Name	Kalamata
Name local	Καλαμάτα
Caption skyline	Kalamata's promenade.
Lat deg	37
Lat min	2
Lon deg	22
Lon min	7
Elevation min	0
Elevation max	21
Periph	Peloponnese
Periphunit	Messenia
Pop municipality	67127
Area municipality	442.7
Pop municunit	57620
Area municunit	253.2
Pop community	49550
Population as of	2001
Postal code	241 00
Area code	27210
Licence	KM
Website	www.kalamata.gr }}

Kalamata ( ''Kalamáta'', formerly Καλάμαι ''Kalámai'') is the second-largest city of the Peloponnese in southern Greece. The capital and chief port of the Messenia prefecture, it lies along the Nedon River at the head of the Messenian Gulf. Located near the ancient city of Pharai mentioned by Homer, it lies SW of Athens, about SE of Kyparissia and GR-9, about SSE of Pyrgos, about SW of Tripoli, about W of Sparta, NW of Areopoli and about E of Messene, it is also south of Patras and 715 [old: 750] kilometres (444 mi) south of Thessaloniki. The 2001 census recorded 57,620 inhabitants, but it is a busy city and on a regular daily basis there are more than 85,000 people working and circulating in it.

Kalamata is renowned as the land of the Kalamatianos dance and the silk kerchief; of succulent dark olives, honey-eyed figs and the honey-covered sesame sweet called pasteli. The city can be reached from other Greek cities by bus and train. Furthermore, the city has an international airport and an important harbour. Ferries are available to places such as the Greek islands of Kythira, and Crete .

The Messenian Gulf where Kalamata is located has various long beaches. The Taygetus mountain range is located about E of Kalamata and GR-82 Kalamata – Sparta highway runs through the ranges.

Olives and olive oil are important and famous products that are exported from Kalamata.

Kalamata has schools, lyceums, gymnasia, banks, a post office, and squares ''(plateia)''. The newly established University of the Peloponnese has a campus in Kalamata, where the history, literature, religion and philosophy departments are located. The Kalamata campus of the university also provides free Greek lessons to expatriate Greeks. The TEI of Kalamata is also located in the city.

Name

The name ''Kalamata'' may be related with the Greek phrase καλά μάτια ''kala matia'' which means ''beautiful eyes''. A Byzantine church near the city is devoted to the virgin of ''Kalo Matia'' where there was a devastating historic fire and the Icon of the Virgin Mary remained with minor burned edges and classically beautiful and loving eyes. There is a place with the name "Kala Mata" on the island of Mallorca in Spain. In Sardinia, Italy, close to Cagliari, there is a place called "Surcuri-Calamata". The origin of the name of these places is Greek and has to do with the word's Καλά "Kala" meaning good or beautiful and Μάτα "Mata" or matia meaning eyes.

Municipality

The municipality Kalamata was formed at the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following 4 former municipalities, that became municipal units:

Arfara

Aris

Kalamata

Thouria

Subdivisions

The municipal unit of Kalamata is subdivided into the following communities (population according to the 2001 census and villages within the district in brackets):

Alagonia (pop: 360, Alagonia, Machalas)

Antikalamos (pop: 541)

Artemisia (pop: 291, Artemisia, Theotokos)

Asprochoma (pop: 1,231, Asprochoma, Akovitika, Kalami, Katsikovo)

Elaiochori (pop: 395, Elaiochori, Arachova, Diasella, Moni Dimiovis, Perivolakia)

Kalamata (pop: 49,550, Kalamata, Bournias, Koutala, Menina, Profitis Ilias, Moni Velanidias)

Karveli (pop: 180, Karveli, Agia Triada, Emialoi, Kato Karveli)

Ladas (pop: 223, Ladas, Agia Marina, Agios Vasileios)

Laiika (pop: 926, Laiika, Katsaraiika, Spitakia, Xerokampi)

Mikri Mantineia (pop: 688)

Nedousa (pop: 158)

