Kalamata Museums

Kalamata has an archaeological and a folklore museum, a fine arts museum, and a library containing 60,000 volumes.

 

The Benakeion Archaeological Museum is situated at the heart of the historical center of Kalamata.  This remarkable Venetian-style mansion, at the corner of Benaki and Papazoglou Streets, accommodates a rich collection of archaeological treasures from various sites in Messinia, which span the time from the Bronze Age to the Roman period.  The museum owes its name to Antonios Benakis, founder of the Benaki Museum in Athens.  Following his wish, his heirs donated the building to the Greek Archaeological Service in 1962.

 

Built in 1742 during the Turkish occupation, it was closely associated with important historical events of that period.  In 1971 it was opened as a museum.  The old exhibition included finds from small-scale excavations undertaken by the 7th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities, but artifacts from the major excavations at Malthi and Nichoria formed its nucleus.  The mezzanine floor housed Byzantine antiquities and other historical relics from Kalamata.