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The Peleponnese seems to have an abundance everything for which Greece is known: ancient ruins, medieval churches, sandy beaches, charming towns, and spectacular scenery. It is barely an island, having been created as such with the completion of the Corinth Canal in 1890, and many of its attractions lie within easy driving distance of Athens.
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Ancient Corinth (above) was once one of the wealthiest cities in the ancient world. It contains several important monuments from both the Greek and Roman periods, having been rebuilt by Julius Caesar in 44BC. Saint Paul addressed an epistle to residents of the city in 54AD, although it was largely abandoned following earthquakes in 522 and 551AD.
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The scenery along the highway from Corinth down the eastern side of the Peleponnese is classically Mediterranean. |
Epidaurus - the theater, built in the 4C BC. Ancient Epidaurus was the site of a sanctuary to Aesclepius, the legendary son of Apollo. |
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Poros (left) is a small island just off the coast of the Peleponnese, measuring just 8km at its widest point. There are no particular sites apart from the beautiful setting, the quiet streets, and a plethora of relaxing cafes along the waterfront which cater to the tourists. |
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| Two views (above)
of Náfplio, capital of Greece from 1829-34 and the largest town in the
eastern Peleponnese. It is beautifully set on a small harbor with a
large Venetian fortress atop the large hill of Palamídhi rising
immediately behind it.
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| Two views of
a summer sunset at Náfplio (above).
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At least the climb up the 899 steps to the top of the Palamídhi hill affords a breathtaking view of Náfplios and across the Argolid. |
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| Two views (above)
of the Palamídhi fortress, built by the Venetians between 1711 and
1714. It was named after Palamedes, a resident of ancient Náfplios
who local legend holds was the inventor of both dice and the measuring
scale.
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| Mistra (right), one
of the foremost Byzantine sites in the Balkans, lies just outside Sparta
in the central Peleponnese. It originated in the late 1249 when the
Franks built a castle here; they were driven out by the Byzantines in
1271, who ruled from until the Turks invaded in 1460. This was the
last Byzantine territory to fall under Turkish domination.
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The Pantánassa convent at Mistra is a blend of Greek and earlier Byzantine styles, and is still in use. |
The church of Ayios Nicholaos at Mistra dates from the 17C, and is beside a stone wall which led from the lower to the upper town. |
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The Ayia Sofia church at Mistra served as a chapel for the royal palace, and was later converted by the Turks into a mosque.
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With its many red tile roofs clinging to a hillside, Dhimitsána is characteristic of many small towns in the central part of the Peleponnese. |
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| Monemvassía
(above) is a charming small town on an island off the southeast coast of
the Peleponnese. It was founded in the 6C by the Byzantines, and
became an important port. Although it once had a population
estimated at up to 60,000, it is today a small and isolated village of
just a few hundred. At right are the remains of the defensive walls
which surround the town.
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| The quiet and
secluded streets of Monemvassía (above) - which also are free of cars -
appeal to tourists and the many resident artists and writers alike.
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The rock outcropping behind Monemvassía affords an excellent view of the town. This is the Mitropolis Hristós Elkómenos, or cathedral, built under the Byzantines in 1293.
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Monemvassía - a view of the rest of the town from the top of the island. |
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Parts of the remains of the Citadel atop Monemvassía date from the 13C.
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The church of Ayia Sofia is inside the Citadel fortress and was built in the late 13C. |
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Map of the Peleponnese courtesy of Dilos Holiday World. |
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