Explore Peloponnese
This tour takes through landmarks of modern Greek as well as ancient historic times, visiting landmarks located in the Peloponnese peninsula.
First, we drive pass the Corinth canal ‘Isthmus’, which first connected trade routes from Asia to Europe.
The ruins of the ancient city of Corinth and the castle of Acrocorinth that lies on top, is where we first take a break. Our next stop is at Mycenae, the most influential city of the Bronze age.
According to the legend, its castle was made from cyclopes since the stone blocks used are too heavy to handle for people in these times.
The tomb of king Agamemnon and his golden mask are two of many things to be seen at the site. Nafplio, the first capital of modern Greece, may be the most beautiful city of the country.
On top lies a castle with great significance and the view from there is breath-taking. Next, we arrive at the ancient stadium of Epidaurus. One of the best reserved ancient locations, where plays are staged even today.
On our way back to Athens you can opt to stop at the Baths of Helen of Troy. A beautiful beach where you could enjoy diving before going back to the city.
The Isthmus of Corinth is the narrow land bridge which connects the Peloponnese peninsula with the rest of the mainland of Greece, near the city of Corinth.
The word “isthmus” comes from the Ancient Greek word for “neck” and refers to the narrowness of the land.
For Christians, Corinth is well known from the two letters of Saint Paul in the New Testament, First and Second Corinthians. Corinth is also mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles as part of Paul the Apostle‘s missionary travels. In addition, the second book of Pausanias‘ Description of Greece is devoted to Corinth.
Ancient Corinth was one of the largest and most important cities of Greece, with a population of 90,000 in 400 BC.[1] The Romans demolished Corinth in 146 BC, built a new city in its place in 44 BC, and later made it the provincial capital of Greece.
Acrocorinth “Upper Corinth”, the acropolis of ancient Corinth, is a monolithic rock overseeing the ancient city of Corinth, Greece. In the estimation of George Forrest, “It is the most impressive of the acropolis of mainland Greece.
With its secure water supply, Acrocorinth’s fortress was repeatedly used as a last line of defense in southern Greece because it commanded the Isthmus of Corinth, repelling foes from entry by land into the Peloponnese peninsula.
In the second millennium BC, Mycenae was one of the major centres of Greek civilization, a military stronghold which dominated much of southern Greece, Crete, the Cyclades and parts of southwest Anatolia.
The period of Greek history from about 1600 BC to about 1100 BC is called Mycenaean in reference to Mycenae. At its peak in 1350 BC, the citadel and lower town had a population of 30,000 and an area of 32 hectares.
Nafplio is a coastal city located in the Peloponnese in Greece that is the capital of the regional unit of Argolis and an important touristic destination. Founded in antiquity, the city became an important seaport in the Middle Ages during the Frankokratia as part of the lordship of Argos and Nauplia, held initially by the de la Roche following the Fourth Crusade before coming under the Republic of Venice and, lastly, the Ottoman Empire.
The city was the second capital of the First Hellenic Republic and of the Kingdom of Greece, from 1827 until 1834.
Palamidi is a fortress to the east of the Acronauplia in the town of Nafplio in the Peloponnese region of southern Greece. Nestled on the crest of a 216-metre high hill, the fortress was built by the Venetians during their second occupation of the area (1686–1715).
The fortress was a very large and ambitious project, but was finished within a relatively short period from 1711 until 1714. It is a typical baroque fortress based on the plans of Venetian engineer Antonio Giancix and built by French military engineer Pierre de la Salle. In 1715 it was captured by the Ottomans and remained under their control until 1822, when it was captured by the Greeks.
The term “Epidaurus” is of Greek origin it was named after the hero Epidauros, son of Apollo. Epidaurus is best known for its sanctuary, the Asclepeion, situated about five miles (8 km) from the town, with its theatre, which is once again in use today.
Asclepius, the most important healer god of antiquity, brought prosperity to the sanctuary, which in the 4th and 3rd centuries BC embarked on an ambitious building program for enlarging and reconstruction of monumental buildings. Fame and prosperity continued throughout the Hellenistic period.
The prosperity brought by the asclepeion enabled Epidaurus to construct civic monuments, including the huge theatre that delighted Pausanias for its symmetry and beauty, used again today for dramatic performances, the ceremonial hestiatoreion (banqueting hall), and a palaestra. The ancient theatre of Epidaurus was designed by Polykleitos the Younger in the 4th century BC.
The original 34 rows were extended in Roman times by another 21 rows. As is usual for Greek theatres (and as opposed to Roman ones), the view on a lush landscape behind the skênê is an integral part of the theatre itself and is not to be obscured. It seats up to 14,000 people.
Helen of Troy, also known as beautiful Helen, Helen of Argos, or Helen of Sparta, was a figure in Greek mythology said to have been the most beautiful woman in the world.
She was believed to have been the daughter of Zeus and Leda, and was the sister of Clytemnestra, Castor and Pollux, Philonoe, Phoebe and Timandra.
She was married to King Menelaus of Sparta. She used to swim on that same beach before fleeing for Troy.