Our coordinates: 37° 3΄ 37΄΄ – N 22° 6´ 33´´
240
from Athens
730
from Thessaloniki
150
Driving from the International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos
5
Driving from the center of Kalamata city
730
from Thessaloniki
10
from Kalamat airport
15
Emergency transfer to Kalamata hospital with our Ambulance.
10
Driving to Messinia sandy beaches.
From Kalamata (KLX) Airport
Turn left at the exit of Kalamata Airport and continue for about 200 meters until the roundabout turning left to the way for Athens. After around 600 meters, enter the A7 highway right towards Kalamata City.
Keep driving till the exit 20 LEIKA (K237,5). On your way out head left towards center. Drive all the way down the residential area and on the 1st cross turn left towards Papadopoulion sign. Follow the signing on the narrow road, pass under the highway bridge, turn right and approximately after 400 meters, on your left hand you have reached at Katseika area at the Papadopoulion House of Hospitality and our parking facilities. Welcome!
From Athens Eleftherios Venizelos Airport (ΑΤΗ)
From Athens airport enter the E94 / A6 Highway with direction to Elefsina. Continue along E94. After 70kms enter the E65/ A7 Highway direction Tripolis & Kalamata.
Continue until LEIKA exit no 20. (K237,5). On your way out head left towards center. Drive all the way down the residential area and on the 1st cross turn left towards Papadopoulion sign. Follow the signing on the narrow road, pass under the highway bridge, turn right and approximately after 400 meters, on your left hand you have reached at Katseika area at the Papadopoulion House of Hospitality and our parking facilities. Welcome!
From Mani
As you exit the cross at Messinian bay hotel, head straight towards Kalamata Center. On the next cross please follow signs towards Center. Enter the A7 highway and exit on exit 20 towards LEIKA region. Follow the signs towards center. Drive all the way down the residential area and on the 1st cross turn left towards Papadopoulion sign. Follow the signing on the narrow road, pass under the highway bridge, turn right and approximately after 400 meters, on your left hand you have reached at Katseika area at the Papadopoulion House of Hospitality and our parking facilities. Welcome!
From the city center of Kalamata towards Artemidos Str.
From the city center of Kalamata drive through the Artemidos Str heading north towards the central bus station. On the traffic lights, at Benakion Primary School, turn left towards Leikon Str. Drive straight till the end of the road and on the sign Β΄ ΚΑΠΗ turn right. On the next central turning, keep on straight following the Papadopoulion signing. Keep driving along the small narrow road, pass under the bridge of the highway and turn left. Approximately after 400 meters on your left hand you have reached at Katseika area at the Papadopoulion House of Hospitality and our parking facilities. Welcome to our facilities!
Kalamata
Kalamata is the second most populous city of the Peloponnese peninsula in Southern Greece and the largest city of the homonymous administrative region. It is one of the most fortunate cities in Greece, mostly thanks to its geographical position.
Situated at the apex of the crystal-blue Messinian Bay and at the foot of the imposing Mount Taygetos, it is idyllic for its inhabitants. It is also the most convenient and ideal base for all the tourists who want to explore the secret beauties and the cultural destinations of Messinia.
On the seaside of Kalamata ( 5 km length ), people can swim in crystal clear waters and enjoy marvelous beaches, which have been granted the Blue Flag award of quality. Along the seaside, there are several hotels, tavernas, ouzo restaurants, cafeterias, bars, clubs and, of course, a long-way promenade and bike path. The western beach with the city’s marina is connected to the city’s centre via a bicycle lane too.
Kalamata is one of the most modern cities in Greece, which offers its guests many types of entertainment, but there is also an intense activity around traditional culture. Each visitor should start his tour by the legendary Frankish castle of Geoffrey of Villeardouin, where the famous princess Isabella lived and it is also known as “Castle of Isabeau” .Next station is the Kalogreon nun-monastery, famous for the silk items woven by the nuns. Next in the list of the sights are Benakio Archaeological Museum, the Municipal Gallery ,the Archaeological Museum of Messinia and the Railway Park, one of the first theme parks of Greece.
Kalamata
You must not forget to visit the Metropolitan Cathedral of Kalamata, which is known by the name “Ipapanti tou Sotiros” and it is dedicated to the Presentation of the Lord at the Temple. The church celebrates on February the 2nd, when many thousands of believers from all over Greece come to pay their respects.
An event that you should not miss, if you visit the town during the summer, is the International Dance Festival, which has been continuously contributing to Greece’s artistic life for almost twenty years and has become an internationally recognized European Festival.
An evidence of the aristocratic past of Kalamata is the historical centre and the beautiful neoclassical buildings. It is also worth visiting The Othon square, which used to be the old central market and the Square of March 23, that took its name from the day of the liberation of the city from the Turks .In this church there is also the church of Agii Apostoli ,where, according to the tradition, the Revolution was declared and the first liturgy of the liberated Kalamata took place.
Taking a walk from the historical centre to the seaside Navarinou Avenue and the harbor, the visitor could relax and enjoy his free time at one of our modern hotels, restaurants, small bars, cafeterias and Greek traditional taverns, tasting our local and Μediterranean recipes.