Piges (pop: 103, Piges, Skouroulakkos)

Sperchogeia (pop: 855)

Verga (pop: 2,110, Ano Verga, Kato Verga, Paralia Vergas)

History

Unlike many other Greek cities, Kalamata does not date to classical times. However, Messene, located some north-west of Kalamata and about 15 to from modern Messini, is an important ancient site. From 1681 on the Venetians ruled Kalamata. On 23 March 1821, Kalamata was the first city to be liberated from the Ottoman occupation of over 300 years, by the Greek revolutionary forces under the command of generals Theodoros Kolokotronis, Petros Mavromichalis and Papaflessas. In 1825, Ibrahim Pasha destroyed the city during the Greek war of independence. After this, Kalamata was rebuilt and became one of the most important ports in the Mediterranean sea. It is not surprising that the second-oldest Chamber of Commerce in the Mediterranean, after that of Marseille, exists in Kalamata. On 29 April 1941, a battle was fought near the port between invading German forces and the 2nd New Zealand Division, during which Jack Hinton was awarded the Victoria Cross. After World War II, and due to political issues, Kalamata, as well as most of the Peloponnese, was excluded from the government development plans in favour of north Greece. That was a major brake on the local economy, resulting in the decline of the port and hence the city. During 70s and the 80s, development and growth in Kalamata were unknown, and only after the city suffered severe damage from the earthquakes of 13 September 1986, the local authorities and individuals strained their financial resources to bring a wind of change to the forgotten capital of Messinia. Due to these efforts, Kalamata has now fully recovered and developed into a modern provincial capital, with all facilities and amenities, as well as one of the most modern hospitals in Greece. It is also the seat of the Metropolitan Bishop of Messinia. Current Metropolitan Bishop is Chrysostomus III since 15 March 2007.

Kalamata was under Frankish occupation between 1205 and 1381, ruled by the French Villehardouin family (1210 to 1278) from the castle they built. Later occupied by the Turks from 1481 to 1685 like the rest of Greece, the city was next taken over by the Venetians in 1685. During the Venetian occupation the city was fortified, developed and thrived economically. However, the Turks reoccupied Kalamata in 1715 and controlled it until the Greek War of Independence of 1821 when Petrobeis Mavromihalis liberated the city. Kalamata was again in the news and headlines on Saturday, 13 September 1986, as an earthquake measured at almost 6.6 on the Richter scale. The earthquake, although, moderately strong-reported caused heavy damage and killed 20 people.

Today, Kalamata has the second largest population and mercantile activity in Peloponnese. It makes important exports, particularly of local products such as raisins, olives and olive oil. Although the city experienced catastrophic consequences after the earthquake of 1986, it has overall recovered its pace and is forging ahead successfully from a commercial aspect.

There are numerous historical and cultural sights in Kalamata, such as the Villehardouin castle, the Ypapandis Byzantine church, the Kalograion monastery with its silk-weaving workshop where the Kalamata scarves are made, and the municipal railway park. Mavromihalis declared the revolution in the church of Agion Apostolon. Art collections are housed at the Municipal Gallery, the Archaeological Museum of Messenia and the Folk Art Museum.

Church of the Ypapandi

Kalamata’s Metropolitane Church of the Ypapandi nestles beneath the 14th century Frankish castle. The foundation stone was laid in 1860 and it was inaugurated in 1873. During the 1963 earthquake it suffered great damage and was restored. The Festival of the Ypapandi is of national importance for the Greek world and, locally, the occasion for a holiday. The litany of the miraculous Icon was confirmed in 1889 and takes place in any weather.

In late January 2010 the city hosted the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Ypapandi of Christ Church. He was offered the Golden Key of the city. The region around Kalamata has provided two Ecumenical Patriarchs in the past.

Transportation

It is accessed by GR-7/E55/E65 in the west and GR-82 runs through Kalamata and into the Taygetus. The nearest motorway is now N. From the mid-1980s until 2002, it was SW in Tripoli. There is a road connecting within the coastline of Kalamata which is not far from the gulf and runs in the southern part of Kalamata.

