Historical review and urban development of the city of Kalamata

Abstract

164 σ.Η Καλαμάτα πόλη της νοτιοδυτικής Πελλοπονήσσου και πρωτευουσα του νομού Μεσσηνίας έχοντας υποστεί και ανακάμψει από πολλά δεινά όπως ο καταστρεπτικός σεισμός του 1986, συνεχίζει και διατηρεί τα συγκριτικά της πλεονεκτήματα που την καθιστούν μία από τις ομορφότερες πόλης της Ελλάδος.Kalamata, a town in southwestern Peloponnese and the capital of Messenia, having undergone and recovered from too many sufferings such as the devastating earthquake of 1986, continues to maintain and build upon its comparative advantages that make it one of the most beautiful cities in Greece. This paper’s effort is to concentrate concealed from the time historical elements of the city and to promote its modern features. It examines and studies the urban development of the first organized effort to develop the first draft of the city until the delimitation of the objectives of the last and very recent GIS of 2011. The aim of the paper is to present the characteristics of the city that reveal its importance, and to point out its evolution through out time from an urban development perspective along with (or taking under consideration) the crucial fact that contributed to the shaping of its current form and is no other than the earthquake of 1986. In particular, this research paper consists of 10 chapters. Initially, general information about the city of Kalamata is analyzed, in addition to the geographical and administrative definition and its history. Then, the urban planning over time with emphasis on events that changed its format as the redesign of the city after the earthquake of 1986 is examined. Additionally, there is a reference to the social, technical and cultural characteristics, its financial data and natural environment. Finally, some important urban and social problems of the region are identified and recommended solutions for upgrading the quality of life are proposedΑγγελική Π. Αλεβίζο