The Corinth Canal is a waterway that crosses the narrow isthmus of Corinth to link the Gulf of Corinth to the Saronic Gulf. As such, the canal separates the Greek mainland from the Peloponnese, turning it into an island The canal, though executed in the late 19th century, has been a 2000-year-old dream. Before its construction, ships in the Aegean Sea that wanted to cross to the Adriatic or anchor in Corinth, a rich shipping city, had to circle the Peloponnese, which would prolong their journey an extra 185 nautical miles. It is believed that Periander, the tyrant of Corinth (602 BC), was the first to conceive of the idea of digging the Corinth Canal. As the project was too complicated given the limited technical capabilities of the times, Periander constructed the diolkos, a stone road which allowed ships to be transferred on wheeled platforms.
Kechries is a village in the municipality of Corinth in Corinthia in Greece, part of the community of Xylokeriza. It takes its name from the ancient port town Kenchreai or Cenchreae (as mentioned in the Bible), which was situated at the same location. Christianity also arrived at Kenchreai early in the religion's history. According to Acts 18:18, the Apostle Paul stopped at Kenchreai during his second missionary journey, where he had his hair cut to fulfil a vow, probably a Nazirite vow. Paul mentions the place and a woman named Phoebe in the local assembly in his epistle to the Romans “And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow.”
During Paul‘s stay in Corinth, he was brought for judgment before the proconsul Lucius Junius Gallio Annaeanus, also known as Gallio, on the accusation of conducting illegal teachings. Gallio, however, refused to judge what he considered to be a mere religious dispute among the Jews. According to tradition, the site of Paul s trial was the Bema, a large elevated rostrum standing prominently in the centre of the Roman Forum of ancient Corinth and from where the city’s officials addressed the public. Probably because of the monument’s connection to Saint Paul, the Bema was transformed into a Christian church during the Byzantine period.
The Archaeological Museum of Ancient Corinth was Constracted between 1931 and 1932 with intentions to display the numerous recent archaeological excavetions . The nmuseum is located within the archaeological site of Ancient Corinth Greece and lies under the jurisdiction of the 37th Ephoreia of the Greek Archaeological Service.Key aspects of the Archaeological site of Ancient Corinth include Hadgimoustafa spring ,Lechaion Road ,Basilica , Fountain of Peirene , stoa , Agora , Odien
The Temple of Apollo at Corinth was constracted in 550 BC.Temple of Apollo one of the earliest Doric temples in the Peloponnese and the Greek Mainland with monolithic columns rare in the ancient world built around 560 BCE
Agora: A rectangular construction 160 m long and 70 m wide, consisting of central shops, small temples and altar and the renowned podium or Bema from where Apostle Paul addressed the Corinthians in 52 AD.
Acrocorinth, "Upper Corinth", the acropolis of ancient Corinth, is a monolithic rock overseeing the ancient city of Corinth, Greece. With its secure water supply, Acrocorinth's fortress was repeatedly used as a last line of defense in southern Greece because it commanded the Isthmus of Corinth, repelling foes from entry by land into the Peloponnese peninsula.
The fortified citadel of ancient Mycenae, the seat of the mythical and mighty King Agamemnon. An impressive and well-preserved site, the city of Mycenae gave its name to an entire civilization. Admire sites such as the Tomb of Clytemnestra, the infamous Lion’s Gate, the Cyclopean walls and learn of their blood-stained past. In the second millennium BC, Mycenae was one of the major centres of Greek civilization, a military stronghold which dominated much of southern Greece, Crete, the Cyclades and parts of southwest Anatolia. The period of Greek history from about 1600 BC to about 1100 BC is called Mycenaean in reference to Mycenae. At its peak in 1350 BC, the citadel and lower town had a population of 30,000 and an area of 32 hectares.
The Lion Gate was the main entrance of the Bronze Age citadel of Mycenae, southern Greece. It was erected during the 13th century BC, around 1250 BC, in the northwest side of the acropolis and is named after the relief sculpture of two lionesses or lions in a heraldic pose that stands above the entrance. The Lion Gate is the sole surviving monumental piece of Mycenaean sculpture, as well as the largest sculpture in the prehistoric Aegean. It is the only monument of Bronze Age Greece to bear an iconographic motif that survived without being buried underground, and the only relief image which was described in the literature of classical antiquity, such that it was well known prior to modern archaeology.
The archaeological site of Mycenae comprises the fortified acropolis and surrounding funerary and habitation sites, which are located mainly to its west and southwest. Most of the visible monuments date to the centre's great floruit, from 1350 to 1200 BC. Great Cyclopean walls surround the almost triangular acropolis, which is accessed from the northwest through the famous Lion Gate, the symbol of the Mycenaean rulers' power. The gate was named after the two opposing lions carved in relief and set into the relieving triangle, a typical feature of Mycenaean architecture, over the door.
