The Peloponnese Πελοπόννησος

This peninsula holds a remarkable share of Greek history: the Bronze Age citadel of Mycenae (the Agamemnon of Homer’s Iliad), the 4th-century BC theatre of Epidaurus and Olympia, where the Games were held from 776 BC according to tradition.

Nafplio, the first capital of modern Greece (1823–1834), makes an ideal base: neoclassical mansions, a Venetian fortress and some of the country’s best weekend restaurants.

Highlights

• Corinth Canal
• Mycenae and the Lion Gate
• Epidaurus theatre
• Nafplio old town and Palamidi fortress
• Ancient Olympia
• Monemvasia

Best time to visit The Peloponnese

April–June, September–October. Spring wildflowers and autumn light are ideal. Archaeological sites in July and August are hot at midday; we visit early.

What to do

Corinth Canal

Opened in 1893, the 6.3 km canal cuts through the isthmus with walls rising about 80 m. A short stop and a photograph from the bridge.

Epidaurus

The theatre seats around 14,000 and is famous for acoustics. Your guide will drop a coin on the stage so you can hear it from the top row.

Tip: In summer, the Athens and Epidaurus Festival stages performances in the ancient theatre.

Mycenae

Walk through the Lion Gate, the oldest monumental sculpture in Europe, and down into the Treasury of Atreus.

Olympia

The ruins of the sanctuary of Zeus and the original stadium where the ancient Games were held, with an outstanding museum.

Where to stay

• Nafplio: Elegant harbour town and the best base for Mycenae and Epidaurus.
• Monemvasia: Stay inside the walled lower town for a medieval night.
• Costa Navarino: A five-star resort coast in the south-west.

Getting there

• Nafplio is about 1.5 hours (140 km) from Athens by road.
• Olympia is roughly 3.5 hours from Athens.

Local tips

• Climb Palamidi fortress early; it has a very large number of steps (the traditional count is 999, in practice somewhat fewer) and little shade.

Detail from Greek sources

• Greek sources give the capacity of the ancient theatre of Epidaurus as 13,000–14,000 spectators, and it has been famous since antiquity for its symmetry and acoustics.
• The Epidaurus theatre and the Sanctuary of Asklepios are on UNESCO’s World Heritage list (1988). Modern performances of ancient drama began in the mid-1950s (sources give 1954 or 1955) and today form the heart of the Athens & Epidaurus Festival.

Greek-language sources: Visit Peloponnese (el): Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus; in.gr (el): The theatre of Epidaurus.