Welcome
to the New Humanity Centre, Kalamata southern Greece.
Whether
you are camping, mountaineering, back-packing across Greece, fishing
or hill-walking, why not stay here for one night, a few days or a
couple of weeks. We have various levels of accommodation to suit your
pocket and purse. We have a number of cheap small dormitories and
back-packer rooms, space for caravans, a camp site or somewhere just
to put your sleeping bag on a floor. It is an ideal spot from where
to enjoy mountain-climbing, swimming on the lovely beaches and sun-bathing.
The historic city of Kalamata has an ancient castle, ferries to Crete
and is a regional cultural centre for theatre, music and dance. There
are many interesting and important archeological sites to visit in
the region such as the ancient Olympia and Messini, the Palace of
Nestor and the Byzantine Mystra in the forested mountains, also, the
world-famous grotto-caves of Dyros. Click
here for further details. Click here
for details on how to buy organically-grown honey
and double virgin olive oil.
This
truly is a mystical and magical place from which to unwind and forget
all your troubles. The New Humanity Centre also boasts an esoteric
library and the coordinator, Hari
is well versed in many languages so that local knowledge can be given
so that you make the best time of your stay here.
Room
with a view
Special
rates for back-packers and those seeking cheap accommodation
Enjoy
your breakfast 'self-catering'
Contact Hari
for further details
Messinia
An extended shoreline with beaches, picturesque inlets, mountain villages
covered in greenery, a mild climate, tranquil nature, a castle, monasteries,
fertile plains and green-capped hills can be seen almost anywhere
in this part of the Peloponnese.
In the heart of the Messenian gulf lies Kalamata,
capital of Messinia with its port, its neoclassical houses
and long beach. To the east, is Kyparissia. At one end, picturesque
Methone with its impressive castle, while at the other, Korone strongly
brings to mind Cycladic cities. It is a small coastal town which attracts
many visitors’ thanks to its beauty. It is worth a visit. Messinia
is washed by the Messinian Gulf and the Ionian Sea, while, to the
east, it borders with Laconia; and Arcadia and Eleia to the north.
History
Its early inhabitants were the Leleges, of whom the queen was Messeni.
After the Dorian descent to the Peloponnese, Messenia was attacked
by them in 743 B.C., marking the outbreak of the Messenian Wars. After
their defeat by the Spartans, the Messenians left and settled in an
Italian city which they called Messeni. They remained under Spartan
rule up to 371 B.C., while in 146 B.C., Messeni was occupied by the
Romans. As of 395 B.C. began the raids by Goths, Avars and Slavs.
In 1205, it was seized by the Franks. Messenia was among the first
Greek provinces to take part in the War of Independence and was liberated
in 1828.
Kalamata (km238) Built in (he heart of the Messenian Gulf, with a
large coastal front and a long beach, Kalamata, although repeatedly
hit by severe earth tremors, succeeded in regaining its normal pace
of life. It was built near the ancient city of Farai, mentioned by
Homer. It retains the charm of an old, noble
city, through a balanced combination of modern and neoclassical buildings.
In 1209, it was proclaimed seat of a barony and held by the Franks
up to 1381, when it had been taken over by Navarrese and, later, liberated
by the Paleologues. Turkish rule followed, except for an interval
between 1685 and 1715, when it belonged to the Venetians. On March
23, 1821, citizens of Mani led by Petrobeis Mavromichalis seized the
city and proclaimed the National Revolt establishing a free Greek
administration there. The Monastery of Nuns, built in the 18th Century,
is famous for its silk, woven by the nuns themselves. The most noted
churches of the city are Agios Apostolos and the Metropolitan Church
of Ypapandi. The Archaeological Museum of Kalamata is housed at the
Bcnaki Mansion. The Museum of Popular Art is noteworthy for its numerous
relics of the War of Independence of 1821. The old building also houses
the Town Hall, while the library has 60,000 books and a gallery mainly
filled with works by Greek artists. The sea is spotlessly clean, winning
a European Union award. Apart from beaches near the city, one may
swim even in the harbour.