Messinia Prefecture
Euripides calls Messinia “Callikarpo” because of its beauty and fertile rich land. Messinia is surrounded by 140 km of coastline, with beautiful beaches, coves, picturesque harbours starting from one side with the Messinian Gulf and reaching the Ionian Sea on the other.
In the mainland, Taygetos, “the legend of Morias” with wild beauty, woods with fir and pine trees, rare plants, peaks, gorges, ravines and picturesque villages.
Archaeological sites
In Messinia one walks side by side with history. In the fertile valleys and hills, embraced in a magical way by nature, ancient monuments, standing priceless and impressive, recounting moments of antiquity.
Ancient Messini
Ancient Messini is one of the most significant ancient cities in terms of its size, structure and state of preservation and still has much to be discovered. Along with the sanctuaries and public buildings it has imposing fortifications, dwellings and burial sites. It has, amongst other things the rare advantage of never having been destroyed or covered by later settlements and sits in an unspoiled inland site in a natural Mediterranean environment. This natural environment combines the mountain grandeur of Delphi and the low riverside serenity of Olympia, the dominating bare limestone mass of Mount Ithome, the ancient acropolis and the low fertile plain spread below the ancient city.
One can easily reach the site by road from Athens along the Corinth – Tripoli – Megalopolis – Kalamata highway or via the Corinth – Patra – Pyrgos – Kyparissia Meligalas highway. From Olympia the site is about an hours drive.
The Ancient Theatre of Messina
The first monument to be seen when descending from the museum to the archaeological site is the theatre. It was used for mass political gatherings. In this theatre the meeting was held between King Philipp V Macedon and Aratos the Sikyonian in 214B.C, the day following the revolt of the Messinian people. According to the testimony of Livius (39.49.6-12), many residents of Messina gathered in the theatre of the city and demanded that the great general of the Achaean League, Philopoimen from Megalopolis captured by the Messenians in 183B.C., be transferred there and exposed in plain view. The auditorium is based on an artificial embankment composed of a strong semi-circular retaining wall.
The fort like impression is emphasized by the arched entrances and ascending stairways. These elements and the fact that the retaining wall of the cavea is visible and accessible from the outside make the Theatre of Messene an exceptional building predictive of the theatres and amphitheatres of the Roman period.
A large part of the western retaining wall of the cavea survives. The wall is interrupted at regular intervals (by about 20 meters), by entrances with pitched arches which led via stairways to the upper corridor; from there, other stairways provided access to the orchestra and also defined the wedge-shaped divisions of seats. The exterior of the retaining wall is built in exactly the same way as the fortification walls and towers of the city.
The Palace of Nestor
The agricultural town of Hora, located 50 km from Kalamata, is known to all visitors as the archaeological area where the Upper Egklianou palaces of King Nestor were discovered (many compare them with Ancient Mycenae and Tiryns). Close by is the tholos tomb attributed to Nestor and his heir Thrasymidi. Findings from the palace and surrounding region that came to light by the excavations (approximately 4000 years of archaeological finds) can be found in the Archaeological Museum of Hora.
Temple of Apollo Epikourios
On the bare rocky slopes of Mount Kotilio stands one of the most important and imposing temples of antiquity, dedicated to Apollo Epikourios (“Apollo the Helper”).. The temple is situated in a prominent position and is on the U.N.E.S.C.O. list of World Cultural Heritage sites along with the Egyptian Pyramids, the Parthenon and other monuments worldwide.
The Stadium and Gymnasium of Ancient Messina
The Stadium and Gymnasium are amongst the most impressive and well preserved buildings on the site. The northern part of the horseshoe-shaped stadium contains 18 stands with 18 rows of seats separated by stairways. Surrounded by Doric stoas, whose columns are standing mostly in place. The northern arcade is double in form, whereas the east and the west are simple in form. The colonnades belong to the Gymnasium which together with the Stadium formed one single architectural ensemble. The western stoa terminated at the end of the track at a length of 110 meters from the northern end. At this point a Doric peristyle court is located which is identified as the palaistra.
Climatic Conditions
Messinia region enjoys an excellent climate, with balmy springs, warm summers, and mild winters, this blissful region is considered as an ideal year round destination.
Moreover, international flights from local “Captain’s Vassilis Konstantakopoulos Airport” start from early March and last till the end of October with destinations from and to UK, Norway, Sweden, Germany, Israel, Holland, Austria, Poland , Slovakia and Russia.
Useful Information
| Capital of Messinia | Kalamata |
| Population of Messinia | 166,000 |
| Population of Kalamata | 60,000 |
| Official Language | Greek. Most Greeks speak English |
| Religion | Most of the local population is Greek Orthodox |
| European Union | Greece has been a member of the EU since 1981 |
| Currency | Euro (€) |
| Telephone code for Greece | +30 |
| Health care | Kalamata Hospital |
| Banks & Post Offices | All Greek Banks have brunches in Kalamata city and neighboring areas. ATMs accept most international bank cards. |
