Historical and Folklore Museum of Kalamata
The Historical and Folklore Museum of Kalamata is housed in a two-storeyed neoclassical building conceded by the Kyriakou family to the Deme of Kalamata, specifically by the academic and Minister of Agriculture of Metaxas’ government, George Kyriakos. Since 1973 the building functions as a museum.
Walking in, the visitor can find exhibits related to the Kyriakou family, a bust of Nikolaos Politis, known as the “father of folklore”, copper engravings dating in the 19th century, as well as old photos of the town.
The ground floor creates a complete picture of the pre-industrial way of living in Messinia. It is divided into thematic unities referring to agricultural life, craftsmanship, weaving and embroidery art, pottery and soap making.
On the first floor, there is a unity dedicated to bookbinding and printing, since the first printing office of liberated Greece was to be found here in Kalamata. There, the Proclamation of the Rebellious Greeks was first printed.
On the same floor, the visitor may find representations of Kalamata’s traditional urban house and café,(“kafenion”). Finally, there is a big room with historic materials of the Greek Revolution, traditional costumes, (Karelias’ room), as well as artifacts of Byzantine Art.