Beaches
The lovely beaches of Messenia stretch to the Ionian Sea and the Messinian
Gulf. On the way to Eleia lie Elia, Kalo Nero, the beach of Kyparissia,
Agrilo, Agia Kyriaki, Langouvardos, Marathopoli (harbour of Gargalianoi),
Chrysi Ammos or Mati and the Bay of Navarino. On the west part of
the peninsula of Karyfasios, is the beautiful beach of Voithokoilia.
At the eastern part of the coast of Methone, there are other beautiful
beaches: Phoinikounda and Korone, Petalidi, and the famous Bouka (also
winner of a E.U. award). From Kalamata to Mani, beach land includes
Avia, Almyros, Akroyali, Kanhamyli, Stoupa and Agios Nicokos. Surroundings
Karthamyli (km. 37). Lying next to the lovely, clean waters of the
Messinian Gulf, near the entrance to the famous ravine of Vyros, beneath
Profius Elias on the tallest crest of Taygeros (alt. 2,704 m.),Kanhamvli
is considered the main village of Exo Mani (Outer Mani), as the local
population call Messinian Mani. In ancient times, it was used as a
harbor by Sparta. Sights include the ancient acropolis, the tomb of
Dioskouroii beneath a medieval castle (12th Century,), the beautiful
Byzantine church of Agios Spyridon (6th Century), and the Mourdzinou
Castle (early 19th Century). At a distance of 300 metres offshore,
is the islet of Meropi with ruins of Venitian walls.
Stoupa. It is one of the most beautiful shorelines of South Eastern
Peloponnese, with a sound hotel infrastructure and nice fish—taverns.
The flow of tourists grows impressively every year. Nicos Kazanrzakis
spent a long time in Stoupa, where he wrote "Nicos Zorbas",
his famous work.
Messene (Km .11). Near the side of Pamissos
River lies the small town of Messeni. Locals also call it Nisi (island),
because the river flows all around it. It owes its name to ancient
Messene (20 km away), lying further north, near Mavromari village.
It was founded at the western foot of Ithome by Epaminondas in 369
B.C., proclaiming it the new capital. There are some impressive ruins
of a wall, 30-storey castles, and four gates leading to a stadium,
a theatre, the local assembly, the Asklepeion, the temple of Artemis
and other buildings. The city was destroyed in 395 A.D. by Alarichus'
Goths. Not so tar from the ancient site of Messeni, at the top of
Mr. Ithone stood the Monastery of Vourkanos (Alt. 1,725 m.), next
to the famous temple of Ithomata Dios (Zeus).
Kyparissia ( km 18). A small, picturesque,
coastal town with plenty of greenery. Epano Poli (Upper Poll) stands
out, together with old Kyparissia, its traditional houses and Byzantine
castle built on (he site of the ancient acropolis. It joined the Achaian
Commonwealth, gaining power under Roman Rule. It was proclaimed seat
of barony when Franks seized it, and later it was taken over by the
House of the Zacharias. It was freed by Thomas Paleologos, and seized
by the Turks in 1460.Only a short distance from Kyparissia are the
Monasteries of Agios loannis (Km. 6) and Katzimikanas (km. 8).
Filiatras (Km 83). A large agricultural
and trading centre. It has two noteworthy churches. Agios Giorgios,
and Evangelistrias. At Gargalianoi, there is a replica of the Eiffel
Tower in reduced form. The Monastery of Agios Christoforos stands
on a rock. Nearby was the seat of an archbishopric since the 11th
century, while the Byzantine church of Metomorphosis to Sotira (Transfiguration
of Christ) survives to this day. Gargalianoi
(km 68). It is a small town, built on top of a small hill with
a beautiful view of the surrounding region and a beautiful church,
Panagia. Chora Trifyuas (km 48). It stands
on a sire covered with greenery, Kefalovryso, with plane-trees and
running waters. You may go for a swim to the beach at Romanos (km
10) or Yalovas (km 14).
One of the most famous
monuments of the Mycenean Age, the palace of
Nestor, is found in the region, at Epano Eglianos (Upper Eglianos).