Kalamata is served by a metre gauge railway line of the former Piraeus, Athens and Peloponnese Railways, now owned by the Hellenic Railways Organisation (OSE). There is a passenger train station and a small freight yard in the city, as well as a rolling stock maintenance depot to the north. A disused extension line to the port is now used as a ''Railway Park''. Currently there are mainline train services to Kyparissia, Pyrgos and Patras, and suburban services to Messini and the General Hospital. There are no passenger services to Corinth (Korinthos) via Tripoli and Argos, due to extensive track reconstruction work.

There is a bus link (KTEL) to Tripoli, Korinthos and Athens with frequent services.

Since the mid-80s there has been a regular weekly cruise-boat route between Kalamata – Kythira – Chania (Crete). In the summer months charter flights fly direct to Kalamata International Airport from some European cities. A scheduled service by Aegean Air twice a day linking Kalamata and Athens International Airport commenced in May 2010.

Historical population

{| class=wikitable ! Year !! Town population !! Municipality population |- | 1981 || 42,075 || – |- | 1991 || 43,625 || 50,693 |- | 2001 || 61,373 || 81,125 |}

Landmarks

Benakeion Archaeological Museum of Kalamata, located in the heart of the historical centre of Kalamata.

Byzantine churches

Cultural events, such as the International Dance Festival

Kalamata International Dance Festival

The Castle of Kalamata from the 13th century AD.

The Marina and the Port of Kalamata, located SW of the city centre. It is the main and largest port in Messinia and the southern part of the Peloponnese.

Kalamatas National Stadium – home of Messiniakos, it contains 5,000 spectators

The Kalamata International Airport, an airport located about NW, close to Messene. The runway length is about and it is combined with a military airport. The Railway Museum of the Municipality of Kalamata, a railway museum which first opened since 1986 Ancient Messene, some 15 to north-west of modern Messini

The Temple of Apollo Epicurius, about two hour's drive north from Kalamata

Tourist information

Notable people

William II of Villehardouin (d. 1278) the last Villehardouin prince of Achaea

Yiannis Balis (1932) Physician Scientist, Discoverer of Lamellar bodies and their associated function

Yiannis Chryssomallis ("Yanni") (1954) composer and musician

Aggeliki Daliani (1979) actress

Nikolaos Doxaras, painter

Panagiotis Doxaras, painter

Andreas Apostolopoulos (1952) Real estate developer and sports team owner

Alexandros Koumoundouros, Prime Minister of Greece in the 19th century

Gerasimos Michaleas (1947) Orthodox Christian Metropolitan bishop of San Francisco, California, USA

Panos Mihalopoulos (1949) actor

Nikolaos Georgeas (1976) footballer

Nikolaos Lyberopoulos, (1975) footballer

Sokratis Papastathopoulos (1988) footballer

Kenny Stamatopoulos (1979) footballer

Prokopis Pavlopoulos (1950) lawyer, university professor and politician

Vassilis Photopoulos (1934–2007) painter, film director, art director and set designer

Nikolaos Politis, folklorist

Maria Polydouri (1902–1930) poet

Michail Stasinopoulos (1903–2002) lawyer, President of the Republic of Greece

Panagiotis Moragiannis (1976) Greek-Australian Politician

Sporting teams

Apollon Kalamatas

Kalamata FC – second division

Messiniakos fc – third division

Olympiakos Kalamatas

Prasina Poulia Kalamata (literally the Green Bird)

International relations

Twin towns — Sister cities

Kalamata is twinned with: Amioun, Lebanon Aglantzia, Cyprus Bizerte, Tunisia Xi'an, China

See also

Kalamata (olive)

Kalamatianó

Communities of Messenia

References

External links

Municipality of Kalamata

Historic maps of Kalamata

Messinian Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Ministry of Culture – Messinia

