Mayor of Kalamata invites visitors to Greek city in interview with TNH

Α Decrease font Enlarge font
Mayor of Kalamata invites visitors to Greek city in interview with TNHKalamata is a modern city with a very long history

Mayor of Kalamata welcomes visitors to Greek city in an interview with The New Herald which notes that Kalamata is a modern city with a very long history.

Homer says that Pharae – Kalamata’s ancient name – was one of the seven cities Agamemnon offered to Achilles to assuage his anger during the siege of Troy.

The first reference to the town under its current name appears during the 10th century AD, in the Byzantine era, and Kalamata’s importance grew after the Fourth Crusade (1204 AD) and the Latin conquest of much of the Peloponnese. After the Franks controlled the town, the Turks occupied Kalamata in 1459. In subsequent years the Venetians and the Turks alternated in ruling the city, with the Turks conquering it in 1715 and holding it until the Greek War of Independence.

Kalamata’s proud mayor, Athanasios P. Vasilopoulos, told The National Herald that Kalamata was the first town to be liberated during the War of Independence against the Turkish Occupation, and called it the most important fact in Kalamata’s history.

“On March 23, 1821, after forcing the Turks to surrender, the Greek forces met in Aghi Apostoli (Holy Apostles) church (built around the 12th century), where priests blessed the revolutionary flags, and the first revolutionary government of liberated Greece, the Messinian Senate, sent the text titled, ‘Warning to European Royal Courts from Kalamata,’ explaining the purposes of the uprising. In a second document, the ‘Proclamation to the American Nation,’ the Messinian Senate called for the assistance of the Americans. Both documents were broadly inspired by the values of the Enlightenment, which reflected Ancient Greek values,” he said.

Asked about the city he now governs, Mayor Vasilopoulos said, “today, Kalamata is a city with a well-designed city plan and infrastructure, fine old buildings, and effective waste and sewage management. It is an attractive city for someone to live in or visit. The Natural environment is beautiful and the sea is crystal clear. Kalamata is also a service industry center and is becoming the center of the economic activity of the southern Peloponnese. The agricultural sector is strong and tourism is growing dynamically.”

The word ‘Kalamata’ is perhaps most familiar due to its renowned olives. “Kalamata has lent its name to a variety of table olives (a Protected Designation of Origin product according to European Union standards), which possess a high content of oleuropein, a substance that contributes significantly to maintaining good health. Kalamata PDO extra virgin olive oil has a well-balanced sensory profile. Extra virgin olive oil is not just tasty. It is noted that the United States FDA and the European Union both accept extra virgin olive oil’s significance as a cardiovascular protective factor. One can find those products easily in the United States. Choosing them for one’s nutrition is a healthy investment.”

Asked if gastronomy is one of the strong points of Kalamata, the mayor replied, “this is absolutely correct. The Kalamata-based diet is in fact a Mediterranean-style diet. Our visitors can find out more in our traditional tavernas and fancy restaurants.

I have to point that the diet is just a ‘pretext’ for acquiring necessary ingredients of food for a long and healthy life, and I note that recent scientific research has proved that our extra virgin olive oil is particularly rich in oleacin and oleocanthal, which belong to the greater family of polyphenols. Oleacin is an anti-inflammatory and neuro-protective chemical substance and oleocanthal is the most powerful anti-oxidant substance in olive oil. Scientists now say what our fathers and mothers have known for centuries: extra virgin olive oil is, truly, a medicine, not just a food. And it has also a great taste and aroma.”

In addition to Kalamata’s delicious food, Vasilopoulos stressed two points for potential visitors.

“Kalamata is a beautiful and safe city. Its climate is mild and one can swim for 10 months a year in its crystal clear sea. Guests can walk on a single 5 km pedestrian walkway from the castle to the beach. Also, within half an hour, people can enjoy beautiful Mount Taygetos, with an altitude of 1,400 meters. They have the opportunity to walk around the Historic Centre, but also to stroll through the city squares, visit its churches and historic monasteries, as well as its museums, to which the brilliant Museum of Traditional Greek Costumes has recently been added. It was established by the Lyceum Club of Greek Women in a building provided by the Municipality of Kalamata and it is comparable to the best in the world.”

