The Kalamata "Mother Olive Tree"

Peloponnese, in the old 9th Station of Kalamata (85, Lakonikis Str.). According to tradition, during the Turkish occupation, when Ibrahim's raids destroyed all the agricultural production and trees of the area, only this olive tree remained intact. Then, they all started taking their branches and replanting olive trees. In this way, she became the "Mother-Olive Tree" of Kalamata.

The tree, declared a protected monument of nature by the decision of the Ministry of Agriculture, is 14 metres high, and its trunk circumference reaches 9 metres. It is considered the mother plant of the variety "Etonycholia Kalamon", with large leaves and a fruit reminiscent of an almond or a grape. The symbol of the city has stood tall for about 800 years. However, Panagiotis Bazigos' research (Dr. Forester, General Director of the Peloponnese Region), based on the sample of two trypanids, gave the incredible age of 1733 years, approximately. Simply put, the tree must have been planted around the 4th century!

Because it is a tree of significant cultural, historical, and genetic value, UNESCO has decided to support its promotion financially. The site's sign details the olive tree's characteristics, and its age has been determined using the radioactive carbon method. Finally, in 1997, adverse weather conditions destroyed part of the century-old tree, but despite its mutilation, it retains its magnificence and uniqueness.