Gulf of Patras and Corinth Cultural Sites

​Attractions

Peloponnese is a beloved region in the south of Greece, which used to be a peninsula connected to the rest of Greece by the Isthmus of Corinth, in ancient times. Nowadays, the region is separated from the mainland by the narrow Corinth Canal, although there are many bridges connecting Peloponnese to Attica across the canal. It is a highly cultural and popular area, being celebrated by many tourists from all over the world, especially during the summer season.

In Peloponnese there are many natural beauties, such as mountains, forests, rivers and caves, surrounded by the sea and sandy beaches completed by monuments from every period of the eventful Peloponnesian history, breathtaking archaeological sites and gorgeous Byzantine churches making the Peloponnese region a highly sought-after holiday destination. Peloponnese has a dry climate on the east, cold, snow and rich vegetation in its central and mountainous parts and rain and heat on the west.
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• Seaside zone

          Located around the Eleftherios Venizelos square with the impressive statue of Pegasus and the small port of Floisvos with the marina.                 Nearby, there is Kalamia, an extensive and established pebble strewn beach, with many coffee shops and taverns all along.

• Pedestrian walkway

          Located in Pilarinos Zografos Street, is a meeting place for the residents with stores, coffee shops and bars.

• Historic and Folklore Museum

          Situated close to the Eleftherios Venizelos square, with 3,500 exhibits of 18th and 19th century and costumes from all over Greece.

• Municipal Lending Library and Municipal Art Gallery

          Located in the centre with notable collections.
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• Ancient Corinthos was one of the most important city-states of ancient Greece. Today in the archaeological site, one can visit the Temple of Apollo; its seven remaining Doric columns stand in a prominent position overlooking the ancient Agora. The temple was built in 530 BC, consisting of 2 rooms, and originally had 15 Doric-order columns along its length and 6 along its width. The city market had a rectangular shape, housing a number of similarly laid-out stores, each divided into 2 rooms. Its front was consisted by a double row of columns, the outer Doric and inner Ionic. In the ancient Agora, one can also visit the shops where the Apostle Paul once stood, along with the ancient Council. Descending the steps of the ‘propylaia’ (front gates) will lead you to Lecheou street where you will encounter the Pirene Fountain, with its six cave-like chambers, and the Glauki fountain standing carved in the rock. In the archaeological site you will also have the chance to visit the Odeon, built in the 1st century AD; and the 18,000-seat theater built in the fifth century BC, and later converted by the Romans into an arena for animal fights. Finally, you can walk through the remnants of the gymnasium and Temple of Asclepius near the Lerna fountain. Above Ancient Corinthos lies the Castle of Akrocorinthos, the Acropolis of the ancient city, which is itself worth a visit.

 

• Temple of Poseidon. The Archaic temple was constructed during the seventh century BC but was unfortunately destroyed by fire in the fifth century BC. It was subsequently rebuilt according to a Doric peripteral plan, from local Corinthian limestone, but was destroyed again in 390 BC. Again rebuilt, it flourished until 146 BC when the Roman consul Mummius destroyed the city. In 44 AD it was again rebuilt, but took its final form including the courtyard and colonnades during the second century AD.

 

• The Ancient Theatre of Isthmia. Unfortunately, has not survived, its members having been harvested for the later construction of the medieval fortress located there. Only the foundations of the orchestra (stage), portions of the cavea (seating area) and the proscenium, and some scattered stones remain.

 

• The Palaemonio. A temple next to that of Poseidon, it was dedicated to Palaemon, a sea deity of the Roman era. The temple had a special courtyard, as well as pits for sacrifices.

 

• Stadium of Isthmia. The stadium used to be located south-east of the temple of Poseidon. Unearthed by excavations, the ancient stadium at one time featured a sixteen-lane running track. More recently, the stadium was rebuilt into the existing hollow of the previous stadium, with a length of approximately 181m.

• Corinth Canal. From ancient times, people have searched for an easier way to transfer ships from the Korinthian to the Saronic Gulf and vice versa. Created for this reason was the Diolkos, a paved road along which boats could be dragged across the isthmus. The Diolkos was constructed by the tyrant Periander of Korinthos, who had envisioned the opening of the canal. The opening of the canal had subsequently been attempted by Demetrios Poliorketes, Julius Caesar, Caligula, Nero, Herod Atticus, various Byzantines and Venetians, to no avail. The opening was re-launched by Kapodistrias but was again stopped due to lack of money. In 1881 the work of the excavation was undertaken by a Hungarian businessman, in exchange for a 99-year lease on the site, but who also abandoned the effort. The cutting was eventually completed thanks to the donation of Andreas Syngros. Over 10 years the Greeks finally managed to dig the canal, which opened on 25 July 1893. About 15,000 ships pass through the Canal of Korinthos every year. 