Nightlife is another vibrant aspect of Kalamata and its suburbs. Bars and cozy little tavernas are open in the Historic Center during the winter months, while during the summer nightlife shifts towards the clubs and the beach bars located by the sea.

“The nightclubs of neighboring Verga, with their incredible sea and city views, are ideal places for a special evening out,” Vasilopoulos said.

“Kalamata is also a city of culture. The Municipality of Kalamata organizes major cultural events: each year, the International Dance Festival is dedicated to modern dance, and every two years the Kalamata International Choir Competition and Festival is organized in cooperation with Interkultur. Various cultural events are also held very often throughout the year. Visitors can also stay in Kalamata and take excursions to ancient sites like Messini, Pylos, and the great sites of Mycenaean civilization located nearby. Koroni and Methoni, with their medieval castles, are beloved sites, and there is the always unconquerable Mani region with its towers and fascinating Byzantine site of Mystras.”

The mayor reiterated that “Kalamata is the economic, commercial and cultural center of southern the Peloponnese,” and he concluded with a heartfelt invitation: A visit to Kalamata will satisfy even the most demanding visitor. It can be the experience of a lifetime.”

Read the full article at thenationalherald.com

RELATED TOPICS: GreeceGreek tourism newsTourism in GreeceGreek islandsHotels in GreeceTravel to GreeceGreek destinationsGreek travel marketGreek tourism statisticsGreek tourism report

Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons License: CC-BY-SA Copyright: Pfloros

Tornos
  1. 16/03 13:01

    Greek Deputy Foreign Μinister meets her Slovenian counterpart in Athens

  2. 16/03 12:56

    Greek-Canadian Diaspora to welcome Greek Prime Minister to Toronto

  3. 16/03 11:28

    Greek Migration Minister visits refugee hosting facilities in Kavala, Drama and Serres

  4. 15/03 21:50

    Greek Minister announces conference on defence ecosystem in Athens from Lithuania

  5. 15/03 13:45

    PM: More than 80 hospitals and 156 health centres being upgraded in Greece

  6. 15/03 12:55

    Piraeus Port and Genoa Chambers of Commerce ink memorandum of cooperation

  7. 14/03 23:43

    President of Hellenic Republic meets Prime Minister of Slovakia in Bratislava

  8. 14/03 22:58

    American Express report highlights Global Travel Trends during 2024

  9. 14/03 22:52

    Four hospitals in Attica Region already organizing afternoon surgical procedures

  10. 14/03 22:49

    US Ambassador to Athens: More flights from the United States to Greece and Thessaloniki

  11. 14/03 22:43

    Greek archaeologists discover ten ancient shipwrecks off Aegean island of Kasos

  12. 14/03 19:32

    No new intubations for Covid-19 recorded in Greece for the first time

  13. 14/03 18:36

    Extra road safety measures adopted for Greek pre-lent carnival and Clean Monday

  14. 14/03 14:48

    HRADF eyes bidders for Lavrio Port majority share

  15. 14/03 12:54

    Electric buses to be deployed on the streets of Athens and Thessaloniki by May

  16. 13/03 22:23

    Chairman: 2023 was an exceptional one for AEGEAN Airlines

  17. 13/03 20:11

    Prices of basic lenten products either lower or equal to last year's in Greece

  18. 13/03 19:15

    US Ambassador to Athens: Greece secures NATO readiness via Alexandroupolis

  19. 13/03 17:19

    Greece shines at 1st European Cruise Exhibition

  20. 13/03 12:26

    Greece shows new costumes for revamped Olympic Flame-lighting ceremony

  21. 12/03 22:46

    Epirotes Society of Philadelphia ‘Omonia’ organized 16th Annual ‘Tsipourovradia’

