Peloponnese Tourism Information Peloponnese, Greece .
The Peloponnese is a large peninsula that occupies the most southern part of mainland Greece. It is divided into seven prefectures Achaia, Argolida, Arkadia, Ilia, Korinthia, Lakonia and Messinia. The Peloponnese covers an area of 21,549 km² (8,320 square miles). Technically Peloponnese is an island and it’s connected to the rest of mainland Greece by two land connections a natural one at the Isthmos Canal in Korinth and an artificial one in the shape of the Rio-Antirio bridge that was completed in August of 2004 just before the Olympic Games that took place in Greece.
In the East, the coast of the Peloponnese meets the Aegean sea with its crystal cool waters and numerous islands as the Dodecanese and Cyclades Islands and in the West, the Ionian sea with warm blue waters and the Ionian Islands (Zakynthos, Corfu, Cefalonia, Paxi, Ithaki, Lefkada). At the bottom of the Peloponnese we can find the island of Kythira which belongs to the Ionian Islands.The peninsula is full of mountains with Mountain Taygetus its highest point and deeply indented coasts. It possesses four south-pointing peninsulas, Messenia, the Mani Peninsula, Cape Malea (also known as Epidaurus Limera), and the Argolid in the far northeast of the Peloponnese.
Peloponnese Map
Peloponnese weather online
History of Peloponnese
Peloponnese got its modern name from the Greek Mythology. It was conquered by Pelop and Peloponnese means the island of Pelop. The peninsula was known as Moreas during the middle ages. That was, according to the folk etymology, because the Crusades found many mulberry trees (moreai in Greek) planted used in the silk industry.
The Aegean or Mycenaean civilization was Greece’s first major civilization that dominated the peninsula in Bronze Age from the stronghold of Mycenaean in the northeast of it. The Peloponnese was in the middle of the conflicts in ancient Greece as the main cities and states were located here and saw some of the bloodiest wars such as the Persian War and Peloponnesean War during the years of 431BC-404BC. The cities of Sparta, Korinthos, Argos and Megalopolis formed the Peloponnesean league. In 146BC it fell to the expanding Roman Republic and became the province of Achaia. Byzantine Empire ruled Peloponnese until 1204 when it was lost to the Venetians and Franks. The Venetians occupied many ports around the coast such as Monemvasia, Pylos and Koroni until the 15th century when the Byzantines regained control centred at the hill town of Mystras near Patras. In between the years 1458-1460 the Ottoman Turks took over the Peloponnese. They were followed by the Venetians in 1685-1718 after the successful Morean war but the Ottomans were back in 1715. The only opposition to the strong Ottoman authority was in the Mani peninsula by rebellions and the bands of klephts. The Greek war of Independence began in the Peloponnese when rebels took over Kalamata in 1821. Nafplio became the seat of independed Greece’s first Parliament.
During the 19th and the 20th century a large part of its population immigrated to other cities in Greece mostly Athens and also to Australia and the United States. It was badly affected by Second World War and the Greek Civil War but matters have improved throughout Greece especially since entering the European Community in 1981. However the Peloponnese is one of the most conservative parts of Greece and is a stronghold of the right wing New Democracy party with the exceptions of Patras and Kalamata which support the Panhellenic Socialist party.
Archaeological sites and ancient cities
Peloponnese has lived to the beat of the history from Bronze Age through to the Middle Ages. Some of the most important archaeological sites can be found in the Peninsula until today. The most important ones are:
Olympia: ancient Olympia can be found on the west of the Peloponnese between the rivers of Alfeios and Kladeos. It was the sanctuary of ancient Greece and the birthplace of the Olympic Games during ancient times. The first Olympiad took place in 776BCE and repeated every four years ever since. The sanctuary consists of several buildings that were built in different eras. The temple of Hera was built in the 7th century BCE. The Treasuries and the Pelopion were constructed during the 6th century BCE. The temple of Zeus and the hippodrome were built during the Classical era. Prytaneion was built in 470BCE. During the Hellenistic Period, Philippeion, the Palaestra and Gymnasion were erected. During the Roman Period the Nympheum was built and many repairs were made to older buildings. One of the Seven Wonders of ancient world the gigantic gold and ivory statue of Zeus sculpted by Pheidias used to stand here. After the 6th century CE the site was buried and it was discovered again by archaeologists in the 19th century. Excavations are continuing until our days bringing to the light more history.
Today the Olympic Flame is lit by reflection of sunlight in a parabolic mirror on the grounds of ancient Olympia. It is transferred by a torch to the city that hosts the Games and marks the beginning of the modern Olympic Games.
Bassae:is an archaeological site that was part of Arkadia in ancient times. Bassae is famous for the well-preserved Temple of Apollo Epicurius. It was designed by Iktinos the architect of Paprthenon, between 450BC-420BC. Apollo was the Greek god of the sun and healing (Epicurius means the helper) and the temple was built to honour him after the inhabitants were saved by a plague. It is located on a hill called Assai that it means “little vial in the rock”.
