After a wonderful experience in Meteora, it was time to say goodbye to this special place. Although it was difficult to say goodbye, we were excited to head off to new adventures, this time in the direction of Delphi.
Delphi: the pearl of the ancient world
Delphi is one of the most tourist-filled spots in Greece, famous for its ancient sanctuary of Apollo and prophetic oracle. Upon arriving at this ancient city, we realized the importance of this place and prepared to explore, which was occasionally accompanied by whistles from guards warning of inappropriate behavior (walking on the remains, leaning on columns, inappropriate posing, etc.).
Delphi was home to a prophetic oracle, which was consulted on a variety of matters, from military strategy to personal matters. At the height of its influence, people from near and far visited Delphi to get advice and recommendations. Ancient Delphi was an important center of the Greek world, known for its art, architecture, and philosophy. The main attraction in Delphi is the Temple of Apollo, which was dedicated to the god of the sun and art. We started our visit first at the Tholos of Athena Pronaia . (Tholos is an architectural term for a circular building that can be part of a temple or sanctuary.) Admission is free. Then we visited the main part: the Temple of Apollo, the theater and other buildings, and the museum (entrance fee is €12 per adult and includes a tour of the museum). The museum also impressed us, especially since it was the first one of its kind we visited. It is full of statues, sculptures, and small and large metal objects. Reserve 2-3 hours for your visit.
First sleep outside the camp
Next came our first night outside the camp. We drove past Athens. We skipped Athens completely. We found a small pebble beach near Megara. The night was quiet, we were all alone on the beach. The next morning we only had a few kilometers to Corinth.
The Corinth Canal: a marvel of human engineering prowess
The journey took us to the impressive Corinth Canal, which connects the Ionian and Aegean Seas. This marvel of human engineering is well worth a visit.
- The canal was dug between 1881 and 1893, and opened to traffic in October 1893.
- It is approximately 6.4 kilometers long. The width of the channel is about 25 meters, the sea depth is 8 meters, and the depth of the channel is 79 meters.
- The canal is carved through the Isthmus of Corinth, a narrow strip of land that separates the Peloponnese Peninsula from the Greek mainland.
- The purpose of the canal is to shorten the voyage between the Ionian and Aegean Seas and allow ships to avoid the long route around the Peloponnese.
Mycenae: A Journey into the Ancient Past
We finally arrived in the Peloponnese! We continued our journey to Mycenae, one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece. This ancient city fascinated us with its history and architecture.
- Mycenae was one of the most important cities of the Mycenaean civilization, which flourished in Greece in the 2nd millennium BC and is known for its fortresses, tombs, and palaces.
- King Agamemnon, the famous leader of the Greek army in the Trojan War, was associated with Mycenae and many myths and legends.
- The city walls were built with large stones, laid without the use of mortar. These walls were extremely thick and high and were built to protect the inhabitants and the city from possible attacks by enemies. Some parts of the walls are still preserved today and testify to impressive construction techniques. Legend has it that the Cyclopes helped build Mycenae and placed the large stones in the city.
- The Mycenaean civilization experienced decline and collapse due to internal conflicts, invasions, and natural disasters, and gradually disappeared.
We visited the Lions Gate , the museum and the Tomb of Agamemnon (the roof is also preserved). Impressive.
Epidaurus: stunning sound effects
We continued to Epidaurus, which is famous for its exceptionally well-preserved theater or amphitheater, which was built in the 4th century BC and is still used for performances today.
- The Epidaurus Theater is considered one of the most beautiful and acoustically perfect ancient theaters in the world.
- In ancient Greece, the healing sanctuary of Epidaurus was very popular, and visitors came from far and wide to seek healing and relief.
- In addition to the theater, Epidaurus is home to several other ancient monuments, including the Temple of Asclepius and a museum.
We also took almost two hours for this viewing. I recommend that you try singing something (maybe flip a coin, clap...) in the middle of the theater. I've never experienced anything like it.
Palamidi Fortress - a fortress pearl above the city of Nafplio
Before evening, we squeezed in one more visit to the Palamidi fortress.
Another night out in the wild
After an exciting day of exploring important historical sites, it was time for a more authentic experience – we slept wildly on the idyllic Karathona beach . Sleeping to the sound of the waves and under the large eucalyptus trees, we concluded another unforgettable day on our trip to Greece.
The next morning I got up early and did another wonderful 10-kilometer long running tour. From Karathona beach there is a beautiful path along the coast (also suitable for strollers, bicycles and pushchairs) that leads all the way to the town of Napflio. At dawn I only met a few hikers and Greek cats, who were already waiting for breakfast.