  22. 12/03 21:38

    The President of the Hellenic Republic to visit Slovakia on March 13-15

  23. 12/03 20:29

    First afternoon surgeries in Greece kick off at Papageorgiou Hospital in Thessaloniki

  24. 11/03 23:58

    Greek Foreign Minister: We stand behind Montenegro's European perspective

  25. 11/03 23:47

    Visa Express for Turkish citizens to commence on five Greek islands in March

  26. 11/03 19:40

    Amadeus acquires travel payments expert Voxel

  27. 11/03 18:49

    Microsoft Data Center construction kicks off in Spata next to Athens Airport

  28. 11/03 17:53

    Dodecanese Federation marked 76th Anniversary of Unification with Greece

  29. 09/03 22:23

    The future of travel planning is multimodal and interactive

  30. 08/03 14:27

    Prime Minister: Radical change in Greek education and a brave reform for growth

  31. 08/03 14:24

    Traffic restrictions expected in Athens mid-morning to evening on Friday due to protests

  32. 08/03 14:24

    Applications to out-of-court settlement more than doubled in Greece in February

  33. 08/03 13:18

    Metro station 'Maniatika' near Piraeus Port to be closed on Saturday and Sunday

  34. 07/03 14:12

    Athens wins World Travel Award 2024 as the top city-break destination in Europe

  35. 06/03 22:51

    WTTC data show Greece and Portugal lead league for growth in tourist arrivals

  36. 06/03 20:28

    Greek Tourism Minister at ITB: 2024 will be another excellent year for sector

  37. 06/03 19:47

    Greek Foreign Minister to meet UAE Minister of Industry and Technology on Friday

  38. 06/03 18:43

    European Union actions of 274m euros to support cultural heritage in Greece

  39. 06/03 16:37

    'Odontotos' rack railway temporarily stopped until landslides issue is resolved

  40. 06/03 14:40

    Minister: Bringing about the return of Greeks abroad 'a moral duty'

  41. 05/03 14:28

    Archdiocese of America Eparchial Synod to meet on March 14-17 in Florida

  42. 05/03 14:21

    The 'Lent Basket' to be launched in Greece on March 13

  43. 05/03 14:11

    ITB BERLIN 2024 opens with excellent bookings after global rise in travel in 2023

  44. 05/03 12:24

    Greek PM at Athens supermarket: Consumers 'can already see lower prices on the shelf'

  45. 04/03 22:02

    Greek Health Minister: Afternoon surgeries at state hospitals to begin shortly

  46. 04/03 21:47

    Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Whitestone Community marks 49th Anniversary

  47. 04/03 20:27

    Labor chief: Greece to train 500,000 workers in digital, green skills by 2025

  48. 04/03 19:44

    Foreign Ministry to organize event on 'Women, Peace, and Security' on Friday

  49. 04/03 15:12

    Athens Riviera | The summer experience with Athens as a background

  50. 29/02 22:54

    Consumers to see price cuts up to 18.1% in 3,000 Greek supermarket products as of Friday

  51. 29/02 21:44

    Greece and Germany set up Working Group on shipping cooperation

  52. 29/02 21:30

    Wyndham Rewards’ Member Month offers 5 weeks of deals, discounts, and bonus points

  53. 29/02 21:03

    Temple of Poseidon at Sounion near Athens to get new lighting system

  54. 29/02 21:02

    Greek Tourism Minister meets with Ambassador of Qatar

  55. 29/02 20:47

    Greece is represented by 60 firms at GULFOOD 2024 exhibition

  56. 29/02 19:58

    Greek government gives 1+1 month extension for cash register-integrated POS terminals