The Temple was made by grey Arcadian limestone except the frieze which was carved on marble. The Temple uses all three classical orders found in ancient Greece the Doric (Doric columns forming the epistyle) the Corinthian (Corinthian columns in the interior) and Ionic (Ionic columns supporting the porch) and that makes it an unusual building.
The first full excavation started about 1938 from Russians archaeologists who brought to light the oldest Corinthian capital ever found. Systematic archaeological research started in 1902 by the Archaeological Society of Athens. Today a large tent covers the top of the temple which protects it from the severe weather and the acid rain.
Epidaurus:Epidaurus was a small city in ancient Greece. It was a healing and a spiritual center in ancient times. Greeks went there to pay tribute to Apollo’s son Asklipios the god of healing and to ask the gods for remedies in order to cure their illness. Epidaurus was built in the 3rd century BC and the most famous structure is the ancient Theater of Epidaurus. The Theater was designed by Polykleitos the younger.
It retained the circular Orchestra throughout the years especially during the Roman occupation. Romans used to make the theatres semicircular and they changed some but luckily not the theatre of Epidaurus. They only extended the rows from 21 to 34. The view and the acoustics of the theatre are remarkable to all 15000 spectators regardless their seating.
The theatre is in use today with plays, ancient tragedies, festivals and concerts.
Mycenae: Mycenae is an archaeological site located in Argolida in the northeast part of the Peloponnese about 90 kilometres southwest of Athens, 6 kilometres from Argos, and 48 kilometres from Corinth lying on a rocky hill and protected by the Cyclopean Walls. Mycenae was the center of power in ancient Greece and named the period between 1600BC to 1100BC. Mycenae derives its name from the place in Peloponnese where once stood a great palace. According to Homer it was the seat of King Agamemnon who led the Greeks in the Trojan War. The Mycenaean culture dominated the Bronze Age with its art, legends and ideas such as the Labours of Hercules, the dynasty of Atreids, the Trojan War and Agamemnon’s life and murder from his wife and her lover after coming victorious from the Trojan War.
Mycenaean period was an era of prosperity for the mainland Greece with strongholds such as Tiryns, Mycenae, and Thebes. Objects of pottery and bronze, luxury items such as curved gems and jewellery, vases and glass ornaments were produced. Mycenaean goods such as oil, wine and other products were trading throughout the Mediterranean World. The Mycenaeans were not only great warriors but also excellent engineers building bridges, walls, drainage and irrigation systems.
At the ruins of the Mycenaean Acropolis the Lion Gates lead to the interior of the Acropolis with a path leading to several ancient buildings towards the palace where Agamemnon was murdered. The Grave Circle A just inside the Lion Gates contains six royal graves. A number of Kterismata and death masks taken of this grave site are now exhibited at the Archaeological Museum in Athens.
Opposite the palace on another hill is the Treasury of Atreus. It is a large Tholos Tomb also known as the Tomb of Agamemnon that was built around 1250BC.
The first excavation took place in 1841 by the Greek archaeologist Kyriakos Pittakis who found and restored the Lion Gate. A complete excavation was carried out in 1874 by Schliemann who found the shaft graves with the royal skeletons and goods. In 1902 the Acropolis was excavated and the surrounding area is methodically investigated by more excavations.
Today Mycenae is a popular tourist destination being only two hours away from Athens. The site has been well preserved with the massive Cyclopean Walls and the Acropolis with the palaces standing proud throughout the history built long before the monuments of Classical Greece.
Nafplio:Nafplio was the city that Ioannis Kapothistrias, the first governor of independed Greece, declared as the capital of Greece from 1829-1834. Today it is the capital of the prefecture of Argolida with population of about 14.000. Nafplion is situated in the Argolic Gulf in the northeast side of the Peloponnese.
Nafplion was subsequently conquered throughout the history. It was the Venetians who built the Castle of Bourtzi in the 15th century and the Castle of Palamidi in the 17th century. After the assassination of Ioannis Kapodistrias in 1831 King Otto Othonas arrived in Nafplion and established a Kingdom in Greece transferring the capital to Athens.
The Castle of Bourtzi is built in the middle of Nafplio’s harbour. Initially it was built to protect the city from pirates and it was used as a fortress until 1865. After that it was used as a residence for the executioners of convicts of Palamidi. Today is a tourist attraction.
The Castle of Palamidi is a typical baroque fortress which crowns the rocky hill above the city. In 1715 was captured by the Turks and it was made the prison of Theodoros Kolokotronis, a hero of the Greek Revolution. Today tourists find 999 challenging steps in front of them in order to climb to the top of the castle.
Mystras: Mystras is a ruined medieval fortress built on the eastern slopes of mountain Taygetos approximately eight kilometres of the town of Sparti. The ruins include palaces, monasteries, churches and convents. The city dates from the 13th century.
