Destinations / The Best Places to Visit in the Peloponnese, Greece / Olympia
Olympia
Olympia is known for the original Olympic Games, which were held for the first time in 776 BC and here is the stadium where the games were held and where lights the Olympic flame, the symbol of the Olympic Games. Old Olympia is in fact, an extensive, like the Olympic village today. In the center are the ruins of the temple of Zeus.
The Temple of Hera was used to honor the heroes athletes, but the building is much smaller than the temple of Zeus. Olympia Archaeological Museum, which is one of the most beautiful archeological museums of Greece, was renovated.
Olympia, a city in ancient Greece in Elis, is known as the venue of the Olympic Games. The town is located in the south-east of Greece, located 20 km from Pyrgos and about 350 km from Athens. The resort enjoys a Mediterranean climate with sunny and dry summers and mild, rainy winters. During summer, are temperatures between 17 and 29.
Olympia Attractions
Main attractions: Museum of History of the Olympic Games, The Greek Art Museum, the archaeological site of the Olympic Games , the classical Temple of Bassae.
Olympia is known for hosting the statue of Zeus, one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world. Although the statue was destroyed, the legend continues to attract tourists eager to discover fragments of the ancient world. They were similar to Delphi and Pitiene Games were held every four years dating from 776 BC at the latest and were banned in the late fourth century by Emperor Theodosius.
The Statue of Zeus, the impressive, made of ivory and gold, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, is the work of sculptor Phidias. The excavation of the temple surroundings, were led mostly by German archaeologists in the late nineteenth century and helped to discover the statue of Hermes by Praxiteles. The Temple of Bassae lies in the south of Olympia is one of the most beautiful temples of Greece, dedicated to Apollo Epicurus. It was built around 420 BC and discovered in 1765.
Historical Museum of the Olympic Games exhibit materials and works of literature that tell the history of the Olympic Games until 1906. Here there is also a collection of stamps. Olympia City has its own airport near Kalamata . Holidays in Olympia can be combined with trips to nice destinations of western Peloponnese, like Killini, Katakolo or Kalamata.
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The name comes from the legendary hero of the peninsula Pelops.
Nowadays the peninsula developed and has wonderful resorts and hotels, wonderful landscapes and a rich history.
The legendary islands from Peloponnese are ideal places to spend summer and winter vacations.
Their variety can satisfy the desires of every tourist.
Loutraki developed spa and luxury hotels, in Mani you can find castles and historic mansions, Arkadia and Monemvasia have special mountain chalets, Parnassus and Taygetos have many mountain villas.
Beaches in the Peloponnese are sandy or sandy with small patches of small pebbles.
Families with children should pay attention to the northern coast regions Achaia and Corinth.
There is a resort focused on a family vacation.
On the south coast are deserted picturesque beaches.
In the Corinthia tourists choose to stay at the beach of Loutraki or Xilokastro or on a pebble coast Sikya, for the purity of its waters.
In Argolida remarkable is the sandy beach of Tolo, Plepi and Porto Heli, the same to choose pebbles for their transparency uncontaminated with sand water, worth of attention is also the Palais Epidavros, Ermioni or Arvantiyu.
According to the Peloponnese you can study the history of ancient Greece, one of the richest in the sights of the country.
For example, Mycenae- the center of ancient civilization of the world where still are preserved the ruins of the palace of the legendary Lion's Gate.
Or the very Sparta , the birthplace of 300 Spartans, the most powerful body and spirit of the inhabitants of ancient Greece.
Olympia all know as ancestor of the Olympic Games.
Today you can see the most ancient stadium, take the first athletes.
Also noteworthy is the city of Corinth , which gave the world Corinthian columns.
Decorating today are not only ancient columns, but also modern mansions.
In Epidaurus flock to pilgrimage came under the influence of Melpomene theater-goers: it is in Epidaurus is the oldest theater in the country, whose acoustics still affects the minds of architects and engineers - the ringing of the fallen coin in the center of the scene can be heard even at 60 m, in the back row.
Peloponnese is multidimensional and an amazing place to visit.
Important archeological sites, ancient cities, fortresses where are held important festivals and cultural events located in a wonderful natural settings with mountains, rivers and beaches are an attraction for tourists worldwide.
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