Holiday in Peloponnes

What makes Peloponnes special as a destination?

The Peloponnese is the historical heart of Greece — a vast peninsula separated from the mainland by the Corinth Canal, where the cradle of Western civilization lies. Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympic Games (776 BC), Mycenae with the Lion Gate and the treasures of Agamemnon, Epidaurus with its perfectly acoustic ancient theater, and Sparta, the legendary warrior city — the density of world-historical sites is overwhelming. The landscape of the Peloponnese is as diverse as its history: the wild Mani peninsula in the south with its tower houses and the stalactite caves of Diros, the fertile plain of Messenia with the golden beaches of Costa Navarino, the green mountains of Arcadia with the spectacular Lousios Gorge, and the wine-renowned Nemea create a landscape full of contrasts. The coast offers hidden coves, including the picturesque fishing harbor of Monemvasia — a Byzantine rock city that rises from the sea like a Greek Gibraltar. Nafplio, the first capital of modern Greece, is among the most beautiful small towns in Europe, featuring the Palamidi fortress and the Venetian harbor. Kalamata, as the gateway to Messenia, is famous for its olives. Corinth, once one of the most powerful ancient cities, offers an impressive engineering feat with its canal (6.3 kilometers long, only 24.6 meters wide). The Peloponnese is ideal for a road trip: well-developed roads connect ancient sites, mountain villages, and secluded beaches. The peninsula is reachable from Athens in one hour and offers enough for several weeks of exploration.