Ancient Messene

About the museum

Ancient Messene hides a magnificent city that astonishes the visitor. The archaeological site covers about 400 stremmata, that is, roughly one third of the original city, which was founded in 369 BC by the Theban general Epaminondas.

Excavations began in 1987 and continue today at an ever faster pace. They have already uncovered most of the public and religious buildings described by the traveller Pausanias: the odeon, which survives in excellent condition, the Asklepieion, the stadium with the completed heroon, the sanctuary of Zeus, the gymnasium, the theatre, the ekklesiasterion (assembly hall) and the Fountain of Arsinoe.

The excavations reveal the whole of a flourishing cultural and political centre of ancient Greece.

Highlights

• The odeon, in excellent condition
• The Asklepieion and the sanctuary of Zeus
• The stadium with the heroon
• The theatre and the ekklesiasterion
• The Fountain of Arsinoe

Operated by

Υπουργείο Πολιτισμού – Εφορεία Αρχαιοτήτων Μεσσηνίας

Admission & discounts

Free admission: 6 March, 18 April, 18 May, the last weekend of September, 28 October and the first and third Sunday of every month from 1 November to 31 March.

The ticket for the archaeological site is separate from the ticket for the Museum of Ancient Messene. Free admission and reduced tickets are available to certain categories of visitors, in accordance with the regulations of the Ministry of Culture.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

By car: about 40 minutes from Kalamata.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant
• Museum shop

Café/restaurant, shop, toilets and a car park on site.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.