Category:Municipalities of the Peloponnese Periphery Category:Populated places in Messenia Category:Mediterranean port cities and towns in Greece Category:Greek prefectural capitals Category:Castles in Greece

ar:كالاماتا bs:Kalamata ca:Kalamata da:Kalamata de:Kalamata et:Kalamáta el:Καλαμάτα es:Kalamata eo:Kalamata fa:کالاماتا fr:Kalamata ko:칼라마타 hr:Kalamata id:Kalamata it:Kalamata lt:Kalamata nl:Kalamáta ja:カラマタ nn:Kalamáta pnb:کالاماتا pl:Kalamata pt:Kalamata ro:Kalamata ru:Каламата (город) simple:Kalamata sk:Kalamata sr:Каламата sh:Kalamata sv:Kalamata uk:Каламата war:Kalamata zh:卡拉马塔

Name	Taki Tsan
Landscape	yes
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Panagiotis Stravalexis
Alias	''Timvorixos'', ''Litrotis'', ''Thavma Paidi'', ''Miso Ekatomirio'', ''Liriko Anakonta'', ''Legin''
Born	September 28, 1979San Diego, United States
Origin	Nea Ionia, Athens, Greece
43genre	Hip hop, Battle Rap
Occupation	Rapperproducer
Years active	1996–present
Label	FM Records
Associated acts	Zontanoi Nekroi, Eisvoleas, Gelos, Taraksias, DJ The Boy, Alfa Gama, Afi Stravalexi, Tigre Sporakia
Website	myspace.com/takitsan
Notable instruments	}}

Panagiotis Stravalexis () (born 28 September 1979), better known by his stage names ''Tymvorychos'', ''Paidi Thavma'' and ''Taki Tsan'', is a Greek music producer, tattoo artist and rapper. A prominent figure in Greek hip hop, he is the leader of the group Zontanoi Nekroi. Taki Tsan is also a founding member of the rap duet ''Tigre Sporakia'' (), which consists of him and Eisvoleas. (, ).

In 1999, he released his critically acclaimed debut solo under his alter-ego Thavma Paidi (, ), named ''Rima Gia Chrima'' (, ). Apart from that, Taki Tsan was also a founding member of the rap group Tigre Sporakia (), which consisted of him and Eisvoleas (, ).

Several albums followed, some of them being solo ones, like ''Sto Mialo Tou Panagioti Stravaleksi'' (, ), released in 2006. Another one was ''To Scholeio'' (, ), where he collaborated with another Zontanoi Nekroi member, Charmanis (). In 2009, Tsan released ''Rima gia Chrima 2'', his new double LP.

Biography

1979-1996: Early life

Panagiotis Stravalexis was born in 1979 in San Diego, California, USA. His parents were Greek immigrants who had moved there, seeking a better life.

His father was living in America since 1965 and married his mother in 1974. They had 3 children, Panagiotis, Valantis and one girl. After many years of hard work, financial struggle finally led his parents to divorce in 1984. After that, Taki Tsan returned to Greece with his mother and siblings.

After a bad juvenile life, he returned to the USA, where he continued school and worked with his father. He soon started embracing street life and illegality, so his father sent him back to Greece in order to finish school safely. Some years later, having completed high school, he quit to pursue his dream, rap music. He has bitterly regretted doing that.

1997-1998: ZN Albums

In 1997, he formed his group, Zontanoi Nekroi, and started recording tracks with them. They released an EP in 1998, named ZN Entoles / Stin Chora Ton Kaliteron MCs. On the same year, they released one of the best Greek hip-hop CDs named ''O Protos Tomos'', which made them famous, as it was an innovation for the Greek standards.

1999: Paidi Thavma - Rima gia Chrima

Having already released an album with ZN, he continued with ''Rima gia Chrima'' (English: Rhyme for Money), his debut solo. It was an album that contained a variety of hip hop styles (hip hop about his life, battle rap, etc.). It was well-received at that time, and today is considered the best Greek hip hop album ever.

