You'll love this tour if you like:
- History
- Archaeology
- Natural beauty
- Spectacular scenery
- Mediterranean sunshine
The Peloponnese, the southernmost region of mainland Greece, is a vast area, joined to the mainland by the narrow Isthmus of Corinth and by the Rio-Antirio Bridge, the world’s longest multi-span cable-stayed bridge, which connects the region to northern Greece at Patra. Inhabited since prehistoric times, the regions modern name derives from ancient Greek mythology and the hero Pelops, who was said to have conquered the entire region.
It is a fascinating ancient area steeped in myths! Fascinating, not only in its colourful myths, its ancient history and its classical remains but also in its diverse and spectacular landscape of towering mountains; verdant rolling hills; beautiful coastlines and atmospheric timeless villages that are diverse in themselves varying from modern day farming communities to stone-built mountain retreats and picturesque seaside resorts.
It’s long and complex history begins in the Bronze Age with the Mycenaean’s who built the first great civilization of Greece. During classical antiquity, the region possessed some of the countries most powerful city-states; Sparta, Corinth, Argos; and saw some of its darkest battles. The Persians and the Romans equally had a strong hand in its long history, as did the Byzantines, the Venetians and the Franks. Its more recent history saw the Turks dominate the region from 1460 until 1821 when The Greek War of Independence (1821 – 1829) finally turned the historic tables. The decisive naval Battle of Navarino was fought and won on the west coast of the Peloponnese and the beautiful city of Nafplio, on its east coast, became the first capital of the modern state.
During our tour we will gain an insight into this long history and visit some of the grand remnants of these colourful eras whilst, at the same time, enjoy some of the regions natural beauty. Our visits include Ancient Olympia, Sacred Delphi, the citadel of Mycenae, the spectacularly preserved theatre of Epidaurus, Napflio, one of the regions loveliest towns, and Kalavryta, which we shall reach by train on the old ‘rack and pinion’ railway that snakes scenically and dramatically from the sea to the mountains.
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