Kalamata, Greece

Savor “Olive” Your Time in Kalamata on Our Greece Cruises

Mention the word “Kalamata” and visions of large, plump olives start Greek dancing around your head. But when we’re talking Kalamata, the capital city of Messenia in the Greek Isles, there are even more tasty treats to sink your teeth into.

It’s a veritable buffet of beauty, with numerous historic sites—like the Castle of Kalamata, Ypapanti Square, Old Town, and the Square of March 23, which commemorates the city’s liberation from the Turks in 1821—and attractions like the Archaeological Museum and Monastery Kalograion. That’s not to forget such spectacular beaches as Kalamata, Bouka, and Almyros, all of which have been awarded a Blue Flag for meeting stringent environmental standards.

If you’ve worked up an appetite swimming, snorkeling, or simply basking in the sun, enjoy a honey-and-sesame snack of pasteli (which dates back over 6,000 years). For heartier fare, head to one of the seaside tavernas for gournopoula (slow-roasted pig), renowned regional cheeses like kserosfeli, sfela, and talagani, and such local wines as Arcadia, Argolida, and Moschofilero.

It may be all Greek to you now, but trust us when we say that our Azamara^® cruises to Greece will be good for your health...and your heart.