ROUTES - «ACTIVE CITY»

Follow ROUTES on exploring the city, starting from the historic castle of Kalamata and its military museum. Then the group will continue its excursion to nature, discovering the remarkable church of Agia Theodora, which houses 17 trees on its roof. In the end, the walk will conclude with a special visit to an organic farm which hosts a seed bank and many goodies.

Part 1: Excursion to the castle of Kalamata

This castle is a fortified structure located on a hill northwest of the city where the river Nedon runs at its foothills. The castle's interior included a fortified citadel, while temple ruins were also found.

Kalamata Castle is a typical example of the network of castles founded by the Franks to consolidate their regional dominance. A walk in its walls will transport you to a historical era.

Part 2: Military Museum of Kalamata

The museum aims to highlight modern Greek history from the Revolution of 1821 to the present day through texts, photographs and audiovisual material. The guided tour of the museum begins with exhibits of uniforms, military and photographic material from the war of 1821. The Macedonian War follows, with similar displays and with particular reference to the Messenian Macedonian fighters. There are also exhibits from the Balkan Wars.

A large part of the exhibition is dedicated to the Asia Minor Catastrophe. Following are tributes to the First and Second World Wars, the battles of the Forts and Crete, the Middle East and the National Resistance. Reference is also made to the peacekeeping missions of the Greek army (Korea, Somalia, former Yugoslavia, Gulf War, Afghanistan).

Finally, an M48-A5 battle tank, an M8 armoured vehicle, guns, and an F-5 aircraft have been placed in the museum's forecourt.

Part 3: Church of Agia Theodora

It is characterised as a miracle of nature as, at the top of this church, there are 17 oak trees whose roots are nowhere to be seen, while from its foundations, the waters of a spring gush.

The building of the small church, which is visited by many believers every year, is from the Byzantine era and, apart from the jurisdiction of the Church, falls under the Ministry of Culture as a Byzantine Monument.

The group will have time to enjoy this extraordinary sight up close and share the stories and scientific explanations that have been given over the years.

*If the majority of the group wishes, the group could have lunch in one of the nearby traditional taverns.

Part 4: Tour of a Multifunctional Farm

The main work of the Farm is to maintain a seed bank of traditional varieties and to create a local network of seed keepers from our area and elsewhere. The bank has already been associated with similar ventures abroad.

Its main subject is education on sustainable farming and nutritional self-sufficiency through various educational programmes and actions to spread the wider daily "cultivation culture".

They have created an innovative eco-school, the "School of Nature", where interested parties of all ages can be holistically trained in natural, traditional and permanent organic cultivation (PERMACULTURE) in the revitalisation and strengthening of ecosystems (REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE) in the study and use of herbs for our health and nutrition, in composting and reducing the environmental footprint through energy self-management techniques, in creative reuse (DIY ARTS AND CRAFTS) but also artistic creation from useless materials (TRASH ART), in-home crafts.

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Part 1: Excursion to the castle of Kalamata

This castle is a fortified structure located on a hill northwest of the city where the river Nedon runs at its foothills. The castle's interior included a fortified citadel, while temple ruins were also found.

Kalamata Castle is a typical example of the castles founded by the Franks to consolidate their dominance in the region. A walk in its walls will transport you to a historical era.

Part 2: Military Museum of Kalamata

The museum aims to highlight modern Greek history from the Revolution of 1821 to the present day through texts, photographs and audiovisual material. The guided tour of the museum begins with exhibits of uniforms, military and photographic material from the war of 1821. The Macedonian War follows, with similar displays and with particular reference to the Messenian Macedonian fighters. There are also exhibits from the Balkan Wars.

A large part of the exhibition is dedicated to the Asia Minor Catastrophe. Following are tributes to the First and Second World Wars, the battles of the Forts and Crete, the Middle East and the National Resistance. Reference is also made to the peacekeeping missions of the Greek army (Korea, Somalia, former Yugoslavia, Gulf War, Afghanistan).

Finally, an M48-A5 battle tank, an M8 armoured vehicle, guns, and an F-5 aircraft have been placed in the museum's forecourt.

