Kalamata Attractions

Kalamáta, lying to the west of Mt Taygetos, is chief town of the nomos of Messenia and a port for the shipment of the agricultural produce of the region. It occupies the site of Mycenaean Pharai, a town in the kingdom ruled by Menelaos. In 720 B.C., together with the rest of Messenia, it fell into Spartan hands. From 1204, under its present name, it became the residence, along with Andravída, of the Villehardouins. After periods of Byzantine, Turkish and Venetian rule it was sacked by Ibrahim Pasha in 1825. It still bears the marks of the damage caused by a severe earthquake in 1986.

Benakeio (Benakaeion, Benakeion Archeological Museum)

The Benakeion Archeological Museum houses artifacts from the Bronze Age to the Roman period. The museum is in a Venetian-style mansion which was damaged in a 1986 earthquake, but was restored between 1988-92.

Address

Benakeio / Benakaeion / Benakeion Archeological Museum
6 Papazoglou Street
24100 Kalamáta
Greece

Hours

	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
Open	Closed	8:30	8:30	8:30	8:30	8:30	8:30
Close		15:00	15:00	15:00	15:00	15:00	15:00

Always closed on:

New Year's Day (January 1)
May Day / Labor Day (May 1)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Day after Christmas, St Stephen's Day, Boxing Day (December 26)
Easter - Christian (Apr 08)

Tips

Admission is free on Sundays between November and March.

Kalamáta Folk Art Museum

The Kalamáta Folk Art Museum has a good number of exhibits, ranging from Stone Age weapons to mirrors and coins from Venetian times. The most impressive part of the museum, however, is that which houses mementos and relics from the Greek War of Independence.

Address

Kalamáta Folk Art Museum
Kalamáta
Greece

Railway Museum

Located in the southern end of the Municipal Park of the Railways in Kalamáta, are the railway exhibits. Visitors can see the railway station, platform, water-tower, fountains for steam engines, as well as rolling stock.

Address

Kalamáta Railway Museum
24100 Kalamáta
Greece