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• Lighthouse Melagkavi. Located in the place of Heraion, or alternatively Melagkavi, on the bay where lie the islands of Alkyonides. Built in 1897, and reconstructed in 1947, it has a T-shape, and its construction is a simple pre-industrial architecture of stone.

 

• The Environmental Museum of Stymfalia is a museum that aims to highlight the intertwined relationship between man and nature. Displays characteristics of nature at Stymfalia and how these affect their residents.

 

• Acrocorinth (the residence of the Sun’s God), is located 3.5 km south of ancient Corinthos, at the peak of a 575 meters high hill, which has always been the fortified acropolis of Corinthos. It is the oldest, largest and most impressive castle in the Peloponnese, whose walls were built during the middle Ages. Worth seeing are the ruins at the temple of Aphrodite, the relics of the Christian Churches and the Turkish buildings, on the peak of the hill. In addition to its archaeological significance, Acrocorinth is a rich botanical garden with numerous indigenous Greek wild flowers which belongs to the “Natura 2000” European Union habitat network. On the opposite hill (Penteskoufi) there is a smaller medieval castle of the 13th century, which is difficult to access.

   

• Possidonia are located on the western side of the canal, close to the Corinthian gulf, where the Ancient Passage Way of Diolkos is visible. A paved road that was constructed due to the need for rapid passage by ships from the Saronic to the Corinthian gulf and vice versa. Constructed in the early years of the 6th century B.C. and associated with Periander’s tyranny in Korinthos. Its western edge was reconstructed in the early 4th century B.C. It was used to transport small (especially military) vessels. This use has been attested by sources down to the 9th century A.D.

 

• Lechaio, a beautiful seaside town, is located 8 km to the west of Corinthos. The region was developed in the 6th century B.C, since Lechaio, together with Keghrees, were the city’s two ports. The ruins of the ancient port have survived to the present day. Excavations have uncovered the ruins of a palaeo-Christian basilica, to the west of the ancient port, which was constructed in the 5th century A.D, in honour of the martyr Leonidis and the seven Virgins who martyred during the Decian persecution in 251 A.D. Also, the church of Agios Gerasimos is situated at Lechaio where Gerasimos Notaras was a hermit. Lastly, a fertile valley in the wider region, where fruit and grape vines are cultivated, is available for sightseeing.

