Apostolos & Miranda – walk-about in Kalamata, and crafting wood & metal ornamental artifacts
The guests will initially visit the historical and modern city center of Kalamata and the town’s magnificent beach, and will sample the local cuisine. After that, they will learn a multitude of new techniques in ornamental crafting using brass and wood, at Apostolos’ and Miranda's own workshop.
WHAT you will LEARN:
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Ornamental crafting at Apostolos’ own workshop
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How to create original items and works of art
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The local cuisine with its traditional recipes and delis
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An understanding of the locals’ day-to-day life
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Points of cultural & historic interest: the historical and contemporary city center, the beach
Kalamata - Where the Experience will take place
What Wikipedia says
Kalamata is the second most populous city of the Peloponnese peninsula in southern Greece and the largest city of the homonymous administrative region. The capital and chief port of the Messenia regional unit, it lies along the Nedon River at the head of the Messenian Gulf.
The 2011 census recorded 69,849 inhabitants for the wider Kalamata Municipality, of which 62,409 in the municipal unit of Kalamata proper. Kalamata is renowned as the land of the Kalamatianos dance and of the Kalamata olives.
The history of Kalamata begins with Homer, who mentions Pharai, an ancient city built more or less where the Kalamata Castle stands today. It was believed that during ancient times the area that the city presently occupies was covered by the sea, but the proto-Greek and archaic period remains (Poseidon temple) that were unearthed at Akovitika region prove the opposite.
In independent Greece, 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. 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. It is also the seat of the Metropolitan Bishop of Messenia. The current Metropolitan Bishop is Chrysostomus III, since 15 March 2007.
There are numerous historical and cultural sights in Kalamata, such as the Villehardouin castle, the Ypapandi Byzantine church, the Kalograion monastery with its silk-weaving workshop where the Kalamata scarves are made, and the municipal railway park. The Church of the Holy Apostles is where Mavromichalis declared the revolt against Ottoman rule in 1821. Art collections are housed at the Municipal Gallery, the Archaeological Museum of Messenia and the Folk Art Museum.
Miranda & Apostolos Mylonas are your Hosts for the whole experience
Apostolos is a preliminary school teacher, but has also taken long studies in freehand drawing, sculpture and ornamental crafting. He has taught a visual arts course at the local borough for many years, and, together with his partner Miranda, both run their own visual arts workshop where they teach the painting and crafting arts to children and adults.
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Place of ORIGIN: Kalamata
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LIVE in: Kalamata
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SPEAK: English, French
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LOVE: travelling, crafting artifacts, learning by taking part in seminars and workshops
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Have TRAVELLED to: Greece (all over), Italy, Malta, Spain, France
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Personal TRAITS: very hospitable, pleasant, polite, and with a natural ability to convey their knowledge on art and crafting
Here's how we'll spend the day and what we'll do together
This Experience is offered in TWO versions:
Thorough walk-about in Kalamata
The guests will get the chance to visit the historical and modern city center of Kalamata, explore the most significant hot-spots and sights and acquire a good understanding of the locals’ day-to-day life. They will also visit the town’s magnificent beach, and will then end-up with sampling the local cuisine with its traditional recipes and delis.Ornamental crafting workshop
The guests will learn a multitude of new techniques in ornamental crafting at Apostolos’ & Miranda's own workshop. This will allow them to create original items and works of art by using, for example, brass leaves while employing soldering iron kit, in order to create ornamental crowns or wreaths. In addition, they will craft special wood items, where they will attach the iron artifacts and, therefore, create a complete work of art.WHAT you will LEARN:
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Ornamental crafting at Apostolos’ own workshop
-
How to create original items and works
-
The local cuisine with its traditional recipes and delis
-
An understanding of the locals’ day-to-day life
-
Points of cultural & historic interest: the historical and contemporary city center, the beach
Ornamental crafting workshop
The guests will learn a multitude of new techniques in ornamental crafting at Apostolos’ & Miranda's own workshop. This will allow them to create original items and works of art by using, for example, brass leaves while employing soldering iron kit, in order to create ornamental crowns or wreaths. In addition, they will craft special wood items, where they will attach the iron artifacts and, therefore, create a complete work of art.Here are the details for Booking this Greek experience
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Place: Kalamata, Messinias
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Standard Pack - Duration: 3 hours
Timetable: 9.00-12.00
Price: 50 euros per person
Meeting Point: corner of Spetson & Aristeidou str, at Agia Aikaterini church
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Deluxe Pack - Duration: 6 hours
Timetable: 9.00-15.00
Price: 100 euros per person
Meeting Point: 23rd March square, at Agioi Apostoloi chapel
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Availability: 9 May - 18 June, 1 August - 30 September
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Group size: 5 persons max
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What’s SPECIAL about this experience: acquiring an insider’s view of the coastal city of Kalamata, coupled with a unique craftsman’s course in artifacts creation
