We will depart from Athens (point of your accommodation) and drive along the coast towards to Corinth. You will access the peninsula by crossing the amazing project of Corinth Canal having the opportunity to photograph it. Our destination is Olympia, the sanctuary of Zeus and birthplace of the Olympic Games, lies in a verdant valley of the western Peloponnese at the confluence of the rivers Alpheios and Kladeos. A landscape of great natural beauty, the whole valley was in ancient times thickly wooded and full of wild olive trees, from the leaves of which were made the wreaths that crowned the Olympian champions; hence the site was named Altis, meaning grove. It was also named Olympia after Mountain Olympus, the abode of Zeus.
The archaeological site of Olympia, one of the largest in Greece, yielded a singularly rich concentration of monuments and works of art, such as the famous statues of Hermes by Praxiteles and Nike by Paeonius. Throughout antiquity, each century added its own structures, which gradually formed the complex topography of the sanctuary: the sacred precinct of Zeus, namely the temenos of Altis, enclosed the temples, votive offerings, and structures related to the religious activities. Outside the enclosure lay the athletic venues, the officials’ quarters, the guesthouses and baths for athletes and visitors alike.
Highlights are: The temple of Hera – The temple of Zeus – The Philippeion – The Stadium of Olympia – The Bouleuterion
After your visit to the archaeological site, lunch will take place at a traditional restaurant. A full day passed by with wonderful pictures and memories and time has come to drive you safely back at your hotel.
