Kalamata the cultural hub of Messinia has as you may well have imagined much more to offer other than stunning vistas and delectable olives. The city is steeped in culture and history, providing a variety of museums and galleries for visitors to discover.
Delve into the region’s heritage at the Historical and Folklore Museum and the Archaeological Museum of Messinia. Art aficionados will appreciate a perusal at the Gallery of Contemporary Greek Art and the Municipal Gallery “A. Tassos,” which display works from both distinguished and up-and-coming artists, embodying Kalamata’s dynamic art community.
Historical and Folklore Museum of Kalamata
Established by the local Association for the Dissemination of Letters, the Historical and Folklore Museum of Kalamata aims to preserve and promote artifacts from the 1821 Greek war of independence and the wider region’s modern culture. Since its inception in 1973 at the Kyriakou Mansion, the museum has witnessed a renovation in 2002 following the 1985 earthquake.
The ground floor displays exhibits that encapsulate the pre-industrial lifestyle of Messinia, covering rural and pastoral life, agricultural crafts, weaving, pottery, and urban trades. Moving to the upper floor, visitors are greeted by an impressive printing and binding section, signifying Kalamata’s historical importance as the location of liberated Greece’s first printing house. This floor also showcases a bourgeois house from the early 20th century, a traditional café representation, and the historical 1821 Revolution material. Moreover, the post-Byzantine ecclesiastical art and traditional Kalamata costume are exhibited.
Address: Agiou Ioannou 12 & Kyriakou, 241 00 Phone: +30 27210 28449
Military Museum of Kalamata
Operating since June 2006, the Military Museum of Kalamata, situated in a building granted by the Holy Metropolis of Messinia, presents modern Greek history spanning from the 1821 Revolution to the present. The museum features texts, photographic, and audiovisual material, starting with the 1821 Struggle exhibits, followed by the Macedonian Struggle, and the Balkan Wars, with an emphasis on Messinian Gladiators.
The exhibition continues with a significant focus on the Asia Minor Catastrophe, tributes to the First and Second World Wars, the battles of the Forts and Crete, the Middle East, and the National Resistance. Additionally, the museum highlights Greek army peacekeeping missions in various locations. The “Sound and Light” room showcases a film on the 9th Infantry Regiment’s historical journey. The museum also features an outdoor exhibition of an M48-A5 tank, an M8 armored vehicle, firearms, and an F-5 aircraft.
Address: Mitropolitou Meletiou 10, 241 00 Phone: +30 27210 21219
Archaelogical Museum of Messinia
Situated in Kalamata’s Historical Centre, the Archaeological Museum of Messinia occupies the space where the city’s bustling Municipal Market once stood. The building, which replaced the original market destroyed by the 1986 earthquake, was granted by the Municipality of Kalamata to the Ministry of Culture.
The exhibition’s aim is to provide a comprehensive understanding of Messinia’s cultural evolution from prehistoric times to the Byzantine era. Divided into four geographical units—Kalamata, Messina, Pylia, and Trifyllia—the exhibits showcase important archaeological sites and artifacts discovered through excavations, surface research, or accidental findings by citizens. A central “road” resembling the flow of the river Pamisos connects the four sections, while ten thematic sections use visual material to interpret the historical significance of various events and regions.
Address: Benaki & Agios Ioannis, Kalamata, 241 00 Phone: +30 27210 83485, +30 27210 26209 Website: www.archmusmes.culture.gr
Collection of Greek costumes ” Victoria G. Karelia”
Originally a personal collection of V. Karelia, founding member and long-time President of the Lyceum of Greek Women of Kalamata, the “Victoria G. Karelia” Collection of Greek Costumes was donated to the Lyceum Club of Greek Women for the preservation and promotion of Greek tradition. In recognition of her efforts, the collection now bears her name.
Showcasing complete costume sets, gold-plated cloaks, and exquisite samples of Terzides art from all regions of Greece, the collection also features an important selection of jewelry. The ground floor highlights the segouni costumes, representing mainland Greece’s rural traditional clothes. The first floor displays nomadic and semi-nomadic group populations alongside commercial and craft communities’ costumes, while the second floor exhibits the dress-tsoukna and Renaissance versions of coastal and island regions’ costumes.
Address: Stadiou 64, 241 00 Phone: +30 27210 86923 Website: www.vgkareliascollection.com
Galleries
Gallery of Contemporary Greek Art
The Gallery of Contemporary Greek Art in Kalamata boasts over 500 artworks, including paintings, drawings, engravings, sculptures, and constructions. Founded in 1962, it represents various artistic currents in contemporary international art, from the Munich School to interdisciplinary figurative painting. The collection showcases the influence of Western art on Greek artists and the pursuit of “Greekness” in their creations.
Address: Aristomenous 33, 241 00 Phone: +30 2721 087902 Website: www.facebook.com/people
Municipal Gallery of Kalamata “A. Tassos”
Housed in a renovated neoclassical building, the Municipal Gallery of Kalamata “A. Tassos” features a diverse collection of over 350 works, including paintings, sculptures, ceramics, and engravings. With a focus on artistic events from the 1980s, the gallery hosts temporary exhibitions covering various forms of artistic expression, both classical and avant-garde.
Address: Papazoglou 5, 241 00 Phone: +30 27213 60611 Website: www.facebook.com/profile
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