Technical difficulty: Difficult
Author: Alexandros K
With an inaccessible peak at the altitude of 2224 meters, Mount Erymanthos stands ready for exploration as it exudes a unique, mysterious beauty that is associated with various myths. There it was that Heracles completed his third tour de force and killed Erymanthio boar and the goddess Artemis used to hunt wild boars and deers. The regions...
Πηγάζει από τον Ερύμανθο και είναι παραπόταμος του Αλφειού. Κυλά σε ορεινές πετρώδεις περιοχές που προσπαθεί να δαμάσει με τα νερά του. Παλιά γεφυράκια και νερόμυλοι συναντιόνται σε...
Α graphic town, rich in history. Its name originates from the words ‘kales’(good) ‘vrises’(taps) and dates from the time of Frank occupation. Kalavrita is connected with the Byzantine Empire since it was commanded by the Palaiologon family. It’s a town that is linked to the revolutions and the uprisings of 1770 and of 1821 (led by Germanos of...
Dimitsana is the most significant village of Gortinia because of its history, natural beauty and its cultural activity. Dimitsana’s amphitheatrical landscape is remarkable, and so is and the four-plex buildings that are built on the cliff by the Lagkadian masons. Luxuriant vegetation is everywhere and fresh air fills your lungs. Fine cafes,...
Who can fail to admire the stunning landscapes which are the backdrop for the Hollywood hit movie "Captain Corelli's Mandolin? " Who hasn’t wished to dive into the blue waters, as Pelagia and Mantras did in the beginning of the film? The island of Kefalonia itself is the undisputed protagonist of the globally popular film, and justly holds a...
The boat leaves verdant Peloponnese behind and sails to an equally verdant island. In the foreground, Bochali Hill towers over the city of Zakynthos, while the lush mountains of the mainland loom further back. As the boat approaches, they emerge like exotic landscapes, resembling those seen in Korean films, where green hills seem to rise...
If you want to see some waterfalls, then you should definitely visit Neda. Gorgeous waterfalls with zestful, cool waters form numerous ponds ideal for swimming. A mild path on the slope of the gorge leads to the waterfalls, offering at the same time a magnificent view over the river. The largest and most easily accessible waterfall reaches 50...
Kaiafas Lake is separated from the sea forming a remarkable wetland extended in 490 acres, which was covered with tall pine trees until the fire in 2007 composing the forest of Strofilia.
The lake remains an important wetland hosting fish, eels, turtles and several emigrating species. With approximately three kilometers in length and 600m in...
At the western foothills of Mount Foloi lies the great Goumeros Gorge, which has been designated by the Ministry of Culture as a monument of natural beauty.
Hiking in Goumeros Gorge is an easy hiking route in the Plateau of Foloi, lasting 3 hours. The gorge is a semicircle that starts from Goumeros and ends back in it. Moreover, the route...
Neda, the only river with a female name, is located on the borders of the prefectures Ilia and Messinia. It runs through the homonym gorge below the village of Figalia. According to traditions, the young men of Ancient Figalia used to wash their hair in the waters of Neda to gain strength. A few kilometers west of Figalia lies Stomio, a large...
Going uphill from Olympia, you will encounter a verdant plateau covered with oak trees. According to mythology, it was named after the Centaur Folos, who resided in Foloi plateau and was a friend of Hercules. The Centaurs were mythical creatures that had the lower body of a horse and the upper body of a man. This beautiful, dense forest, which...
At approximately 1221m in altitude, Minthi is the highest mountain in Olympia. According to the legend, Minthi was a nymph, who due to the relationship that she had with the god of the underworld, Hades, was transformed into an aromatic plant named after the goddess Demeter, who was Hades’ mother-in-law. The lush vegetation of the mountain was...
The beaches in the western Peloponnese are the center of attraction for those who love windsurfing, kite surfing and surfing.
There aren’t any organized learning or rental facilities since the weather conditions are not stable. However, if the wind is blowing from the west, you will surely find a beach to play in the surf.
Those who want to enjoy the river while rafting or canoe-kayaking or hydro speeding, should definitely visit Alfeios River, which offers several wonderful routes that vary in difficulty.
If you have no experience or your own equipment, you can visit a training school, where you will be trained and then enjoy the river safely.
Depending on your experience and your desire to discover Ilia through hiking routes, you can choose among routes that pass through forests, archaeological sites, gorges, rivers and many more.