Part 3: A beautiful excursion to the traditional village of "Pidima"

The village has many traditional elements, old buildings and picturesque corners. Pidima is a green village of Messenia, and the natural wealth of the area is of unparalleled beauty as the springs of Pidima are located there, whose waters supply a large part of the population of Messenia. The inhabitants of the village are mainly engaged in agriculture.

The Byzantines built the Pidima Castle on the top of a rocky hill. Later it was occupied by the Venetians and then by the Turks. It is visible from the village and beautifies the landscape. The village got its name from the incident when, during the Turkish occupation, to escape from the Turks, the young girls of the area jumped from the sharp rocks and were killed.

Part 4: Guided tour of a Farm with tree houses

A model cultural farm with the uniqueness of nature meeting human inspiration in an area of 5,500 sq.m. with tree houses, organic vegetable gardens, traditional wood ovens, a stone amphitheatre, an event hall and a music stage.

It aims to highlight the agricultural and cultural heritage of the region, offering experiences to young and older audiences.

After the group has toured the treehouses, they will begin the hike towards the traditional Kapetanakis tower. After the walk, there will be a meal at the farm with music while enjoying the view of the Messenian Gulf. Before departure, you may have a coffee or take a last walk around the farm.

*Possibility for cooking lessons or drone lessons for up to 5 people after notification and for an additional fee.

Tips 

To make your visit even more memorable, below you will find some information: 

- Wear comfortable shoes and a hat, since you will spend much time outdoors. 

- Inform the team leaders of any dietary particularities you have (e.g. if you are strictly vegetarian or not, if you are vegetarian but also eat fish or seafood, etc.) 

- Inform the agency about any form of allergy (food allergy, bee allergy, etc.) 

Contact them to request a price for: 

- Large groups of 10-17 people 

- Small, private groups of 7-10 people 

- Over 17 people. 

- For transportation services or to organise your holidays with complete packages that include: accommodation-meals-tour-activities-movement-entertainment. 

*With an overnight stay if you wish and the cruise added in the summer months, the price changes accordingly, as well as on the occasion of tasting premium wines (in addition to the simple ones) or, instead, the tasting of ONLY premium ones. 

The price includes the following: 

- Transportation and the guided tour 

- Tickets 

- All taxes 

Not included in the price: 

- Full meal (only on request and with extra charge) 

- Personal shopping from local stores (optional) 

- Accommodation for one night outside the city 

- Tips (optional) 

- Cruise (extra during the summer months) 

- Extra transfer services upon request and at an extra charge 

- Cooking lessons and Drone lessons

More information: 

- The tour takes place in the mornings, Monday – Saturday, except Sundays and public holidays. 

- Also, there can be a continuation after the organised route with an afternoon walk in the city, dinner in local shops and entertainment. Please inform the agency in time (extra fee). 

- Meeting point and time: outside your accommodation at 8 am. 

- Languages: English and Greek. Other languages can be supported for an additional fee. 

- Family-friendly 

Reservations & payment 

- Reservations: In order to organise your experience in the best way, the reservation and complete payment must be made no later than two days in advance. 

- For last-minute requests, please contact the agency via Viber, email, messenger, and Instagram so they can check availability. 

- When the booking and transaction are complete, the experience is officially confirmed via email. 

- Payments can be made by cash, deposit, or pos. 

Cancellation policy 

ROUTES agency reserves the right to postpone the experience due to bad weather conditions or an extraordinary event. If the excursion is postponed, there is no refund. However, by arrangement, the experience can be carried out on the next available date. 

For cancellations by guests, there is no refund regardless of the cancellation date, but they can choose the next available date. 

Refunds are not supported. 

ROUTES philosophy 

ROUTES aims to provide visitors - travellers with a high-level, personalised, and authentic experience of the place far exceeding their expectations. They aim to offer the experience of agritourism to every generation, nationality, and race, the beauty of nature and the secrets of our local products through organised routes. The history and tradition of our place, the beauty of the landscapes and the unique flavours are images that want to be engraved in every memory. This way you will enjoy fantastic days with the organisers, and at the end, you will say goodbye as friends!