Tour from Kalamata to the Museum of Olive with Oil Products Tasting & Free Time in Sparta

Museum of Olive and Greek Olive Oil
The Museum of Olive and Greek Olive Oil in Sparta aims to highlight the culture and technology of olives and olive oil, which is directly linked with the Greek and Mediterranean identity. It is unique in its kind in Greece and is located in the heart of Sparta (Laconia), one of the main oil producing areas of the country.
The upper floor showcases the first evidence for the olive in Greece, its contribution to the economy from prehistoric times to the 20th century, its nutritional value, the body care products made by olives (cosmetic, pharmaceutical grade). The section closes with a brief presentation of the position of the olive in art. The journey begins with the earlier findings demonstrating the presence of the olive tree in Greece: rare fossilized olive leaves, 50,000-60,000 years old, found in the caldera of Santorini. The role of the olive oil in the diet is presented in a separate section. A number of other forgotten uses of oil are also revealed (lighting, body care, grooming).
The ground floor of the museum is devoted to the production technology of oil from the antiquity to the early industrial period. In the museum stand post byzantine mechanisms and an animal-powered mill from Lefkada. In addition a wooden olive-press machine which was transferred from the neighboring Xirokampi. Emphasis has been given to the representation of motor mills (water-, steam, diesel and electric) through large, still-working, models. Last but not least, one section of the exhibition is dedicated to soap.
The outdoor exhibition showcases mechanisms of the prehistoric, Hellenistic and Byzantine era.

After your visit of the Museum we are invited to taste a sample of typical snacks coming from local production together with a drink or beverage. What a better way to finish this educating tour! Before you leave the museum don’t loose the chance to visit the indoor museum’s shop where natural, oil-based products are sold.

SPARTA
After your tour in the Museum relax with a half hour stop in modern Sparta and discover first hand how every day life in Greece is all about. Sparta is nowadays a small city of approx. 38.000 inhabitants . Sparta was one of the dominant city-states in ancient Greece, situated on the banks of the River Eurotas in Laconia, in south-eastern tip of Peloponnese. During Classical Antiquity, Sparta was one of the two major cities of Greece together with Athens. Sparta reached the absolute edge after winning the Peloponnesian War on Athens and its allies. The rule did not last long, and after the defeat by Thebians lost its former strength, and, simultaneously with the rise of the kingdom of Macedonia, began to play a secondary role in Greek affairs. Leonidas A '(540 BC - 480 BC) was the king of Sparta. Leonidas took over leadership of the allied Greek army and successfully managed to keep Greeks together and made them forget their differences. When Persian King Xerxes sent his messenger and asked him to hand over their weapons and surrenderer, the Spartan king replied "molon lave', meaning" Come and get them. His military genius became apparent at Thermopylae. Facing thousands of Persian warriors Leonidas with only 300 Spartans and 700 Thespians sacrificed themselves at Thermopylae, after Ephialtes’ betrayal.