Hello everyone! I am Maria Monastirioti, I am Greek and I welcome you to my beautiful country, Greece! I come from Lefkada and Corfu, two of the most beautiful islands in the Ionian Sea but since 2006 I have been living with my family in Kalamata city in Messinia region in the wonderful mainland of Peloponnese.
I have a Bachelor’s degree in Librarianship and Information Systems and after graduating, I had the chance to work as a librarian in several kinds of libraries where I got very much experienced. But since 2014, I have been working on Mama’s flavours, a Social Cooperative Enterprise specialized in the authentic travel experience and the Greek gastronomy tourism.
Walking tour & lunch in Kalamata
Duration
3 hours
Group size
Up to 10 people
Type
Food tours
Language
English - US, Greek
The Experience
Discover the sights of Kalamata with a local!
If you’re looking for authentic hospitality, fun and relaxation in one of the most beautiful cities of the Peloponnese, this 3-hour walking tour is just for you.
Join us for a wonderful journey through space and time, where legends come to life and become a game, weaving the marvellous history of Kalamata in Messinia region.
Where
You’ll stroll around one of the most beautiful coastal cities of the Peloponnese: Kalamata.
Our journey through time starts from Homer and the heroes of the Iliad. It then continues on to the Byzantine years with the Franks, the Venetians and the Turks, reaching all the way up to the 19th and 20th century, when Kalamata was reborn through the ashes and transformed into the beautiful modern city it is today.
When
The Walking tour experience is available Monday-Sunday all-year round, either in the mornings or in the afternoons. Official holidays are excluded.
Your Itinerary
The Walking tour experience
Put on your walking shoes and enjoy a beautiful stroll through the streets of Kalamata!
Meeting Point
Maria, our passionate food lover and local host, will be waiting for you at the beautiful central square of Kalamata, Vasileos Geogiou Square, (Πλατεία Βασιλέως Γεωργίου) in front of the Statues (Agalmata) of the Messinian war Heroes of 1821.
What you’ll discover
After a warm welcome, you’ll set off on your walking experience and together we’ll discover some of the more interesting sights. You’ll not just find out all about their history, but also about the people of the time, their way of life and funny stories about their day-to-day routine.
Some of the Walking Tour highlights:
- Cultural centre - Nikolaos and Regina Pantazopoulou Neoclassical building
- General State Archives Building
- Church of Agios Nikolaos
- 19th century Classical and Neoclassical Buildings
- Mavromichali Square
- Victoria G. Karelias Collection of Greek Traditional Costumes Museum
- Frangolimna Square
- Old Karelia Tobacco Factory
- Upper Square / Church of Presentation of Jesus (Ypapanti tou Sotiros)
- St. Constantine and Helen Convent
- The area around Kalamata's Frankish Castle
- Archaeological Museum
- Amfeia Square or Paplomatadika (Quilt Makers)
- Byzantine Church of the Holy Apostles
- Othonos Square
- Varvoutsis and Lontos Galleries
The leisurely stroll continues around the small alleys of the city and walk around the sights that interest you.
Half-way through the tour, you might feel a bit peckish, so stopping at a small traditional shop for a few minutes is a must! It’s the ideal way to get to know the rich culinary tradition of this area, tasting one of its local delicacies.
During our walking tour, you’ll have time to do some shopping and at the end you may wish to enjoy a mouthwatering local lunch in one of the cosiest Coffee Shop-Cum-Ouzo taverns in Kalamata.
Why tour with a local
Visiting a new place is always a unique and beautiful experience. You usually visit museums, marvel at monuments and the sights, go shopping around the main streets and maybe watch the people go by.
How would you feel if you were able to discover the old, hidden stories behind everything you see? Or if you found out about true stories of love and betrayal that have become novels?
If you have a local walking next to you, you’ll get to do all that and so much more!
Before we bid our farewells, we’ll give you all the inside tips about where to shop, where to have the most delicious meal and where to have fun in Kalamata. You just need to ask!
Tips
To make your experience even more memorable, here are some tips:
- Wear comfortable clothes and shoes, a hat and sunglasses, as you will spend quite a bit of time outdoors.
- Notify us of any special dietary needs (e.g. vegetarian, vegan, pescatarian, flexitarian, etc.)
- Notify us of any allergies (e.g. food allergies, allergies to bees, etc.)
Inclusions
All taxes
Local delicacies / coffee / bottle of water
Local host throughout the experience
Exclusions
Light or full lunch (upon request)
Personal purchases from local shops (optional)
Tips and gratuities (optional)
Transfer services may be provided upon request and at an extra charge
We emphasize the ''faces behind the places'' and to our local personality, providing experiences located at the source of production, with fewer crowds, less traffic and pollution.
We are specialized in the authentic travel experience and Greek gastronomy tourism.
We design, organize and offer tailor made, personalized, authentic, gastronomic experiences and unique agro tourism activities in the mainland of Peloponnese, Greece in: Messinia, Arcadia, Laconia, Argolida and Korinthia.
Our exciting experiences include: traditional food tours, cooking classes with local chefs and the Greek mums in agrotouristic, eco-friendly farms, exciting olive oil tastings with visits in traditional olive mills and in traditional olive groves, unique wine tastings in local wineries, honey tastings, harvesting of fruits and vegetables from local fields and gardens, tasting of Greek traditional handmade products, visits in distilleries, dairy farms, breweries, visits in small Greek villages and local workshops, Greek mouthwatering lunches and dinners with endless mezedes and more...
Experiences Near By
AUD61 /people
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