The Treasury of Atreus or Tomb of Agamemnon is a large tholos or beehive tomb on Panagitsa Hill at Mycenae constructed during the Bronze Age around 1250 BC. The stone lintel above the doorway weighs 120 tons, with approximate dimensions 8.3 x 5.2 x 1.2m, the largest in the world. The tomb was used for an unknown period. Mentioned by the Roman geographer Pausanias in the 2nd century AD, it was still visible in 1879 when the German archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann discovered the shaft graves under the "agora" in the Acropolis at Mycenae.
One of the most well-preserved castles in all of Greece, Palamidi offers spectacular views of the city from its loopholes, wonderful routes inside and terrifying terrain in the hole-prison of Kolokotronis, Palamidi is a fortress to the east of the Acronauplia in the town of Nafplio in the Peloponnese region of southern Greece. Nestled on the crest of a 216-metre high hill, the fortress was built by the Venetians during their second occupation of the area (1686–1715). The fortress commands an impressive view over the Argolic Gulf, the city of Náfplio and the surrounding country. There are 913 steps in the winding stair from the town to the fortress. However, to reach the top of the fortress there are over one thousand, while locals in the town of Nafplion will say there are 999 steps to the top of the castle.
Old Town No wonder so many of its visitors fail to detach, and end up seeing nothing else: Its cobbled streets, which meander among doll mansions and under flowered balconies, are enough to fill an entire weekend. The stone steps that you will encounter every few steps lead to the above neighborhoods, where that dreamy silence that will bring to mind something from Monemvasia reigns. In the center of it all, Syntagma Square with its impressive openness is the zero point of the old town. From here we will travel through time towards a more recent history of Greece and to the city of Nafplion. Nafplion is considered the most scenic city which also functioned as the capital of Greece until 1834. It offers you an impressive combination of fortresses and castles (Palamidi, Bourtzi), an enormous port opened to the Aegean Sea and the unique architecture of the old city of Nafplion revealing Venetian, neoclassical and oriental elements. Lunch will be at a traditional tavern by the sea.
It was built by the Venetians in 1473 and was called Castello dello Soglio, meaning Castle of the Throne. "Bourtzi" was said by the Ottomans who came later, that is, a fortress, and its name remained. The small thousand-photographed fortress on the islet of Agioi Theodoroi has been a prison and later a luxury hotel in the honored 60s. Today, it is the perfect postcard setting for every Nafplio sunset - here you will arrive in less than 10 minutes by boat
tour of Syntagma( Constitution) SquareThe Parliament Once upon a time, sometime in the 18th century, history tells us that two Venetians came to Nafplio to find a treasure that their father had hidden here while he was governor of the city. They met the Turkish Aga, in whose sarai the treasure was indeed found. But he killed them to keep him - a little later he regretted it, so he threw all the bloody money into the construction of a mosque, to ask God to forgive him. During his reign, during the reign of Kapodistrias, the Parliament of the newly formed Greek state was built. The Municipal Gallery of Nafplio can be visited on the ground floor today.
The Acronauplia is the oldest part of the city of Nafplion in Greece. Until the thirteenth century, it was a town on its own. The arrival of the Venetians and the Franks transformed it into part of the town's fortifications. Later, part of it was used as a prison until the Greek government decided that the view provided from its location would benefit the local tourism and built a hotel complex which still stands there today.
The Lion of the Bavarians It's impressive, it's huge, it's carved into the rock above Michael Iatrou Street, with a small park under its feet. The sleeping lion is the work of German sculptor Christian Ziegel, commissioned by King Louis, father of Otto, in memory of the Bavarian soldiers of Otto's dynasty, who died in Nafplio in 1833 of a typhoid epidemic. The locals, of course, say that what killed them was the many bitter things they ate, hence the other, unofficial name of the monument (echm) Agouroon.
Great experience with our driver Gianny. Professional, knowledgeable and trustworthy. He is a really good driver and the car was confortable. The company is also reliable. Good communication.
Chris was beyond amazing. He was so knowledgeable, friendly, conversational, and experienced. He made the trip fun and exciting while also making sure throughout every stop we were able to experience everything we wanted. Once he found out things we’d already seen and what we wanted to see most, he did everything he could to make that happen. I don’t think we could’ve seen half as much on our own. 147/10 recommend this group, company, and most specifically Chris. Best tour so far on our trip!
Popular events so quite crowded. But definitely a must see. Driver was personable, and extremely considerate.
Wonderful full day private tour. Our driver, Yiannes was fantastic! He explained so much history throughout the day. Was very courteous & provided us with everything we were looking for & more! Highly recommend!