2000-2001: Projects That Never Made It

In 2000, ZN started recording Kata.R.Ypo, a duet album by Ypochthonios and Katachthonios, but never released it. In 2001, they were to release Charmanis' debut solo named ''Charmanis: Sisihahahahaha!!!'' but never made it either. So, having collected several unreleased songs, they released a compilation album named ''Thammena Ksechasmena'' which contained songs from Kata.R.Ypo, a song that did not fit in ''Rima gia Chrima'', the first track that recorded for ''Megalos Iroas'', Midenistis' first solo album, and some alternate editions of old songs. As for a second ZN release, they have been saying—years now—that it will happen sometime, and recently, they announced it again at a concert. The highly anticipated album is called ''Deuteros Tomos'' and will be the sequel to ''Protos Tomos''.

2003: Tigre Sporakia

In 2003, Taki Tsan formed a new group with Eisvoleas (leader MC of Alfa Gama) named Tigre Sporakia. They have released an album named ''Theoria kai Praksi'', which was well received.

2004: Taki Tsan & Charmanis collaboration

In 2004, Taki Tsan and Charmanis collaborated to release a duet named ''To Scholio'' (English: The School).

2005-2006: 3 Mixtapes and one solo album

In 2005, Taki Tsan released 2 mix tapes. One named ''Underground Mixtape'', and one more named ''Mixtape vol. 1'' from IxoSpira. In 2006, he released his last mix tape to date named ''Misa Lefta/Dipli Magkia'' which was more like a compilation, containing old and unreleased songs. In the same year, he released his 2nd solo album named ''Sto Mialo tou Panagioti Stravalexi''. It was a major change to his style, containing social and political tracks, as well as things he wanted to share with his fans.

2007-present: Many lives and Recording of his new album

He has done many lives, 3 with all of the ZN members. He has also released several tracks on the internet, to give us a taste of his upcoming project, named ''Rima gia Xrima 2009'' (sequel to his debut), which was released in December 2009.

Discography

1999 ''Rima gia Chrima'', Ixokratoria / FM Records

2005 ''Taki Tsan Mixtape Vol.1'' Taki Tsan's own production

2006 ''Sto Mialo tou Panagioti Stravalexi'', IxoSpira / FM Records

2009 ''Rima gia Chrima 2'' Ixokratoria / 33 1/3 Entertainment

g

Discography with ZN

1997 ''Agria Fili'', Ixokratoria / FM Records

1998 ''Protos Tomos'', Ixokratoria / FM Records

2000 - 2001 ''Thamena Ksehasmena'' Ixokratoria / FM Records

Discography with Tigre Sporakia

2003 ''Theoria kai praksi'' Ixokratoria / FM Records

2011 ''Onoma kai Pragma'' Ixokratoria

References

External links

Taki Tsan @ MySpace

Tattoo by Taki Tsan

Taki Tsan @ Facebook

Category:Greek rappers Category:1979 births Category:Living people

Name	Melitina Staniouta
Country
Birth date	November 15, 1993
Birth place	Minsk
Height
Discipline	RG
Headcoach	Irina Leparskaya
Show-medals	yes
Medaltemplates	}}

Melitina Staniouta ; born 15 November 1993) is a rhythmic gymnast from Minsk, Belarus.

She first took up the sport of rhythmic gymnastics in 1998. In 2005 she started to train with Larissa Loukianenko, and she was included in the national team.

In 2008 she won a lot of medals as a junior gymnast, incluiding in the European Championships.

In 2009 she debuted as a senior and won 2 medals in the World Championships in Mie. In 2009, she reached the third place in the rope event at the Rhythmic Gimnastics FIG World Cup of Pesaro 2009 and the fifth place in the all-around Grand Prix Brno

External links

and : Melitina Staniouta in Gymnastics Results.com

: Staniouta in USA Today.

Staniouta in The-sports.org

Notes and references

Category:1993 births Category:Living people Category:Belarusian rhythmic gymnasts

fr:Melitina Staniouta pt:Melitina Staniouta ru:Станюта, Мелитина Дмитриевна