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Relaxed Kalamata

8 days from $5,360

Departing: May 2027 - May 2027

Exploring the southern Peloponnese.

Tucked into the southwestern folds of the Peloponnese, the region of Messenia rewards those who seek it out with a richness of history that few parts of Greece can match. With relaxed pacing and time to soak up the rhythms of modern Greek life, this tour offers a richly layered introduction to a lesser-visited corner of the Peloponnese. Combining archaeological insight, literary connections and striking coastal landscapes, it promises an immersive and deeply rewarding experience for travellers eager to explore Greece beyond the familiar.

Included

Explore Methoni Castle & the Mycenaean Palace of Nestor, with entrance fees included
All other visits as outlined in the itinerary
Expert Guide Lecturer & professional Tour Manager
7 nights in Kalamata
7 breakfasts, 5 lunches & 7 dinners
Wine & tea or coffee with dinner
Private air-conditioned coach travel
Field notes, taxes & gratuities for local staff

Highlights

Admire the splendid Mycenaean Palace belonging to Nestor, the wise King described by Homer
Explore Messene, one of the most complete and legible Hellenistic cities anywhere in the Greek world
Discover the untamed, rugged landscape and fierce, independent history of the Mani
Visit the magnificent Venetian sea fortress at Methoni and a key piece in Venice's network of maritime fortifications

Dr Rita Roussos

A native Athenian, taught Archaeology and Art History at the American University of Athens. She has worked on Archaeological projects in Isthmia, Kato, Lossous and Mantinea. Her research interests range from the place of Women in Ancient Greece and Rome to 4th Century Sculpture from Greece.

Tour Itinerary

Arrive into Kalamata and meet your expert Guide Lecturer and fellow travellers at your hotel.

Meals: Dinner

Day 1 Relaxed Kalamata

This morning, we visit Messenia Archaeological Museum, which provides an indispensable introduction to the region's extraordinarily rich archaeological record. Particular attention is given to finds from the Palace of Nestor and from the excavations at ancient Messene, including sculpture, painted pottery, bronze work and inscriptions that illuminate the daily life, religious practice and artistic achievement of the region's ancient inhabitants. Later, we make the short ascent to Kalamata Castle, the Byzantine and Frankish fortification that occupies a commanding position on the hill above the modern city. The remainder of the afternoon is at leisure, offering an opportunity to explore Kalamata's lively Old Town, its covered market and the celebrated olive oil and Kalamata olive producers for which the region is renowned.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 2 Relaxed Kalamata

This morning, we drive south along the coast of the Messenian Gulf to Kardamyli, one of the principal settlements of the Exo Mani and a place of considerable historical and literary significance. The drive itself is rewarding, offering successive views of the Taygetos range descending to the sea and an introduction to the austere, limestone landscape that characterises the Mani peninsula.

Here we discover the house of Patrick Leigh Fermor and his wife Joan, built on a rocky promontory above a secluded bay to the south of the village. Leigh Fermor, scholar, polyglot, wartime intelligence officer and writer chose Kardamyli as his permanent home following decades of travel throughout Europe and the Mediterranean. Next, we make our way to the Mourtzinos Tower, one of the finest surviving examples of the Maniot tower house tradition. We enjoy lunch at a local taverna before returning to Kalamata in the late afternoon.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3 Relaxed Kalamata

We drive to ancient Messene this morning, where we spend the majority of our day. Founded by Epaminondas in 369 BCE following liberation from Spartan domination, this beautiful site represents one of the most ambitious and best-preserved examples of planned urban development in the ancient Greek world. The remains visible today include substantial sections of the city's defensive circuit among the most impressive Hellenistic fortifications surviving anywhere in Greece, extending over five miles and incorporating square and circular towers, monumental gateways and a sophisticated system of posterns and sally ports. We also visit the excellent on-site Messene Museum, whose collections of sculpture, architectural fragments, inscriptions and small finds recovered from the excavations provide essential context for the monuments visible across the site.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4 Relaxed Kalamata

Today is entirely at your own disposal, offering an opportunity to revisit sites seen earlier in the tour, explore aspects of Kalamata and its surroundings independently or simply to rest and reflect.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 5 Relaxed Kalamata

This morning, we drive west to visit the Palace of Nestor, the best-preserved Mycenaean palace on the Greek mainland and one of the most significant Bronze Age sites in the Aegean world. The physical remains of the palace, now protected beneath a modern roof, include the great throne room with its central hearth and traces of painted plaster. In the afternoon, we drive to the coastal town of Methoni to visit its magnificent Venetian fortress and a key piece in Venice's network of maritime fortifications, protecting the trade routes to the Levant. The castle, which occupies a rocky promontory connected to the mainland by a massive land wall and ditch, preserves substantial remains of its Venetian, Ottoman and earlier medieval phases, including towers, artillery bastions, a sea gate and the distinctive octagonal Bourtzi tower that projects into the sea.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6 Relaxed Kalamata

Today we make the journey across the Taygetos massif and visit the late Byzantine city of Mystras. The ruins of this Byzantine town have some of the finest examples of 14th and 15th-century AD architecture in Greece. Churches, monasteries and houses line the winding streets, and the summit is topped by an impregnable fortress. After lunch, we continue south to nearby Sparta, situated within the expansive, fertile Eurotas valley. Its decentralised layout stands in stark contrast to other Greek poleis of the time and the city’s austere culture, which differed markedly from Athens’ grand architectural ambitions, resulted in relatively modest construction projects. Most of the archaeological ruins visible today date to the Roman era and include the ancient theatre, the partially preserved sanctuary of Artemis Orthia and the site alleged to be the tomb of Spartan King Leonidas.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7 Relaxed Kalamata

Depart for the airport or continue your trip at leisure.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 8 Relaxed Kalamata

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Availability & Booking

2027

25th May from $5,360

from $5,360

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