Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Kardamyli is on the main Areopoli-Kalamata road. The central square, Plateia 25 Mar-
tiou 1821, lies at the northern end of the main thoroughfare.
Kardamyli's main pebble-and-stone beach is off the road to Kalamata; turn left beyond
the bridge on the northern edge of town. The road up to Old (or Upper) Kardamyli is on
the right before the bridge. The
post office
( 7.30am-2pm Mon-Fri)
is on the main strip.
The useful
www.kardamili-greece.com
website can provide some information.
Getting There & Around
Kardamyli is on the main bus route from Itilo to Kalamata (around €4, one hour, two to
four daily, more in summer). The bus stops at the central square at the northern end of
the main thoroughfare, and at the bookshop at the southern end.
Two weekly buses head to Exohorio (€1.60, runs to changing times); most travellers
prefer to take a taxi (around €18). The helpful folk in
Cafe Plateia
(
27210 73067)
at
the western end of town can tell you schedules.
MESSINIA ΜΕΣΣΗΝΙΑ
The beaches in the southwestern corner of the Peloponnese in Messinia are extremely
pleasant, and while villages such as Koroni have felt the weight of package tourism, the
old Venetian towns of Pylos and Methoni still remain delightful hideaways.
Messinia's boundaries were established in 371 BC following the defeat of Sparta by
the Thebans at the Battle of Leuctra. The defeat ended almost 350 years of Spartan dom-
ination of the Peloponnese - during which time Messinian exiles founded the city of
Messinia in Sicily - and meant the Messinians were left free to develop their kingdom in
the region stretching west from the Taÿgetos Mountains. Their capital was ancient
Messini, about 25km northwest of Kalamata on the slopes of Mt Ithomi.
TOP OF CHAPTER
KalamataΚαλαμάτα
POP 54,100
Kalamata is Messinia's capital and the second-largest city in the Peloponnese. Compared
to its more peaceful surrounds, it is a less-inspiring destination for visitors, but museum
lovers and shoppers will be satisfied. Built on the site of ancient Pharai, the city takes its
modern name from a miracle-working icon of the Virgin Mary known as
kalo mata
(good eye). It was discovered in the stables of the Ottoman aga (governor), who conver-