Access
By car: The capital of the Prefecture of Ilia, Pyrgos, is 279-320km from Athens depending on which route you will choose. As an indication, Pyrgos is 97km from Patra, 21km from Amaliada, 118km from Kalamata, 132km from Tripolis, 19km from Ancient Olympia and 12km from the port of Katakolo.
By bus: Ilia has a daily frequent bus...
Ancient Ilida Festival: Ancient Ilida Festival was created by the "Friends of Ancient Ilida" Society in 1991, who dared to bring back to the future the birthplace of the Olympic Games. Like every year, the Ancient Ilida Festival is the top cultural event of the summer with great theatrical performances from all over Greece.
Andritsena is a renowned village of Ilia, with stone built houses and alleys, traditional cafes under the platans as well as the wonderful view of the neighboring villages of Gortinia. Andritsena, built amphitheatrically on the eastern slopes of Minthi, appears with this name since 900 AD. Its history includes conquerors, revolutions, wars and...
A beautiful, seaside farm in the area of Korakochori in Ilia Prefecture. Its history begins in 1864 when Theodore Mercouri started the production of wine, olive oil and in the olden days, Corinthian grapes (or currants). The family tradition continued up to these days where the third and fourth generation has done more systematic effort to...
The Spa, which operated in Kaiafas was one of the most famous and, when, the railway line was built in 1907, it started operating more systematically. The water gushing hot in some spots and cold in other ones combined with the sulphur is recommended for several conditions of the musculoskeletal system, skin diseases and chronic respiratory...
One of the most notable archeological sites in Greece. During the 10th century BC, Ancient Olympia was the place of worship of Zeus, while the Olympic Games started taking place there every 4 years in 776 BC, which were banned in 394 AC by the Emperor Theodosius I as a pagan event. However, the institution has been revived and, therefore, the...
Kourouta is a wide gold sandy beach, which is bordered by a gentle, warm sea, and one of the most popular beaches in the prefecture. This is a truly magical beach, which has developed extensively nowadays, with many bars succeeding each other and the sun beds covering the largest part of the beach. In the summer, it attracts a large number of...
Beaches, beaches...numerous beaches, pine forests, Alfeios River and the well-known Ancient Olympia consist the region of Ilia. In fact, Ilia offers some of the best beaches in Greece and its beauty derives from the generous nature of the area, which harmonizes with the large sandy beaches and their blue-green waters. The area was the center of...
Pyrgos is the largest city and the capital of the prefecture. It was built by a peasant, Georgios Tsorotas or Tsernotas, from Tsorota in Kalavryta. While digging to find water for his animals, he found an ancient treasure, in return for which the Sultan granted him the title of Bey (Afentis) of the area along with endless extends of ground,...
The Archeological Museum of Olympia is one of the most significant museums in the country, which you should definitely visit. In the museum, the evolution of one of the most important sanctuaries of the antiquity is displayed, which was dedicated to the father of the gods, Zeus. This new museum started operating in its present form in 2004 and...
It is characterized as the stone giant of the Elian plain. Its construction began in 1221 AC and, since then, it stands proudly on the hill over the Kyllinian gulf. The castle was built within two years by the Frank knight, Geoffrey of Villehardouin, one of the two rulers of the principality of Peloponnese, as an observatory post to the Ionian...
Over Divri and surrounded by fir trees lies the Monastery of Chrysopigi. At approximately 1150m in altitude, the monastery used to be inaccessible and offered shelter to the fighters of the revolution in 1821, yet, nowadays, it can be accessed by car.
Apart from the heirlooms and the murals from various periods, you will also see the place,...
The temple of Apollo Epicurius seems to be lying in the middle of nowhere, but, when it was built in 430 BC, the most known town of the ancient world, Figalia, was nearby. The temple was built between 430-410 BC by Ictinus, the architect of Parthenon, which was one of the greatest and significant temples in antiquity. It was dedicated to Apollo...
Ancient Ilida, capital of the state of the Elians, was the regular host city of the ancient Olympic Games for more than a thousand years. The ruins of the ancient city are located pretty close to Amaliada, between the plain and the mountain area. The archeological findings indicate the prime of the city, proving that it was a significant and...
Within close distance, just 13km from Pyrgos is formed the gulf of Agios Andreas, offering a combination of a sandy beach with rocks on its edges. In this small beach in relation to the rest beaches of the area, there are sun beds and several beautiful, amphitheatrically built, seaside cafes and restaurants.
Built in the 10th century AD in a deep green gorge, seven kilometers west of Vartholomio, the Monastery of Agia Eleousa has managed to protect itself against the pirate attacks and to be preserved up today. In fact, the pirates looted the monastery once, but the monks and the believers of the area built around it tall walls with crenellations...
