kalamata - Definition and Overview

There is also a Kalamata in the Democratic Republic of Congo, see Kalamata, Democratic Republic of Congo

Kalamata (Greek, Modern: Καλαμάτα, Ancient/Katharevousa: -ai), older forms: Kalamai is a city in southern Greece, on the Peloponnesos, by the Mediterranean. It is the capital of the Messinia prefecture. It is located about 60 km SE of Kyparissia and GR-9, about 120 km SSE of Pyrgos, about 80 km SW of Tripoli, about 60 km W of Sparta, NW of Areopoli and about 8 km E of Messene. In 1991 the city had 44,052 inhabitants.

The city is located west of Sparta, and can be reached from this and other Greek cities by bus and train. Furthermore, the city has an international airport and an important harbour. Ferries are available to places such as the Greek island of Kythira.

The Gulf of Messinia where Kalamata is located has various long beaches. The Taygetus is located about 4 km E of Kalamata and GR-82 Kalamata - Sparta highway runs through the ranges.

Olives and olive oil are important products that are exported from Kalamata.

Kalamata has schools, lyceums, gymnasia, banks, a post office, and squares (plateia).

Kalamata also has a soccer team which plays in the secondary division. It is names PAE Kalamata - 3k  (http://www.geocities.com/kalamata_fc/).

Transportation

It is accessed by GR-7/E55/E65 in the west and GR-82 runs through Kalamata and into the Taygetus. The nearest superhighway is now 35 km N. From the mid-1980s until 2002, it was 85 km SW in Tripoli.

There is a road connecting within the coastline of Kalamata which is not far from the gulf and runs in the southern part of Kalamata.

It is also has a train station and a small freight yard in the harbor which makes up the southernmost train station and the southern railway terminus in all of Greece.

Historical population

The name Kalamata

The name Kalamata may have something to do with the Greek kalo mata which means good eye. A Byzantine church near the city is devoted to the virgin of Kalomata.

History of Kalamata

Contrary to many other Greek cities, Kalamata does not date to classical times. Messini, which is located elsewhere in Messinia, is an ancient site, however. From 1681 on the Venetians ruled Kalamata. In 1825, Ibrahim Pasha destroyed the city during the Greek war of independence. Furthermore, the city has suffered much damage from earthquakes.

During the Second World War, the Victoria Cross recipient, John Daniel Hinton was honored in 1941.

A factory which made paper or olive oil which closed down in the 1990s and Mamalakis visited in 2002 for recipes of Messinia and visited this place.

Sights in and around Kalamata

• Benakeion Archaeological Museum of Kalamata [1] (http://www.culture.gr/2/21/211/21107m/e211gm01.html), located in the heart of the historic centre of Kalamata.
• Byzantine church
• Cultural happenings like the Intenational Dance Festival [2] (http://www.greece.gr/CULTURE/TheatreAndDance/KalamataDanceFestival.stm)
• Castle from the 13th century CE.
• Marina and the Port of Kalamata, located SW of the city centre. It is the chief port in Messenia/Messinia and the largest in Messinia and the southern part of the Peloponnese.
• Kalamata International Airport, an airport located about 7 km NW, close to Messene. The runway length is about 2 km.
• Railway Museum of the Municipality of Kalamata [3] (http://www.culture.gr/4/42/421/42105/42105b/e42105b1.html), a railway museum which first opened since 1986

External Links

• Marina of Kalamata (http://www.kalamatamarina.gr/framedim.htm)
• Kalamata Online (http://www.kal.gr)
• Kalamata International Airport (http://www.hcaa-eleng.gr/kalam.htm)
• Historic maps of Kalamata (http://historic-cities.huji.ac.il/greece/kalamai/kalamai.html)
• Messinian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (http://www.kalamata.chambernet.gr)
• World66 - The Travel Guide You Write - Kalamata (http://www.world66.com/europe/greece/kalamata)

See also:

• Communities of Messenia