Messinia
Capital: Kalamata Main areas are: Kalamata, Koroni, Kyparissia, Kardamili, Methoni, Petalidi, Pylos, Stoupa, Finikounda.
Messinia has a great soft climate with beautiful villages upon Mount Taygetos.
The capital of Messinia, Kalamata , has managed to maintain the enchantment of the old city with the historical centre and the beautiful neoclassical houses. The old city is built over the remains of the ancient town of Farai .
Kalamata, apart from being the capital is also the harbor of the province. There is also an airport there where many tourists have access. The city has hotels, restaurants, bars, cafes and nightclubs.
There are theaters and theatrical groups that perform during the summer season and all sorts of cultural activities. It is one of the most contemporary cities of Greece with wide streets that gather many tourists every year around its beaches.
Ελλάδα
It’s worthwhile visiting the monastery of Kalograies and the churches of Agioi Apostoloi and Ipapanti which was completed in 1879 A.D. The icon of Ipapanti is miraculous and thousands of people visit the church every year on the 2 nd of February. Make a point of taking a look at the castle and the archaeological museum. Be sure to buy samples of famous traditional silk scarves and oil.
The wonderful beaches of Messinia lie in the Ionio and Messiniako bay. You can swim at Elia, Kalo Nero, Kyparissia, Agrilo, Agia Kiriaki, Lagkoubardos, Marathopoli, Xrisi Ammos, Nauarino, Boidokilia, Methoni, Foinikounta, Petalidi, Mpouka, Avia, Kardamili, Stoupa, Agios Nikolaos and Almiros.
Next to the canyon of Biros, is Kardamili Dioskouri and the stony towers of “Old Kardamili”.
10 kms from Kardamili, we meet Stoupa Kazantzakis was inspired to write the “Zorba the Greek “. Stoupa is a seaside village of Messinian Mani, which can be enchanting all year round. In the summertime, the sea and the clean sandy beach are very inviting for the lovers of the water. The attention to quality, the variety of dishes offered at the restaurants, and the “Service with a smile” attitude, are elements that satisfy even the most demanding visitor. When the night comes, the visitors can select a fine restaurant serving traditional delicacies or fresh fish and later a nearby bar for enjoying the nightlife. Stoupa also offers the visitor the possibility to combine both mountain and sea holidays.
With Stoupa as the starting point, one can take a tour of the magnificent Taygetos mountain, enjoy the tranquillity of the natural environment (in the Vasiliki forest) , see the lofty towers of Mani and the picturesque churches, visit the unique villages with the marvellous cobblestone-paved alleys and the great mountain gorges of Viros and Ridomou . For the lovers of the liquid element, the area is ideal for many water sports (swimming, snorkelling, water skiing).
There are organized beaches where one can enjoy swimming and beach entertainment in comfort, while for the lovers of tranquillity, there are beautiful secluded beaches.
During its passage to the modern times, Stoupa has retained its traditional architectural style and the ancestral customs.
Not far from the shore of the river Pamisso, is Messini Delphi with peacefulness of Olympia . Messini is also called Nisi (island), from the times of Frankish Domination in Peloponnese. Since 1997 Petros Themelis has been excavating in the area in order to discover the ancient city while many buildings have surfaced. South is Mpouka , a sandy beach with taverns and cafe’s.
Ancient Messini Aesculapio temple and the temple of Artemi.
Tucked at the foot of its castle, the town of Kyparissia
The phrase of a very important person is characteristic: ‘I met the most beautiful sunset of all my travels’. The picturesque seaside town, “sunk” in the green landscape, is known for its “Upper town” with the traditional houses and the castle built on top of the ancient town. At a small distance from Kiparissia one can visit the monasteries of Ayios Ioannis and Katsimikada. A sandy beach of the bay of Kyparissia is the biotope where the sea turtle careta careta lays its eggs.
Petalidi
Graphical and charming stands the nearby Koroni
Methoni
Pylos
Situated at the cove of the bay, Finikounda
The Chora
Filiatra
One of Greece’s most beautiful mountains is Taygetos. The nature here is very thick and one can find beauties which can be found rarely. Many are the climbers who go up the slopes of the mountain that is situated between the historical cities of Kalamata and Sparta.
By bus: Intercity buses run daily from Athens to Kalamata.By car: In order to go to Messinia by car
From Athens the distance is 284 km
By air: There are daily flights from Eleutherios Venizelos Airport of Athens to Kalamata.By train: There are time-tables from Athens to Kalamata.Coastally: There is ferry boat connection to Piraeus, Kythira and Kissamos of Chania.
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Kalamata Municipality
27210 60700
Piraeus Port Authority
14541, 210 4172675
Kalamata Hospital
27230 63000
Kalamata Bus station
27210 28581
Kalamata Police Station
27210 44654
Athens Bus station
210 5233810
Kalamata Tourist Police
27210 23187
Kalamata Railway Station
27210 95006
Kalamata Traffic Police
27210 44633
Athens Railway Station
210 5131601
Kalamata Airport
27210 63805
Kalamata Radio Taxi
27210 26565
Kalamata Port Authority
27210 22218
Kalamata Municipal Library
27210 96818