Attractions in Olympia
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• The temple of Zeus. Zeus was compensated with a gigantic temple built between 470 and 456 BC, in the most prominent position of the sanctuary. It was the largest temple in the Peloponnese and became a model for all subsequent Doric temples, while its sculptures represent a milestone in the history of classical art. The temple housed one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world, the chryselephantine statue of Zeus by Pheidias. To make the over 12 m high statue, Pheidias worked in a purpose-built, on-site workshop, which resembled the interior of the temple where the statue would be placed. The finds from Pheidias workshop and ancient testimonies are all that we know about the chryselephantine Zeus; the statue was later carried off to Constantinople and destroyed by fire in AD 475.
• The temple of Hera. The first temple erected in Olympia around the end of the 7th c. BC was sacred to Hera not Zeus, who actually had to share the same roof with his wife for about two centuries. It seems that the temple also served as a kind of treasury, since within it were kept the disc of the Sacred Truce and the gold-and-ivory table for placing the winners' wreaths, while here was also found the statue of Hermes. In honour of the goddess were held the Heraia foot race, an athletic competition solely for women, who otherwise were not allowed to participate or even watch the Olympic Games. Today, the temple of Hera is the starting point of the Olympic torch relay: on the altar of Hera, in front of the temple, the Olympic flame is lit by reflection of sunlight in a parabolic mirror and then transported by a torch to the place where the games are held.
• The Ancient Stadium of Olympia. The stadium of Ancient Olympia was a holy place for the ancient Greeks, where all the sport activities were held dedicated to the god Zeus. Originally, the stadium was constructed in such a manner that spectators could view the events from the slopes of Mount Cronion. But the stadium was gradually moved further east, and eventually it was placed outside the temple of Zeus. The stadium had a seat capacity of 20,000 spectators and almost all seats were made of mud while only a few of them were created especially for the officials. There was a vaulted passageway that connected the stadium and the sanctuary. The ancient stadium also used to host the Heraia Games, which were games for women, held in honour of the goddess Hera. The racetrack of the stadium is over 200 meters long and nearly 30 to 34 meters wide. The starting and finishing lines are indicated by two stone markers, which are about 193 meters apart. The south bank of the stadium was the podium for the judges, while on the north bank there was an altar dedicated to the priestess of goddess Demeter, who was the only woman allowed to watch the games. In 2004, the ancient stadium revived its ancient glory, when the hammer throw event of the Athens Olympics was held here. 
• The Bouleuterion. It was the seat of the Olympic Boule, namely the supreme administrative authority of the sanctuary and the equivalent of the contemporary organising committee of the games. The Olympic Boule was formed by the council of the citizens of the neighbouring Elis, which unlike what happens today, was the one and only host city of the Olympic Games. The Olympic Boule also appointed the Hellanodikes, the judges responsible for the orderly conduct of the games, for upholding the rules and punishing the offenders, but also for crowning the winners.
• The palaestra. The palaestra is an ancient edifice in Olympia, part of the gymnasium at the sanctuary. It is a sixty-six metre by sixty-six metre, or 4345 metre square building that dates to the end of the 3rd or beginning of the 2nd century BC. It is thought to be a building in ancient Greece that was devoted to the training of wrestlers and other athletes.
• Altar of Hera. The Altar of Hera is where the Olympic flame is lit. The ritual of the Lighting of the Flame starts from the Altar of Hera, in front of the goddess’s temple (Heraion), which is opposite to the Temple of Zeus, at the archaeological site of Olympia. According to the Ancient Myth of Prometheus, who stole the power of fire from the Zeus, fire is the symbol of life, rationalism and freedom as well as inventiveness.
• Archaeological Museum. Ancient Olympia is the birthplace of the Olympic Games and today the area is one of the most important archaeological places in the world. Several remains of Zeus temple and other sites can be seen in the open-air museum of the ancient site of Olympia. The Archaeological Museum of Olympia is one of the most interesting and well-known museums in Greece which presents the historical development of one of the most important sanctuaries of the antiquity. The museum hosts a permanent exhibition with findings which date from the prehistoric to the early Christian years.
• The Museum of the History of the Olympic Games in Olympia. The permanent exhibition of the museum displays ancient findings from several excavations, dating from the prehistoric times to the Early Christian period, whereas copper and stone inscriptions witness the way that the games were organized. Apart from the ancient art works, visitors have the chance to browse through a detailed visual material. The building complex of the museum has exhibition rooms, auxiliary spaces and storerooms both at the basement and the ground floor. Among the many precious exhibitions is the collection of terracotta from prehistoric, Archaic and Classical period, a collection of bronzes, a collection of sculptures from the Archaic up to the Roman period. The exhibition aims to present all aspects of ancient sports and to reveal important insight about the history of the Olympic Games.
• Modern Olympic Games Museum. The Modern Olympic Games Museum was founded in 1961 and the Hellenic Olympic Committee is responsible for its operation. The museum was based on the collection of Georgios Papastefanou, who was the first to believe in the possibility of spreading the Olympic Idea and Education through a museum. For this purpose, he donated a building, which is located in the village of Olympia, along with his rich collection to the Hellenic Olympic Committee. The museum contains rare memorabilia from the Modern Olympic Games, photographs, medals, diplomas, cups, etc., and a valuable collection of rare stamps. Various Olympic Committees and individuals have donated items which admirably complement the Museum collection.
• Museum of History of Excavations. Museum of History of Excavations in Olympia is located next to the Museum of the History of the Olympic Games in Antiquity, inside a small structure. The museum is dedicated to present the history of excavation in the city of Olympia that began in 1766. Apart from archived collection of documents and newspaper articles, the museum also presents an inventory list of daily excavations. Besides the documents, the museum also comprises collection of artifacts from such as instruments and other materials used during excavations. The photographic memoir of the excavation of Temple of Zeus is among the museum's prized possessions.
• Pierre de Coubertin's Monument. Pierre Frédy, Baron de Coubertin (1 January 1863 – 2 September 1937) was a French pedagogue and historian, founder of the International Olympic Committee, and considered father of the modern Olympic Games. Coubertin was the instigator of the modern Olympic movement, a man whose vision and political skill led to the revival of the Olympic Games which had been practised in antiquity. Coubertin idealised the Olympic Games as the ultimate ancient athletic competition. The first modern Olympic Games were held in 1896 in Athens, Greece, and the second, the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris. He was buried in Lausanne (the seat of the IOC), although, in accordance with his will, his heart was buried separately in a monument near the ruins of ancient Olympia.