This museum includes exhibits through which the history of the Olympic Games, the longest established institution of the antiquity, is presented. The purpose of the museum is not only presenting information about the games in the antiquity, but also introducing the visitor to the institution of the Olympic Games. Covering topic sections about...
Amaliada is a provincial city with newly built buildings and old manors, only 20km from Pyrgos. During the Byzantine times, it was occupied by the Franks and the Monastery Frankavilla provides tangible proof about this fact. During the Minor Asia Catastrophe, when refugees came to Amaliada, the city gained a new status. Moreover, the warehouses...
Alfeios (112km) is the longest river in Peloponnese. It rises just outside Arcadia, which it runs across and, along its path, merges with Loussios, Elissonas and Tritonas. In Tripotama, it also merges with Erymanthos and Ladonas and widens significally. It runs across the area of Ancient Olympia and ends in the southern Ionian Sea, in the gulf...
During the Ottoman Empire, Zacharo was ruled by the landowners, but it was declared a Municipality in 1881, located in the southeast of the Prefecture of Ilia, 32km from its capital, Pyrgos. It is the capital of the homonym Municipality, a town of extreme beauty, where several economic, tourist and cultural activities are hosted. If we could...
Ten kilometers from Pyrgos, next to the blue waters of the Ionian Sea lies the convent of Panagia Skafidias. It was built in the 10th century AD with an impressive architecture, which will certainly impress the visitors and particularly the medieval fortress encompassing the monastery.
The monastery has many treasures such as vestments, sacred...
Arkoudi is a gold sandy beach with blue waters that gives the visitors the impression of being on an island. It is a small creek with the colorful houses of the village composing a wonderful view. Surrounded by shops and hotels, it is considered to be one of the most cosmopolitan beaches in the prefecture.
The temple of Apollo Epicurius seems to be lying in the middle of nowhere, but, when it was built in 430 BC, the most known town of the ancient world, Figalia, was nearby. The temple was built between 430-410 BC by Ictinus, the architect of Parthenon, which was one of the greatest and significant temples in antiquity. It was dedicated to Apollo...
The Archeological Museum of Ilida hosts findings, which represent the long history of the ancient city and include pots, statues, sculptures, sepulchral steles, earthen and stone architectural parts, figurines, weapons, coins, bronze and other small items. Some of the main exhibits are the tessellation with Apollo and the Muses, the marble...
If you want to see some waterfalls, then you should definitely visit Neda. Gorgeous waterfalls with zestful, cool waters form numerous ponds ideal for swimming. A mild path on the slope of the gorge leads to the waterfalls, offering at the same time a magnificent view over the river. The largest and most easily accessible waterfall reaches 50...
It is characterized as the stone giant of the Elian plain. Its construction began in 1221 AC and, since then, it stands proudly on the hill over the Kyllinian gulf. The castle was built within two years by the Frank knight, Geoffrey of Villehardouin, one of the two rulers of the principality of Peloponnese, as an observatory post to the Ionian...
Both a summer and a winter destination, Katakolo, the port of Pyrgos, lies in the area of Ancient Fia, 14km from the capital. The departed glories of this port since the times of trading raisins can be relived if you visit it when it bustles with life from the cruise ships that anchor in its port. The lighthouse (9m high) and few fishing boats...
The Embellishing Female Association of Andritsena founded the Folkloric Museum of Andritsena in 1981, in an effort to preserve and highlight the folklore of the area. The museum is housed in the stone built mansion of Kanellopoulos. The particularly rich material of the museum includes more than 4.000 exhibits, covering the period 1832-1932. It...
Fifteen kilometers from Tripotama, at the foothills of Erymanthos lies the monk monastery of Poretsos. It is built at approximately 800m in altitude on a rocky hillock surrounded by trees. There is no exact date of the foundation of the monastery. However, the murals in the main church of the monastery are dated from 1611 and were painted by...
Samiko is a wide sandy beach with crystal clear waters and a background of a green pine forest. Several beach-bars are located on the beach with sun beds and umbrellas. However, it is such a large beach that can satisfy even those who seek peace and insularity. The freshly baked corn that is offered in the makeshift stalls is its trump card!
This museum is housed in a neoclassical building dated from 1932, owned by Maroutas siblings (immigrants in the USA in the late 19th century) near the railway station. It started operating in 1993, promoting and preserving the remembrance, the traditions and the cultural heritage of the area. Several pieces of the local folklore of the late...