  57. 29/02 19:49

    Archangel Michael Church Dance Program shines at Folk Dance Festival in SF

  58. 29/02 15:39

    'Renovate-rent' programme to be launched, Minister tells Greek Parliament

  59. 29/02 12:39

    Rio-Antirrio ferry line in central Greece closed due to strong winds

  60. 28/02 21:34

    Weather with heavy rain and storms in Greece as of Sunday night

  61. 28/02 17:31

    CEO: The goal is for PPC to become a leading player in Southeast Europe

  62. 28/02 17:04

    New Wyndham Hotels Market Managing Director of Central and Eastern Europe

  63. 28/02 12:21

    Minister: Transactions with the Greek State will be further simplified in 2024

  64. 28/02 11:57

    24-hour strikes halt trains and ferries in Greece

  65. 27/02 17:25

    UN Tourism hails Saudi Arabia's historic milestone of 100 million tourists

  66. 27/02 15:00

    Greek Prime Minister: Relations with Armenia can become even more productive

  67. 27/02 14:26

    Wyndham: New growth cycle in Greece for the largest hotel chain franchise in the world

  68. 27/02 13:15

    Price cuts of up to 15% in important product categories in Greece after March 1

  69. 27/02 12:46

    Athens taxi drivers' protest rally in progress from Athinon avenue to Messogion

  70. 26/02 18:30

    Annual Summit of Women Political Leaders (WPL) to be held in Athens in April

  71. 26/02 18:27

    Culture Ministry: Schwartz Mansion in Ampelakia near Larisa to get new lighting

  72. 26/02 17:25

    Greek president organizes reception for diplomats at Presidential Mansion

  73. 26/02 16:33

    Trapped rack-railway passengers returned safely to Diakopto in Peloponnese

  74. 26/02 16:21

    Public transport, ferry and taxi strikes in Athens on Wednesday

  75. 25/02 12:30

    Greek island of Ikaria among the Blue Zones for Health Eating and Longevity

  76. 24/02 20:39

    Greek PM meets Qatar Emir: Focus on bilateral cooperation and investments

  77. 24/02 18:25

    Prescription cannabis for medicinal use legally available in Greece for the first time

  78. 24/02 17:19

    MInister: The aim is to make fishing and fish-farming a key pillar of the economy

  79. 23/02 23:36

    Greek Prime Minister arrives in Doha to be received by Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi

  80. 23/02 23:26

    The Festival of Greek Dances takes place in the Metropolis of San Francisco

  81. 23/02 21:32

    Revealing "70 Years of Friendship: Greece's photo journey through the Korean War"

  82. 23/02 17:15

    16 Greek firms showcase at international fashion exhibitions in London

  83. 23/02 14:09

    Flights to and from Heraklion airport in Crete resume on Saturday

  84. 22/02 18:15

    Bill for non-state, non-profit universities being tabled in Greek Parliament on Thursday

  85. 22/02 18:13

    Temporary residence for displaced Ukrainians extended in Greece to March 2025

  86. 22/02 18:10

    American Hellenic Institute Golden Jubilee celebration Includes concert on April 12

  87. 22/02 18:09

    Tourism Minister stresses importance of strong relationship of Greece with Serbia

  88. 22/02 17:58

    Education protest rally ends and traffic resumes in Athens city center

  89. 21/02 19:47

    Twistic and WeavAIR startups clinch the UN Tourism Hospitality Challenge

  90. 21/02 18:34

    Greece's key aim is enhancing relations with India

  91. 21/02 18:13

    Traffic in Athens returning to normal after tractors depart from the Greek capital

  92. 21/02 13:01

    Greek Tourism Minister in Belgrade for International Exhibition

  93. 21/02 00:55

    Resilience through diversity and investments the aim of UN Tourism visit to Jamaica

  94. 20/02 23:38

    Rally concludes with farmer tractors leaving Athens on Wednesday morning

  95. 20/02 20:43

    Greek Prime Minister on official visit to India as of Wednesday

  96. 20/02 16:51

    Minister: Greece wants to become India's gateway to the European Union

  97. 19/02 21:19

    DEFEA Conference to be held at Stavros Niarchos Foundation in Athens on May 15

  98. 19/02 19:06

    Traffic restrictions for farmers' rally in central Athens on Tuesday

  99. 19/02 18:11

    Greece wins top tourist destination award at Grand Travel Awards in Sweden

  100. 19/02 14:23

    Health Minister: Option of afternoon surgeries at public hospitals start in Greece