One of the best experiences we had in Athens was with our driver, Alexis, who was waiting for us at the hotel to start our tour to Corinth. He created a program tailored to our interests — the perfect choice for a family vacation. The best stop was in Tolo, which wasn’t originally in our itinerary, but it was a wonderful suggestion by Alexis, allowing us to swim and enjoy a meal at an excellent restaurant he also recommended. We truly thank him from the bottom of our hearts. We had very interesting conversations, a very pleasant day, and a lot of laughter. Thank you, Alexis, for this excursion! We will definitely visit Greece again in the future, as we learned that the company offers tours all over the country!
This is NOT A PRIVATE tour. When they say "This is a private tour/activity, only your group will participate" they mean that people you have never met in your life, and who booked the same tour (albeit for 6 hours, not 9) through Viator's competitor will tag along. Oh the two others will have not only have paid 263 USD in total, and get a 173 partial reimbursement from said competitor (cause it was supposed to be private for them too) When you point out this anomaly, and request a partial refund, Viator will refuse. The stated reason: "The more are on your tour the more affordable it gets per person". My point exactly, which is why I sought a partial reimbursement. Bottom line: The information listed here is false. Viator is not a good faith merchant.
Our driver and guide, CHRISTOS ZERVAS, arrived on time and was neatly dressed in a suit. He immediately reviewed the itinerary, and we discussed our priorities for the trip. As we are Seniors, and had just climbed the Acropolis in Athens the previous day, we chose to visit sites, but without the strenuous walking over ruins. Chris readily answered our questions on the way to the Corinth Canal. We asked about mythology, historical events, Greek culture, and prominent persons in history. He answered thoughtfully, and was extremely knowledgeable in all aspects. At the Corinth Canal, he used a large permanent map display to give us an overview of geography and history. We visited all of the previously chosen sites, and also were treated to the high elevation sites of Akronafplio and Acrocorinth, with scenic views. We ate lunch at the Cafe Castro (our choice) at the entrance to the Acrocorinth Castle Fortress. (Which we chose not to hike!) The owner welcomed us like family! We also decided not to visit museums, as we felt that that we had experienced an excellent overview of Ancient Greek history at the National Archaeological Museum in Athens. Instead, we visited red poppies blooming in fields, had delicious Italian gelato at the family owned Antica Gelateria di Roma in the beautiful seaport town of Nafplio, and were blessed by Chris relating the story of the Apostle Paul, and his ministry in Ancient Corinth. This experience was more like spending a day with a favorite nephew, than a purchased tour. I would highly recommend it!!
We had a wonderful trip with Ioannis from Yomadic. Highly recommend this tour if you desire a private driver to take you to the region
We had a wonderful tour with Ioannis from Yomadic. He arrived right on time - actually a few minutes early and was a safe and efficient driver always pointing out things along the way. He provided helpful suggestions during our tour including suggestions for deviations due to our preferences. The lunch recommendation was amazing! All in all it was a wonderful day!
Chris Zervas was a wonderful guide. Very intelligent and very knowledgeable of history, architecture and current events. He made it a special day for all in our group.
Visited in February. Have been in summer. Love Peloponnese. Many travelers arrive in Greece and head out to the islands when Peloponnese has so much to offer from amazing ancient still inhabited towns (Monemvasia) to Olympia, home of the games and beaches. I only had 5 days for this road trip and a friend along who had not visited before so we focused on SE. We hit Old Corinth, Mycenae, Epidavros, Nafplio (nice town), Monemvasia, Gytheio and Mystras. If I did it again I'd skip Gytheio in winter. Dead. The roads were easy going and the views great. Stay off the highways and enjoy the two lane roads. Car rental from Athens Koukaki neighborhood was less than $100. Fuel and tolls were about the same for 4 door SEAT.
The variety of sites was outstanding and the views were great. We took a ton of pictures to remember this tour. The driver was terrific, articulate and knowledgeable about Greek history and the sites we visited. I would use this company again.
Our guide, Costas, took great care of us all day long. He sent arrival time texts, showed up fashionably early, had water, spoke solid English, was a careful driver, knew his history, had good stories, planned the stops well, gave us options, and wrapped it all up with a lovely restaurant with a gorgeous view.
Our guide, Costas, took great care of us all day long. He sent arrival time texts, showed up fashionably early, had water, spoke solid English, was a careful driver, knew his history, had good stories, planned the stops well, gave us options, and wrapped it all up with a lovely restaurant with a gorgeous view.
Michael was amazing. His knowledge is impeccable. He was such a gentleman and patient with us when we were running a bit late or we wanted to spend more time in one area. Loved that it was just 2 of us on this tour. His recommendations and attentiveness were amazing. He made our tour amazing and would highly recommend going on a tour with him.