In 1261 Michael Palaeologus(Byzantine Emperor) made the city the seat of the new Despotate of Moreas and it remained the capital although the Venetians had the control of the coast. After Constantinople it became the second most important city under despot Theodoros.
Philosophers that lived in Mystras influenced the Italian Renaissance. One of them was George Gemistos Plethon who arrived with the Emperor John VIIII Palaeologus to Florence in 1439.
Before coming to the throne Konstantine XI the last Byzantine Emperor was a despot at Mystras. In 1460 Mystras was surrendered to the Ottoman Emperor Mehmet II by the last despot of Morea Dimitrios Palaeologus. The Ottomans held it until 1821 when the Greek War of Independence began. King Otto left Mystras for the newly built city of Sparti.
In 1989the ruins were named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Monemvasia: Monemvasia is a medieval fortress with a small adjacent town and derived its name because the castle had only one entrance. It is located on the southeast Peloponnese in the prefecture of Lakonia. Monemvasia is 320 kilometers away from Athens by car, 100 kilometres from Sparti and 84 sea miles from Piraeus. The rock is 300m tall and 1.8 kilometres long and it was detached from mainland by an earthquake that occurred in 375CE. In the 6th century Lakonians who were seeking refuge from the Arabs built the castle and the walls around the city and made a small wooden bridge. In 1471 the Despot of Moreas Thomas Palaeologus sold the town to the Pope. The town was successfully governed by Venetians (1470-1540, 1690-1715) and Ottomans (1540-1690, 1715-1821). Monemvassia was liberated in 1821 with the Greek War of Indepedence.
In 1971 a bridge was built to link Monemvassia with mainland.
In recent days there is an increase of the tourists visiting the town and the fortress as well as the house and grave of Ioannis Ritsos one of the greatest Greek poets. Many buildings have been restored and converted into motels and hotels for the visitors.
Tegea: Tegea was the most religious city in Arkadia in ancient Greece.
Tegea had struggled against Sparta and in 560BC they lost a long war that put them under the Lakedemonian’s control. In 370BC they rebelled against Sparta and leader Epaminontas established a number of cities to stand against them. Tegea was one of the cities found in Homer’s Catalogue of Ships that sent ships and men for the Achaean assault on Troy. Tegea was destroyed in 4th century AD and on the remains the Byzantine town Nikli was built.
The main attractions of the site today is the remains of the Temple of Athena Alea and a small museum. The Temple hosted the statue of Athena Alea, few parts of which are saved today. The remains that are visible today date back to the 4th century BC but a number of temples are built on the same location. The first was probably built in the 8th century BC. The Temple was burned in 395BC and was rebuilt by sculpt Scopas of Paros in 340BC.
Today it is usually referred to as Alea. Tripoli is 8 kilometres away. The municipality of Tegea has its seat at Stadio. Today it is usually referred to as Alea. Tripoli is 8 kilometres away.
Mani: Mani is a peninsula located in the south of the Peloponnese in between the Laconian Gulf and the Messenian Gulf. Mani is divided into three regions: Exo Mani to the northwest, Kato Mani to the east, Mesa Mani to the southwest. Mani is filled with history and legends since prehistoric times. Its habitats were fearless warriors and their land was thought to be one of the entrances to the underworld of Hades.
Mani became a dependency of Sparta after the Dorians occupied it in 1200BC. In the 3rd century BC Spartan power was destroyed and Mani was ruled by the Roman Empire until the 9th century AD when it was self governed again fighting against the Franks, the Byzantines and the Saracens over the next centuries. It was the Venetians in 1249 that occupied Mani and built the fortresses of Mystras and Passavas. After the fall of Constantinople and the arrival of the Ottomans Mani remained self governed in exchange of an annual tribute. The land was never occupied in the 400 year of Ottoman occupation and became a stronghold of the klephts who fought against the Ottomans. Although Maniots contributed greatly to the Greek War of Independence after it was won they wanted to keep their local autonomy and that led them to the killing of Ioannis Kapodistrias, the first governor of independent Greece, in order to make sure of that. After 1870 when local autonomy was abolished many Maniots emigrated. In 1970 the land became prosperous again and more people came back with the constraction of new roads.
Today Mani attracts people from all around the world for its Byzantine churches, the castles the breathtaking scenery and also the sandy pebble beaches such as Kalogria, Stoupa, Limeni, Gerolimenas,Kardamili and Marmari. The famous stone houses(pyrgospita) offer accommodation to the tourists and some of them have been bought and revived by Europeans for their holidays or their retirement. The Diros caves with the stalactites and the stalagmites are a famous tourist destination. Most of them are underwater and tourists have a magical tour on the gondola like boats.
Mani shapes its inhabitans with a unique character and marks its visitors for life as the landscape’s row beauty begins with the mountains on the north and dip miraculously into the sea.
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