Explore Peloponnese Greece
Corinth, Ancient Olympia, Nafplio (Nafplion), Mycenea, Patra, Kalamata, Apollo Temple, Githio, Monemvasia
Mystras, Mani, Rion-Antirion bridge, Sparta (Sparti), Loutraki, Epidavros, Carnival of Patras, Kalavrita, Loutraiki,
Mountain Taygetos (Taigetos), Elafonisos,

What's special about the Peloponnese?
It's tempting to answer, "Everything." Virtually every famous ancient site in Greece is in the Peloponnese-the awesome Mycenaean palaces of Kings Agamemnon and Nestor at Mycenae and Pylos (Pilos); the mysterious thick-walled Mycenaean fortress at Tiryns; the magnificent classical temples at Corinth, Nemea, Vassae, and Olympia; and the monumental theaters at Argos and Epidaurus, still used for performances today.

But the Peloponnese isn't just a grab bag of famous ancient sites. This peninsula, divided from the mainland by the Corinth Canal, is studded with medieval castles and monasteries, bounded by sand beaches, and dominated by two of Greece's most impressive mountain ranges: Taygetos and Parnon. Tucked away in the valleys and hanging precipitously from the mountainsides are hundreds of the villages that are among the Peloponnese's greatest treasures. An evening under the plane trees in tiny Andritsena, where the sheep bells are usually the loudest sounds at night, and where oregano and flowering broom scent the hills, is every bit as memorable as a visit to one of the famous ancient sites. This is perhaps especially true in the mountains of Arcadia and deep in the Mani peninsula, where traditional Greek hospitality hasn't been eroded by too many busloads of visitors.

While many of the Aegean islands sag under the weight of tourists from May until September, the Peloponnese is still relatively uncrowded, even in midsummer. That doesn't mean that you're going to have Olympia all to yourself if you arrive at high noon in August, but it does mean that if you get to Olympia early in the morning, you may have a quiet hour under the pine trees. If you're traveling with a car and can set your own pace, you can avoid the crowds at the most popular tourist destinations of Corinth, Mycenae, Epidaurus, and Olympia by visiting early in the morning or late in the afternoon.
Still, even the most avid travelers do not live by culture alone, and one of the great delights of seeing the Peloponnese comes from the quiet hours spent in seaside cafes, watching fishermen mend their nets while Greek families settle down for leisurely meals.

Leisurely is the word to remember in the Peloponnese, an ideal place to make haste slowly. And what better place to watch shepherds on the hills or fishing boats on the horizon as you wait for dinner?

Peloponnesian culinary favorites include kouneli stifado (rabbit stew) with a surprising hint of cinnamon; and fish a la Spetsai (baked with tomato sauce). In summerwhen it seems that every tree on the plain ofArgos hangs with apricots and every vine is heavy with tomatoes-Peloponnesian food is at its freshest and best. If you're here in spring, look for delicious fresh artichokes and delicate little strawberries.
The fresh lettuce grown here during the cool winter months is superb, Greek hothouses produce excellent tomatoes year-round, and there's less competition in restaurants to get the best and freshest fish. And don't forget to sample the local wines; the vineyards at Nemea, Patras, and Mantinia are famous. You can find out more about Greek wines at www.greekwine.gr.

A few suggestions for your trip to the Peloponnese: Don't forget sunscreen, a broad-brimmed hat, good walking shoes, and books to read while you're sitting in that cafe. Bookstores with a wide selection of English-language titles are few and far between here, although you will find good stores in Nafplion and Olympia. Most banks have ATMs; and all banks, most hotels, and many post offices change money at competitive rates. Speaking of competitive rates, don't hesitate to ask if there's a cheaper rate for a room than the one first quoted at a
hotel. This is especially true for a long stay, or off season, when many hotels are willing to be quite flexible in their prices-if asked.

However relaxed you get on your Peloponnesian holiday, it's a good idea to remember that this is still one of the more conservative areas of Greece, and virtually the only area where some sentiment lingers to restore the monarchy and bring back the good old days.
Most Peloponnesians are at best amused and at worst deeply offended by public drunkenness, elaborate displays of affection, and swimsuits or shorts and halters worn anywhere but on the beach (especially in, or in the precincts of, churches). That said, kalo taxidi (bon voyage) on your trip to the Peloponnese, the most beautiful and historic part of Greece.

SEEING THE REGION OF PELOPONNESE
You can tour the region in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. Whichever approach you choose, at some point you'll probably head into the center of the Peloponnese, either to see the Byzantine ghost town of Mistra outside ancient Sparta, or to take in some of the lovely mountain villages of Arcadia and the Temple of Vassae dedicated to Apollo. Here's one suggested itinerary based on the assumption that you have your own car. If you're traveling by public transportation, you'd be wise to double the time allowed. Even if you do have a car, don't let yourself be deceived by the short distances between what you want to see in the Peloponnese. You'll be astonished at how long even a short drive on a winding mountain road can takeespecially when you have to stop repeatedly to let flocks of goats cross that road!
In 2 days, you can see most of the important sites in the northern Peloponnese as well as the lovely harbor town of Nafplion. Head from Athens to Corinth, have a look at the canal, and visit the ancient site as well as Acrocorinth, the sugarloaf mountain that looms over the plain of Corinth. Head on to Mycenae before ending up for the night in Nafplion, where you can take a swim at the public bathing beach. In the morning, explore Nafplion and drive over to Epidaurus to see the famous theater and site, before heading back along the coast to Athens. If you have a few more days to spend here, you can head from Nafplion to Tripolis and Olympia, taking in some of the Arcadian mountain villages and perhaps the Temple of Vassae en route. Then you can head back to Athens along the Gulf of Corinth, which offers lots of chances for a swim. At this point, you still will have missed a great deal in the Peloponnese - so we hope you have at least a week to spend here. And remember: If you are heading from the Peloponnese into Central Greece, the Rio-AntiRio suspension bridge which opened in 2004 makes a journey from, for example, Olympia to Delphi, very easy.