Military Museum

The Military Museum is housed in a building which was provided by the Cathedral of Messinia. Located in the square of Frangolimna, it has been open since 2006 under the responsibility of the Hellenic Army General Staff. The Military Museum presents the history of the Greek Revolution of 1821 until today, through audiovisual and photographic exhibits and texts.

Historical and Folklore Museum of Kalamata
The Historical and Folklore Museum of Kalamata is housed in a neoclassical building of 1870-1890, the former family mansion of Kyriacou family and is located west of the square of Ipapanti. The museum was founded by the local Society for the dissemination of Letters.

The museum includes historical, folklore and folk artifacts from everyday life. Among the exhibits in the museum, you can also find the collection of Karelias with the traditional attire of Kalamata, the representation of a traditional coffee shop and house as well as an exhibition dedicated to bookbinding and typography, since the first printing house of liberated Greece operated in Kalamata. This is also the place where notice of the Greek rebellion given to the European courts was printed.

Benakio Archaeological Museum of Kalamata
The Benakio Archaeological Museum of Kalamata is located southwest of the square of Ipapanti and is housed in a remarkable neoclassical building. The building was donated by Antonios Benakis, founder of the eponymous museum in Athens.

The museum has been operating since 1971 and features exhibits from the Mycenaean era, prehistoric and Roman times, that come from different regions of Messinia.

Municipal Gallery of Kalamata
The Municipal Art Gallery ”A. Tassos” is located southwest of the square of Ipapanti and was founded in 2002. The gallery belongs to the Municipal Department of Cultural Development in Kalamata and is named after the great engraver A. Tassos, who came from Messinia and donated many of his works. Among the exhibits of the gallery, a visitor can find works of Varotsos, Tetsis, Zouni, Katsoulidis, Bostoglou and others. The neoclassical building in which the Art Gallery is housed, is located in the historic center of Kalamata, and lots of exhibitions often take place there.

The beautiful square of Ipapanti is located south of the castle. The square is dominated by the magnificent Cathedral of Presentation of Jesus Christ (Ipapanti), celebrated on February 2nd. The historic main square of 23rd March is full of life as it has many cafés and bars. I

n the center of the square stands the Heroon that commemorates the time of the rebellion while north of the square is the church of the Holy Apostles, in which according to tradition, the Revolution of 1821 was declared. You can see the Mavromichali square where, in the north, stood the Tower of Panagiotis Benakis.

As you walk through the square, you will see the temple of Small Archangels (Taxiarchaki).

The Castle of Kalamata is connected with the historic family of Villehardouins, who founded the principality of Achaia. Over the centuries, the castle has seen many conquerors including the Byzantines, Venetians, Franks, Ottomans, all connected with the history of the town until the 19th century.

Today, the castle of Kalamata, can be seen as an example of the castles built by the Franks in the Peloponnese. Many parts of the castle can be seen, while visitors can enjoy the panoramic views of Kalamata and the surrounding area. In the southern part of the castle, there is a small theater, built in the 1950s that hosts dance, music performances and other events.

The Church of the Presentation of Christ the Redeemer stands on the square and is the Cathedral of Kalamata. The present magnificent church of Ipapanti was founded in 1860 and inaugurated in 1873.

The church has two bell towers and imposing domes while in the southeast of the temple, in the courtyard, there is a stone cross which reminds us that at this point, there was the old church which was destroyed in 1770.

Kept in the Holy Temple of Ipapanti is the sacred image of the Virgin Mary of Ipapanti, found in the ruins of an older church destroyed in 1770. The Cathedral celebrates on February 2nd with particular splendour. Rituals begin on January 27th and end on February 9th with a solemn night vigil.

North of the square of Ipapanti, on the corner of the Alexandraki street with the Square of Villehardouins, you will find the Municipal Conservatory of Kalamata. The Conservatory is housed in a three-storey neoclassical building of the 1860s. In its premises, the first high school of Kalamata and other schools operated.

The Public Library of Kalamata has been open since 2004 and is located in the square of Ipapanti. The library has over 7,400 books covering a wide range of academic and scientific topics.