Why Kalamata?
MSc CultTech is hosted at UoP’s School of Humanities and Cultural Studies Campus in Kalamata. Kalamata is the southernmost city of continental Greece and second largest city in the Peloponnese. With a spectacular coastline and breathtaking views of Mount Taygetos, it is a vibrant city with a student population of approx. 8,000 (10% of the city’s population). Its beautifully preserved historic centre, lively beachfront, and long-standing cultural tradition (more recently as the national capital of contemporary dance thanks to the International Kalamata Dance Festival), make it an ideal place to live and study.
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Getting There and Around
The MSc CultTech classes are taught primarily at the UoP School of Humanities and Cultural Studies campus in Kalamata. The city is easily accessible: only a 2-and-half-hour drive from Athens by car, 3 hours by bus from the Central Bus Station in Athens, and a mere 9 km from the Kalamata International Airport. The bus service linking Kalamata to Athens runs frequently, up to every hour on some days. For information on bus schedules visit ktelmessinias.gr.
The city of Kalamata was awarded the 2018 Best City Award (Gold & Bronze) for its infrastructure, which includes a modern bicycling and pedestrian network. Recently the Municipality began a bicycle sharing service using a phone app with 7 stations around the city including one just outside the Kalamata campus.
Local buses run frequent services across the city with four different lines. Each bus line runs approximately every 30 minutes. Tickets can be purchased at kiosks or inside the bus. Bus schedules at http://astikoktelkalamatas.gr (in Greek) and Facebook page.
The city of Kalamata was awarded the 2018 Best City Award (Gold & Bronze) for its infrastructure, which includes a modern bicycling and pedestrian network. Recently the Municipality began a bicycle sharing service using a phone app with 7 stations around the city including one just outside the Kalamata campus.
Local buses run frequent services across the city with four different lines. Each bus line runs approximately every 30 minutes. Tickets can be purchased at kiosks or inside the bus. Bus schedules at http://astikoktelkalamatas.gr (in Greek) and Facebook page.
Accommodation
The CultTech campus is located in the city centre, a short distance from the beach, offering a wide variety of commercial housing options for all budgets and preferences. Although the University of the Peloponnese does not offer accommodation for its graduate students, Kalamata has a large undergraduate and graduate student population (approx. 8.000 students) and many rentals. An indicative price for a fully furnished one-bedroom apartment ranges between 250-450 euros per month including rent, electricity, water, and heating.
Apartments can be found online, on websites such as www.xe.gr and www.spitogatos.gr and in the classified ads of local newspapers www.eleftheriaonline.gr and www.tharrosnews.gr (in Greek).
Apartments can be found online, on websites such as www.xe.gr and www.spitogatos.gr and in the classified ads of local newspapers www.eleftheriaonline.gr and www.tharrosnews.gr (in Greek).
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Food and Gastronomy
Kalamata is a gastronomic destination, with restaurants and cafés for every budget and preference. The Municipal Food Market offers fresh local products at very affordable prices. Street food is made fresh all day and in some cases all night, with a traditional cheese hand pie being priced at 1-2€ and a souvlaki pita at only 2.50€. In addition to the endless choices for eating out, the UoP campus restaurant offers three course meals for 2.50€ twice a day (lunch and dinner) seven days a week. Meals include fresh seasonal salads, vegetarian dishes, traditional Messenian cuisine, fruit, and desserts. Coffee shops near the campus offer affordable light meals and sweet courses. Three super markets are located within walking distance (two to five minutes) from the campus.
