Corinth
Visit Ancient Greece
Corinth (Korinthos) The canal at Corinth is one of the wonders of the modern world and should not be missed. It was completed in 1893 after 12 years work. Modern Corinth is of little interest to the visitor being mainly an agricultural service town. The main attraction here is the site of ancient Corinth perched on a hill between the main roads to Patra and Nafplio. Here are the well-preserved remains of its center dominated by a fifth-century B.C. Temple of Apollo.
Corinth at a glance
Corinth is one of the most important cities of the antiquity that lies just 80 km away from the capital city of Athens. The city consists of small towns and villages and is surrounded by friendly Gulfs with clear blue waters. You will be able to visit the monolithic rock of Acrocorinth, the place where the Ancient Acropolis of Corinth was situated.
Corinth used to be a city-state in the ancient years, a very important commercial hub for the region.
The ancient Agora and the Temple of Apollo that stands in the region since the 6th century BC. The city was destroyed during the Roman Empire.
Corinth is also renowned due to the short stay of St. Paul who lived and preached here for two years. St. Paul disembarked at the ancient port of Kechrai, a place you can visit during the sightseeing tour.
A visit to Corinth isn’t complete without seeing the site of Ancient Corinth, where ongoing excavations take place, and trekking to the top of the overlooking mountain, to the site of Acrocorinth.
“ I want to have an 'Eat, Pray, Love' experience where I drop off the face of the planet and move to Greece.“ Jennifer Hyman
Previous
Next
Corinth canal
The strip of land that connects the Peloponnese and mainland Greece, the Isthmus, is really worth visiting. The oppressor of Corinth, Periander, was the first who envisioned the Corinth Canal in 602BC, but the technical abilities in ancient times made this difficult to carry out.
The idea for the Corinth canal providing a shortcut and safe passage between the Aegean and the Ionian Sea dates back to the Roman times when Nero performed some initial excavations with a silver shovel. It was only in the 1980s though that technology made it possible, providing everything needed to cut across the 6 km Isthmus of Corinth.
Opened in July 1893, along with its near-contemporary Suez, the Corinth Canal helped establish the port of Piraeus in Athens as a major Mediterranean port, with supertankers, sailing boats and cargo boats getting there easier. It is 78 meters high and 25 meters wide and cuts through the Isthmus of Corinth.
Approaching on the main highway from Athens to Corinth, you will cross the canal near the eastern end. At the bridge over the Corinth Canal, you will see a line of coffee shops, where most buses from Athens going on tour to Greece stop for a while.
Peering from the bridge the canal seems like a tiny strip of water, until some huge freighter assumes toy-like dimensions, as it passes hundreds of meters below. If you were to take one of the cruise ships from Piraeus to the Ionian Sea you would sail through the canal of Corinth, a trip worthwhile for its own sake.
At the western end of the canal by the old Corinth, you can see some parts of the diolkos, a paved way along which a wheeled platform used to carry boats across the isthmus. In use from the Roman times until the 12th century, the boats were strapped onto the platform after being relieved temporarily of their cargo.
When passing by the Corinth Canal, don’t miss the chance to take pictures of the passing boats. The experience is truly amazing!
Linked to Attica by the Isthmus of Corinth, now breached by the Corinth Canal, is a vast and mountainous peninsula which is welcoming a wide number of visitors from all around the globe. The landmass is made up of high peaks, whereas the eastern coastal basic, the Argolid, is devoted to cereals and market gardens.
Peloponnese tourism
Linked to Attica by the Isthmus of Corinth, now breached by the Corinth Canal, is a vast and mountainous peninsula which is welcoming a wide number of visitors from all around the globe. The landmass is made up of high peaks, whereas the eastern coastal basic, the Argolid, is devoted to cereals and market gardens.
A natural “museum” of classic and Byzantine art. Peloponnese is inviting you to discover its magic. An impressive peninsula with a rich variety of landscapes, wide forestlands, imposing mountains and beautiful beaches. Discover the trails of the amazing Mycenaean culture, the birthplace of the Olympic Games and the brilliance of the Byzantine.
Sightseeing
While in Peloponnese visit Sparta, the historic city with a population of 10,000 which to the west of the City you will find the beautiful, rocky Taygetos.The Byzantine city of Mystras is a short 15-minute ride away and what you will see will regard you.
Also visit Gytheion city a pretty traditional fishing village with delicious seafood restaurants and a variety of beaches in the area Nearby Caves of Dyros is a large limestone cave system which is toured on a boat. Additionally, Monemvassia is really worth visiting as well as Ancient Olympia where these areas cultural background will amaze you. Also don’t hesitate to visit Nafplio, a beautiful town full of many things to do. Also explore the surrounding area which includes Epidaurus the largest outdoor amphitheater with the best acoustics, Mycenae.
The Mountains of Corinthia
From Acrocorinth the road continues on to Nemea. Here the soil is yellow, dry, ideal for the cultivation of grapes.
The whole district is covered with vines. The neighboring village of Herakleio is a silent witness to the passing of the mighty Herakles. It was in this area that the legendary hero slew the fearsome Lion of Nemea. There is not much left of ancient Nemea: three columns from the temple of Zeus, a few foundations, the outline of a palaestra and, 500 meters down the road, the stadium. It was here that the panhellenic Nemean Games were held, in honor of some local hero. They took place every two years and the victors’ reward was a crown of wild celery. The lake no longer harbors man-eating, iron-winged birds; they were destroyed by Herakles.
All that is left is the ruined temple of Artemis and the walls that encircled the old city. In the region, there is also a Frankish church (13th c.) and ruins of a Frankish castle.
At the foothills of Ziria (Mt. Killini, where Pausanias had seen white blackbirds), between the villages of Geura and Fenees, every year on the second Sunday of September a big fair is held.
The road proceeds to Kastania, a charming mountain village (alt. 920 m.), surrounded by fir trees. It is one of the most popular places in Corinthia for a winter holiday.
Back in Nemea, you come next to the pass of Dervenakia where the “Old Man of the Morea”, Kolokotronis, routed a Turkish army. The road for Argos runs through it, while another road leads to Hiliemedi, Klenia, and Agieneri, where there is a medieval castle and a church with lovely frescoes.
