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| | Peloponnese, the Land of the Olympic Games |
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For many, Peloponnese, or Morea as it is also known, is Greece, and with good reason. This is where we find Agamemnon and the legendary and tragic house of Atreus, immortalized for all time by Homer, Sophocles, Aeschylus, at his palace in Mycenae...
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History |
| One would need several volumes in order to do justice to even a brief outline of this area’s history and the myths it generated. The Trojan war sparked off from Sparta when Paris ran off with king Menelaus’ wife, the beautiful Helen, the motive which caused the launching of thousand ships under the command of the Mycenaean King Agamemnon who sacrificed his own daughter, Iphigenia so that the gods would send fair winds for the Greek armada to sail..... |
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Antiquities |
| The magnificent presence of Ancient Greece tends to dwarf all the other sites of immense historical and natural interest in themselves on the peninsula, and indeed the first places to visit are Mycenae and Tiryns. |
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Medieval Sites |
| Guillaume de Villehardouin and the Franks left an impressive array of castles and fortifications throughout the peninsula, from Mistras in Lakonia, to the Pontikocastro near Katakolo in Ilia, to the monastery of Frankavilla near present day Amaliada, to the fortress of Hlemoutsi (deriving from Clairmont) near Kilini, opposite the island of Zakinthos. |
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Other Places of Interest |
| Apart from being encumbered by so much history and its physical remains by way of castles, fortresses, ancient theatres, Olympic Games facilities and ancient palaces, the Peloponnese is also a place of extreme physical beauty with delightful beaches everywhere from Tolo near Nafplio, down to the Githio area in Lakonia. |
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Mani |
| Mani was immortalized in a wonderful book by the Second World War hero and author Patrick Leigh Fermor who fell in love with this awe inspiring place. In many ways Mani, on the middle "finger" of Peloponnese, is unique. |
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Food and Wine |
| Corinth and Ahaia are famous for their vines producing predominantly raisins in the first case and excellent wines in the second. The peninsula produces an abundance of fruit and vegetables (citrus fruit in particular), and even an arid area like Mani is quite rich in figs and prickly pears. |
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How to Get There |
| The whole of Peloponnese is well served by the KTEL intercity buses and one can indeed plan an itinerary using them. It is also accessible by sea, for instance the sea- side resort of Porto Heli is very well served by ferry boats and the hydrofoils as is the spa of Methana. |
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Where to Stay |
| Hotels of Peloponnese |
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