A wonderful journey. Andrea’s was helpful, accommodating, and made us feel welcome and safe throughout the day. A running history lesson for the day. Dropped us very close to entry points and was at exit points exactly as planned. A stress-free day. And a wide choice of restaurants in Napfli for lunch.
This historical tour of the Archaelogical Site of Corinth, Mycenae, Epidauvrous and Nafplio was a great learning experience outside the classroom. Michael was very informative about the history of these places. He was very courteous and friendly. He made sure that we were comfortable while on tour. Thank you, Michael for the experience.
It was amazing tour with our tour guide CHRISTOS ZERVAS. Chris was wonderful Spoke great English explained our sites very well. I recommend this walk with Paul tour along with old Corinth and the canal. Ask for Chris to be your tour guide.
Christos, our driver, was very accommodating on a day when it was 40 degrees Celsius in Athens. A very knowledgeable person and good driver. I felt sorry for him having to wait in the heat while we explored each site. He said we must be "brave" doing this on such a hot day; I suggested a different word that was not as pleasant. Nice airconditioned car, supplied with bottles of water, fruit juice and biscuits. We used Yomadic Tours and Transfers for all our transfers from the airport to the city and return and the city to Piraeus and return. Great company and the prices were reasonable. Highly recommended. Jutta and Manfred, Australia
We highly recommend Dimitrios! He is an excellent driver, knowledgeable about the area and above all, he was engaging, responsive and intuitive. He gave us choices with information to enable us to decide. He did not hurry us and was always respectful and pleasant.
We love our full day tour. The itinerary was perfect that covers great historical sites. Our driver, Dimitrios, is great, very patient and friendly. He is passionate with Greek history and shared a lot of insights with us about both ancient and modern life of Greek. He also gave excellent recommendations on restaurant and Gelato places in Nafplio. In addition, the communication with the tour company is timely, informative and helpful. Highly recommended tour and tour company!
We have had a wonderful private tour, which was the best way to see that many sights and still be on a schedule that works just for you. Our driver, Dimitrios, was excellent. We really liked our conversations which ranged from ancient mythology to modern economy and having him point out all the trip's highlights has made this trip really enjoyable. Highly recommended.
We joined an 8 hour tour to ancient Corinth, Mycenae. Nafplio on October 2, 2023 and our driver guide is Costas. Costas has given us a sincere and professional impression. He texts to say hi to us in advance and comes to pick up us on time. This 8 hr tour is a combination of walk and talk while visiting those key sights shown on the leaflet. He not only tells us the history of the places we visit, he also gives us a lots of interesting information of Greece. This 8 hour journey is no boring. Costas’s car is comfortable for 2 passengers and he has given us a smooth and safe trip. Last but not least, he recommends us to a wonderful Greek restaurant for lunch. In where we taste genuine, mouth-watering Greek food.
Our full day tour of Ancient Corinth was amazing. From the outstanding knowledge and education to taking us to the best sites and ending with a fabulous seaside meal was so memorable. His personality and conversations made the trip fly by. A day well spent.
I am a person that never leaves reviews! I cannot express in words enough how amazing our experience was! My family and I were accommodated by being picked up from the airport, which was so nice! We got to see everything and do so much! I feel like we got the full experience! It was flexible and so much more than we could have imagined in all we got to see in a day! We met the most kindest person ever who we had the privilege to spend the whole day with as our tour leader! Even though it was amazing the sites and the history it was even better having Costas be our guide for the day. He brought to life our tour even more being a local and knowing and sharing all his insight into Nafplio and Corinth, and Mycenae! He was a Godsend and I can now leave Greece knowing I have met someone who showed us so much and who felt like family from the other side of the world. If you can do a tour with Costas, I would 100% recommend it! It will be the best decision and you will truly feel like you have lived the full Greek experience as he makes your tour feel customized and gets you to see so much! We felt like we were driving around with family, not just someone we met for the day. There is very few people that are authentic and real. He is all of those things with a heart for the people, leaving you with a warm and lasting feeling as we return home!
Had a lovely time on this tour. My driver and guide, Vasilis was very kind and informative. Mycenae was spectacular and the archaeological site really wonderful. The next stop, Naflio was so beautiful! I actually walked down all 999 steps of Palamidi which was a great experience. Then I had plenty of free time to roam in the old town of Naflio. It was fabulous! The town was lively and it was a beautiful day. You can see the Venetian influence in the architecture. Old town is filled with shops and restaurants I had a delicious lunch and enjoyed people watching. One should be prepared in advance and read the itinerary as you are left alone quite a bit so it's not a full guided tour but it's lovely. I highly recommend it!
Had a wonderful time in a tour guided by Adreas .. he took us to several historical places and had informative chat with him all the way . Very friendly and highly recommended
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