Peloponnese Tours and Vacation Packages
The Peloponnese is a peninsula in southern Greece, separated from the central part of the country by the Gulf of Corinth and connected by the Corinth Canal. It is the southernmost part of the mainland. The Peloponnese has a wealth of ancient, historical and archaeological sites to enjoy on a Greece vacation. Some of the more important ones include the following.
Corinth
Ancient Corinth was one of the largest and most important cities in Greece around 400 BC. It was home to the legendary Jason of the Argonauts and visited by St Paul who taught the gospel of Christ here. Most of the ruins are from the Roman occupation as they came under Roman rule in 146 BC. The exception is the Temple of Apollo, a Doric temple from the 5th Century BC. The ancient theatre was constructed in the 5th Century BC also and could hold up to 15,000 spectators. There is an excellent museum with exhibits of Greek and Roman statues, typical Corinthian pottery and ceramics mosaics, figurines, reliefs and friezes.
Epidaurus
The main attraction here is the huge ancient theatre from the 3rd Century BC which seats up to 14,000 people. It is one of the best-preserved Classical Greek structures in existence and is now used for performances of Ancient Greek drama during the annual Hellenic Festival. It is renowned for its amazing acoustics; a coin dropped in the theatre's centre can be heard from the highest seat.
Mycenae
Mycenae was one of the major centres of Greek civilization during the Mycenaean era (1600 to 1100 BC). It is a UNESCO World Heritage site and has associations with Homer of the Iliad and the Odyssey and who wrote about Mycenae in the 9th Century BC. The ancient city consisted of a fortified citadel, today, solid construction of massive stone blocks over which rear two large lionesses. It contains what was once the royal cemetery. Excavations unearthed one of the richest archaeological discoveries ever including a well-preserved gold death mask. Another Mycenae highlight is the Treasury of Atreus, also known as Agamemnon's Tomb.
Olympia
This is the birthplace of the Olympic Games. The ancient games were held every 4 years from the 8th Century BC to the 4th Century AD. Today, the Olympic flame is lit here before it travels around the world to its destination. Now, on Greek vacations, there are only ruins to look at, which include the Gymnasium from the 2nd Century BC, the workshop where the gold statue of Zeus was sculpted (it was one of the seven ancient wonders of the world), the immense Doric Temple of Zeus and the Stadium which was rectangular, unlike today's stadiums. It could seat at least 45,000 spectators. It is helpful to visit the archaeological museum beforehand which will help to have an idea of how the buildings looked in their prime.
Sparta
Sparta was a prominent city in ancient Greece when it was a major military power. In the 4th Century BC, Sparta was in opposition to Athens during the Peloponnesian War. The Archaeological Museum of Sparta has artifacts from the Mycenaean to the Roman period (1100 BC-324 AD) and gives a good idea of the art and history of ancient Sparta. Some of the ancient sites remaining include the ruins of the Rotunda, the Theatre, the Temple of Athena and the Sanctuary of Artemis Orthia.
The Peloponnese Peninsula is well worth exploring on a Greece vacation.
Extend your Stay
Consider an additional stopover to your Greece vacation at one of Goway's other European destinations. You can choose from a Paris vacation, a London vacation or an Amsterdam vacation. This can be done stopping over en route to or from Greece.
Peleponnese
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