Not far from Athens lies the southern part of Greece, the Peloponnese, which is connected by a bridge to the Greek mainland. The Peloponnese offers a varied landscape of land and sea, lush, but also barren vegetation, archaeological and modern wealth. Much of Greek history is noticeable in Epidaurus, Mycenae, Mystras and Olympia.

In ancient times, the Peloponnese was home to one of the two important city-states, Sparta. But even in modern times, a Peloponnesian city, Nafplio, was the first capital of the newly-created Greek state after liberation from the yoke of Ottoman rule.

The ancient theater in Epidaurus is almost perfect both aesthetically and acoustically. The building was built in the 4th century BC, its construction beginning in the 2nd century BC. It is one of the largest theaters and it can accommodate 13,000 to 14,000 spectators. In the theater of Epidaurus performances of classical pieces take place, especially in the summer months.

Here you can also visit the World Heritage Site of the ancient site of Olympia, built in the 5th century BC. and taking visitors back to the time of the original Olympic Games. While in Olympia, it’s worth visiting archaeological sites, such as the Temple of Zeus and the Museum of Olympic Games.

A few kilometers northwest of Sparta is the small village of Mystras, known for its fortification, which surrounds one of the best-preserved Byzantine cities. Mystras was built by the Franks in 1249 and quickly became ...