Overview
The history of Kalamata begins with Homer, who mentions Pharai, an ancient city built more or less where the castle stands today. It was believed that during ancient times the area that the city presently occupies was covered by the sea, but the proto-Greek and archaic period remains (Poseidon temple) that were unearthed at Akovitika region prove the opposite.
It lies 238 km (148 mi) SW of Athens, about 60 km (37 mi) SE of Kyparissia and GR-9, about 120 km (75 mi) SSE of Pyrgos, about 80 km (50 mi) SW of Tripoli, about 60 km (37 mi) W of Sparta, NW of Areopoli and about 8 km (5.0 mi) E of Messene, it is also 215 km (134 mi) south of Patras and 715 kilometres (444 mi) south of Thessaloniki. The 2011 census recorded 70,130 inhabitants, but it is a busy city and on a regular daily basis there are more than 100,000 people working and circulating in it.
Kalamata is renowned as the land of the Kalamatianos dance and the silk kerchief; of succulent, dark "Kalamata olives"; and of honey-eyed figs and the honey-covered sesame sweet called pasteli. The city can be reached from other Greek cities by bus and train. It has an international airport and an important harbour. Ferries are available to places such as the Greek islands of Kythira and Crete.
The Messenian Gulf where Kalamata is located has various long beaches. The Taygetus mountain range is about 4 km (2.5 mi) east of Kalamata and the GR-82 Kalamata–Sparta highway runs through the range.
Olives and olive oil are important and famous products that are exported from Kalamata.
Kalamata has schools, lyceums, gymnasia, banks, a post office, and squares (plateia). The newly established University of the Peloponnese has a campus in Kalamata, where the history, literature, religion and philosophy departments are located. The Kalamata campus of the university also provides free Greek lessons to expatriate Greeks. The TEI of Kalamata is also located in the city.
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