In times long past, ancient Pharai – mentioned as early as the Homeric age – stood on the spot where Kalamata is situated today. Kalamata is now the most important port city of South Messenia and has made a name for itself worldwide with its excellent olives. Regrettably, many consider the city, the second-largest on the Peloponnese peninsula, merely a point to pass through, which hardly does it justice. The quirky, lively city has much to offer. Any city tour of Kalamata will begin at the 13th-century castle erected by the crusader William II of Villehardouin. It was expanded by the Venetians and the Turks and today is a landmark of the city.
