Ancient Olympia (Full Day)

Overview

This tour takes us across the Isthmus of Corinth and the Peloponnese to the valley of the river Alfios to see the ruins of the ancient Olympia, the historic site of the Olympic Games. This was the greatest of the Panhellenic Games and every four years Greeks from all the different city-states would put aside their disputes and come together to compete. The importance of Olympia can still be seen from its ruins, including the Temple of Zeus, which once contained a 13 meter statue of the god made of gold and ivory, the Temple of Hera, the stadium and the Shrine of Pelops. Even today, the Olympic Flame is lit in Olympia and then taken on a relay across the world to end up in the city hosting the Olympic Games. As we cross the Isthmus of Corinth, we stop by the Corinth Canal. Cut 6.4 kilometers through solid rock, it connects the Saronic Gulf and the Corinthian Gulf. It was finished in 1893, even though the idea existed at least as far back as 602 BC!