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Kalamata

The castle of Methoni lies at the southernmost end of the west Peloponnesian coast. The site was fortified as early as the 7th century B.C., and in the period between 395 A.D. and 1204 A.D. was used as a Byzantine fortress. The area was dominated by the Franks for a very short period and in 1206 was captured by the Venetians who strengthened the fortification, incorporating the pre-Christian defensive structures. In 1500 Methoni was captured by the Turk Bayazit Pasha, again came under Venetian occupation from 1685 until 1715, and was for a second time dominated by the Turks who kept it under their control until 1829, when it was liberated by the French general Maison, along with other towns of the Peloponnese.

On 14 September 1986, a destructive earthquake struck Kalamata. The museum and most of its exhibits were seriously damaged. The archaeologists, conservators and workmen of the 7th Ephorate mounted a titanic effort to pack and transport the exhibits to the Olympia Museum for safekeeping and conservation.

The restoration of the building lasted five years (1988-1992) and was coupled with a redisplay project, which resulted in the inauguration of the exhibition on the ground floor in 1995. Three years later the second floor was completed. The new display, inaugurated in 2000, aims at allowing visitors to approach the artifacts through comprehensive thematic units, while conveying information about their use and significance. By using ample visual material (maps, photographs, models, reconstructions) visitors gain a better understanding of various aspects of the civilization that flourished in Messenia for centuries.

The 13th century castle above it built by Geoffrey de Villehardouin dominates the town.
On the north side of the citadel there is a small Byzantine church, dedicated to the Virgin of Kalomata (of the good eye), from which the town may have acquired its name.
This is where the Byzantine church of the Virgin Ypapanti and the convent of the Kalograies, where the nuns weave the famous Kalamata silk, are situated there are many churches in town, the oldest being the historic church of Agii Apostoli (13th c.), where the Greek Revolution against the Turks was formally declared on March 23, 1821.
The palace reached the peak of its prosperity in 13th century B.C. In the early years of the 12th century B.C., the palace was destroyed by fire.

In 1939, K. Kourouniotis located the site of the Palace. Professor Carl Blegen of the University of Cincinnati excavated the area. After the declaration of Second World War, the excavations recommenced.

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