Tour from Kalamata to Ancient & Modern Messene & the Archadian Gate

Ancient Messene (or Ithomi)
Ithomi was an ancient fort in the region of Messinia in the southwest Peloponnese, on top of the mountain, on the slopes of which is built nowadays the village of Mavromati. The fort Ithomi played an important role during the First Messenian War between Messenia and Sparta, in the late 7th century BC.

Archaeological Site & Museum of Messene
The main sites and monuments that have been revealed are :
The Theatre. Built during the Hellenistic period, was reconstructed during the years of the emperors Augustus and Tiberius in the middle of the second century AD, The Sanctuary of Isis and Sarapis, mentioned by historian Pausanias (4.32.6), The Early Byzantine Bassilica, The Fountain of Arsinoe, The West Side Market, The Sanctuary of Zeus the Saviour, A Sanctuary of a Heroe (probably of Aristomenis), The Stadium and Gymnasium., A small two-story museum in the western outskirts of Mavromati houses nowadays the findings coming from the archaeological site.

The Arcadian Gate
This gate is double with two entrances, which are separated by circular courtyard where they must be placed statues of gods, patrons of the city, within niches. Within this wide square area, enclosed by the walls, were revealed important monuments, architectural specimens of the 4th century B.C., in good condition.
Messene was built on the slopes of the mountain Ithomi by Epaminondas, at approx. 370 BC. The city was fortified using the latest fortification techniques to reject Spartan invasions. The walls had a length of 9 km. and 3 meters thickness enforced by powerful storey towers and battlements. These walls have survived mainly on the left and right on both sides of the Arcadian gate.

Modern Messene
Have a short stop in the modern town of Messene. Messene nowadays is a small town of approximately 11.000 inhabitants.