The castle was so beautiful and so many areas which were so exciting to see! I have always been interested in castles and this one was one of the best I have seen! It’s old, worn walls bring to life what it was like in the 13th century and it felt as though I had time travelled back to experience the incredible events that occurred there. Just stunning! A must see attraction!

I would not travel to Kalamata just to see this castle. But if you are there, it’s well worth a visit. It is a place for history buffs, an interesting walk through the old town for sightseeing, and a platform for a comprehensive view of the city. The site has dominated the countryside since before the Trojan War. Access is easy. Though not “accessible,” the stairways are well-paved with railings on most sections; and the grounds themselves form a pleasant park. There is a small, contemporary amphitheater which offers occasional concerts. Off season, you can drive and park at the main gate. But the walk is more fun. The entry fee is €2. For history buffs, it was one of the string of Frankish fortresses built along the Messinian coastline in the Barony of Kalamata. Like this one, most are in ruins, with just enough walls and remains to inspire the imagination. Guillaume II de Villehardouin, the most successful lord of the Frankish Principality of Achaea, was born here in 1211. For context, he accompanied Louis IX on the Seventh Crusade. Coin collectors prize the pieces of his reign. The Franks officially held it until 1410. But the full history reflects the constant East-West struggles of the region. It regularly changed hands, went through periods of destruction and rebuilding, and served successive command by Byzantines, Franks, Ottomans and Venetians all the way through the 19th century. Most of what we see today is Venetian construction, signaled by the sculpted frame over the main gate of what was surely once an image of the Lion of St. Mark. For everyone else, the view alone is worth the effort. And the winding streets around the base have just enough houses of quirky charm that you could call this Kalamata’s version of San Francisco’s Telegraph Hill.