Church of Ypapantis

Kalamata


Kalamata's massive 19th-century cathedral is home to the icon after which the town takes its modern name. Pilgrims visit for its miracle-working icon of the Virgin Mary known as kalo mata (good eye). The icon was discovered in the stables of the Ottoman aga (governor), who converted to Christianity as a result of the miracles it was believed to have performed.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Kalamata attractions

1. Military Museum

0.08 MILES

One for war buffs, this museum's displays depict Greek military history from the Turkish occupation to the Greek Resistance to Nazi occupation and 21st…

2. History & Folklore Museum of Kalamata

0.08 MILES

This quaint eggshell-blue building holds an exquisite collection of donated local artefacts – from tools and looms to household items and clothes – that…

3. Kastro

0.1 MILES

Looming over the town is the 13th-century kastro (fort). Remarkably, it survived the powerful 1986 earthquake that levelled the city. The entry gate is…

4. Museum of Traditional Greek Costumes

0.16 MILES

Opened in 2017, this stunning museum features a remarkable collection of Greek costumes that was donated by Victoria Karelia. Far from moth-eaten old hand…

5. Archaeological Museum of Messenia

0.16 MILES

This partially interactive, child-friendly museum focuses on treasures found in four regions – Kalamata, Pylia, Messini and Trifylia. Exhibits include…

6. Old Town Kardamyli

12.46 MILES

Old Town Kardamyli consists of a fortified settlement with a handsome 18th-century church, plus restored tower, oil press and three-storey building. There…

7. Patrick Leigh Fermor House

13.33 MILES

Larger-than-life Patrick Leigh Fermor (1915–2011), a Hellenophile and marvellously engaging writer, lived just outside Kardamyli for much of his later…

8. Mystras

14.11 MILES

Spread over a steep mountainside and surrounded by verdant olive and orange trees, this former Byzantine capital and fortified city is the single most…

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