Kyllini is a three-hour drive from Athens and its port is a nodal point to Zakynthos and Kefalonia. According to mythology, Mercury was born in Kyllini and was, therefore, considered to be its protector. Furthermore, Homer's reference to Kyllini is also remarkable. Last but not least, you should not miss the Chlemoutsi Castle, its beaches lying...
The gold sandy beach of Skafidia asserts rightfully a place among the best beaches of the country. The broad gold sandy beach with its crystal clear waters and a background of the verdant area behind it attract masses of visitors. A large tourist establishment has attended the organization of one of the best beaches.
On the banks of Tritonas River, within woodland and fifteen minutes from Alifira lies the reconstructed monastery of Panagia Sepetou. The monastery dated from 1150-1200 AD was destroyed by a fire in 1915; however, two years later it was rebuilt in its present form.
A secret school (Kryfo Scholio) was also located here and fighters of the...
Going uphill from Olympia, you will encounter a verdant plateau covered with oak trees. According to mythology, it was named after the Centaur Folos, who resided in Foloi plateau and was a friend of Hercules. The Centaurs were mythical creatures that had the lower body of a horse and the upper body of a man. This beautiful, dense forest, which...
Andritsena is a renowned village of Ilia, with stone built houses and alleys, traditional cafes under the platans as well as the wonderful view of the neighboring villages of Gortinia. Andritsena, built amphitheatrically on the eastern slopes of Minthi, appears with this name since 900 AD. Its history includes conquerors, revolutions, wars and...
Kaiafas is a wonderful beach with abundant white sand and the sand lilies adorning it. Until the disastrous fire in 2007, a lush pine forest surrounded the beach providing shade. However, until its restoration, it is advisable to bring your own umbrella. Moreover, the thermal spa, which you should definitely visit, is located behind the beach.
One of the most notable archeological sites in Greece. During the 10th century BC, Ancient Olympia was the place of worship of Zeus, while the Olympic Games started taking place there every 4 years in 776 BC, which were banned in 394 AC by the Emperor Theodosius I as a pagan event. However, the institution has been revived and, therefore, the...
A Blue Flag, an endless sandy beach and crystal clear waters. This is Zacharo beach! A cafe-restaurant is operating on the beach while the visitor can practice several sports, from water sports to beach volley.
Kourouta is a wide gold sandy beach, which is bordered by a gentle, warm sea, and one of the most popular beaches in the prefecture. This is a truly magical beach, which has developed extensively nowadays, with many bars succeeding each other and the sun beds covering the largest part of the beach. In the summer, it attracts a large number of...
Assuming that, the uniqueness of each thing is also its identity, as the sun is the brightest star in the sky, then, the uniqueness of Ancient Olympia lies in the spirit and the idea of eternal peace. It is the only region of the Ancient Greece that managed to cease wars and reinforce peace every 4 years with the establishment of the Olympic...
Built amphitheatrically, with its houses descending down to the green glen, the picturesque Divri village will definitely impress you. At approximately 900m in altitude, it has a congenial climate all year round. The findings from the ancient city of Lampia, which was once located there, are scant of number, so the main places of interest are...
Glyfa is just as beautiful as the other beaches in the area with a gold sandy beach, crystal clear waters and a canteen for all the necessities. It is considered a relatively quiet beach, although there are several small hotels nearby. The small port of the area's Nautical Club is its landmark. If you walk along the beach, you will find...
Alfeios (112km) is the longest river in Peloponnese. It rises just outside Arcadia, which it runs across and, along its path, merges with Loussios, Elissonas and Tritonas. In Tripotama, it also merges with Erymanthos and Ladonas and widens significally. It runs across the area of Ancient Olympia and ends in the southern Ionian Sea, in the gulf...
As the green hills of the Elian land enter the sea, several picturesque creeks are formed, covered with dark sand. The road between gardens and crops will lead you in the long beach of Leventochori, which is particularly lively in the summer, although it is not organized with umbrellas. Like in all the beaches of the prefecture, you can also...
Kaiafas is a wonderful beach with abundant white sand and the sand lilies adorning it. Until the disastrous fire in 2007, a lush pine forest surrounded the beach providing shade. However, until its restoration, it is advisable to bring your own umbrella. Moreover, the thermal spa, which you should definitely visit, is located behind the beach.
Assuming that, the uniqueness of each thing is also its identity, as the sun is the brightest star in the sky, then, the uniqueness of Ancient Olympia lies in the spirit and the idea of eternal peace. It is the only region of the Ancient Greece that managed to cease wars and reinforce peace every 4 years with the establishment of the Olympic...