It was built in the 13th Century B.C. and destroyed by fire. Excavations
led to the discovery of 1,250 little boards of which the originals
are kept at the National Archaeological Museum in Athens. They bear
inscriptions in Linear B script. In 1952, they were deciphered by
Ventris and Chadwick in 1952, also making it possible to read Mycenean
script, thus offering much information on the lire of that era. The
archaeological museum some four kilometres away, is full of interesting
finds.
Pylos (Km 50). An interesting city capping
two hills near the coast of one of the most beautifully bays in Greece,
Navarino, which surrounds the island of Sfaktirias.
Pylos was built in 1829 on the pattern of a plan drawn up by French
officers. It has many traditional buildings wit arcades and, at the
main square, between tall plane trees, stands the Monument of the
Three Admirals who sank a combined Egyptian and Turkish fleet at Navarino
in 1827. At the western part of the city is Niokasiro, built by Turks
in 1573. It ranks among the best preserved monuments in Greece and,
at the same time, the prettiest. The castle encloses the church of
Metamorphosis to Sotira (Transfiguration of Christ). Outside Pylos
there is another castle, Palaiokastro, built bv Franks in 1278, over
ancient ruins. The rocky island of Sfaktiria, at the entrance to the
bay of Navarino, has its own history, both of the remote past and
the present. There are remnants of an ancient fort, and cenotaphs
of warriors who died at the Bade of Sfaktiria. Prince Paul-Marie Bonaparte,
a nephew of Napoleon the Great, died aboard the frigate Hellas, and
was buried there in 1827. Korone (km 52). A coastal city shaped amphitheatrically
with stately, light-coloured houses with blue or red windows, court
yards, flower pots in a variety of colours, and lanes. A large Venetian
fort dating back to the 13th Century stands on the hilltop, to which
Turks added further fortifications in the 16th century. Within the
compound of the fort stands the Old Calendar Monastery of Agios loannis.
Under Venitian Rule, Koronis was the trading, handicraft and maritime
centre of the region.
There are picturesque taverns on the shorefront serving fresh fish
dishes, and ouzeries (ouzo bars) with "psaromezethes" (fish
appetizers) and pastry shops. Methone
(km 61). Beautiful Merhone, today a small coastal town, was a famous
port in ancient times. Venitians built there a fort, considered as
the largest and best preserved of its kind. On the southern wing,
there is an islet, Bouidzi. Not far from Methoni is the church of
Agios Onoufrios, built in a cage, and the Catholic Monastery of St.
Leo. Finikounda (km 68). A most beautiful "psarohori" (fishing
village), among the prettiest in Messinia, with a beautiful, clear
sea and much greenery. In recent years, it has grown into a tourist
resort. The ancient city of Finikounda stood here, and ruins may be
seen at neighboring Anemomylos.
Petalidi (km 26). This lovely coast village, a "psarohori"
in older days, is marked by growing tourist activity attracting many
visitors in the summer. It is believed that it stands on the site
of ancient Koronis. There are two local churches: Agios Nicolaos and
Zoodochou Pigis.
Sports
Windsurfing and sailing. The beaches
and sea in Messenia lend themselves to such sports. Surfing boards
may be hired at the beaches of Kalamata, Kvparissia, Methoni and Finikounda.
Information for sailing may be obtained at the Nautical Club of Kalamata
(Tel: 27210-23680); basket and volley ball at the national stadiums
of Kalamata and Messeni. swimming at the National Pool in Kalamata.
Events
A series of cultural events are held at the municipal cultural centre
in the amphitheatre of Kalamata. The local festival is held on February
2 to mark Ypapandis Day. Messeni holds an all-night panegyri on the
last Sunday of Apokria (Carnival). Another panegyri lasting eight
days is held in September. Methoni's local tradition of celebrating
"To Koutrouli o Gamos"' (Koutroulis' Wedding) is held on
Whit Monday. A series of cultural events are held at Kvprarisia, a
week-long panegvri at Agia Triada beginning on Holy Cross Day. Pylos
events include "Navarinia" in the first fortnight of August,
while the anniversary of the naval battle is held on October 20.
Contact
Hari for further details
