ABOUT MYCENAEN
Mycenae is situated on a small hill, on the feet of mount Euboea, between two peaks of it and near the road leading to the Argolic gulf from North. The hill is inhabited since the Neolithic era but it enjoys its fame the later Copper era(1350 - 1200 B.C.). Huge Cyclopean walls surround the acropolis except for the south side where a steep ravine provides physical protection. The palace was built in top of the acropolis, with the room of the throne in the south-west side, along with the "Religion Center" and the central lion's gate. The findings from the First Grave Circle and the royal chambers are excibited in the National Museum of Athens. In the south-east side of the hill, besides shops, a tunnel of Cyclopean walls was built, which led to an underground spring. Besides the walls there are also found residencies, the Second Grave Circle, as well as big arched graves.Mycenae was habitated till 468 B.C. when it comes to the hands of the Argives and the population is chased. The acropolis is reinhabited, for a while, during the 3rd B.C. century, but the area was abandonded long ago during the 2nd B.C. century when Pafsanias payed it a visit. In 1841, Mr Pittakis cleaned the liongate, and in 1876, Eric Sliman started the excavation of five graves of the First grave Circle. At the same time from 1952 till 1955, Mr Milonas and Mr Papadimitriou, from the Archeological Service of Athens excavated the Second Grave Circle. In 1950 the Repair Service with Mr Orlandos and Mrs Stika restored the grave of Clytaemnestra. ABOUT ANCIENT EPIDAURUS
The small plain of Epidavros, center of the Epidavros municipality, is one of the most picturesque places in the Argolida. Its sheltered location and natural surroundings, the beauty of the landscape and fertility of the soil, attracted not only men but also gods. It was here that Asklepios' most splendid sanctuary was situated. Here yet another important nucleus of ancient Greek civilization was created. The scenery around the city has remained quite unspoilt throughout the centuries and, as the visitors face the wooded areas, they cannot help wondering if time has stood still here in the age that Homer describes in his writings. Ancient Epidavros, a well-known sacred place, which for thousands of years has cured illnesses of the body and soul, surrounded by the calming blue sea and covered in greenery of olive, pine and citrus trees it awaits contemporary visitors to plant a magic balsam of calmness into their souls, tired from the stress of everyday life. It wasn't by chance that Epidavros was chosen as the place for the establishment of the main sacred sanatorium of the God of Asklepios. The beauty and tranquility of the site practiced and still practices a beneficial influence on every human being.
Its first inhabitants were the Carians. Later came the Dorians. The city took part in the Trojan War; it fought against the Persians at Plataea and Salamis and found itself on the side of the Spartans in the Peloponnesian War. Good sailors and merchants, the people of Epidavros founded colonies and raised their town to a high level.
Their civilization came to light during excavations on the peninsula that bisects the Bay of Epidavros, the "island" as the locals call it today. There we can find remains from the Acropolis with Roman walls, ruins of a palace and houses, columns from the Doric temple and nearby, Mycenaean tombs and the jewel of the town "the ancient little theatre" called The Shell of the Saronic to distinguish it from the "big" one in the Sanctuary of Asklepios. While under the sea, not very deep, lies a section of the ancient city an underwater treasure of history and delights for swimmers and snorkel enthusiasts. ABOUT ANCIENT CORINTH / ACROCORINTH 
The ruins of Ancient Corinth are spread out at the foot of the huge rock of Acrocorinth. The monuments are mainly Roman; only a few are Greek. You can trace the Long Walls which began at the summit of Acrocorinth and descended all the way to Lechaion (Leheo), the artificial harbour on the Corinthian Gulf.
Lechaion was the start of Lechaion road which led to the ancient agora. This was paved with flagstones and lined with sidewalks, arcades and shops. The area of the marketplace was filled with imposing buildings, temples and business emporia.
The Doric temple of Apollo (6th c. BC with 1st c. AD restorations) stands on a knell to the north of the agora; it is the most important monument of that period. To the northwest of the agora lie the ruins of the 4th century BC theatre -- which underwent some changes in the Roman era -- and the Roman Odeon.
The museum is in the southwest sector of the site. It contains mosaic floors, Mycenaean and Corinthian pottery, terra cotta sphinxes, statues of two supernatural beings, relief plaques, the Roman head of the Goddess Tyche and small objects of various kinds. On the north side of the building one can see the remains of the fountain of Glauke hewn out of the rock.
Glauke, daughter of King Green, was the reason why Jason deserted Medea. In revenge Medea sent her as a wedding gift a poisoned mantle which enveloped the girl in flames the moment she put it on. In order to save herself she leapt into the fountain which since then has borne her name.
The imposing mass of Acrocorinth (Akrokorinthos) rises out of the ground at the edge of the ancient city.
At the top of the pinnacle, at an altitude of 575 metres, stood the acropolis of Corinth during ancient and medieval times. This is the largest and oldest fortress in the Peloponnese. The Franco-Byzantine-Venetian fortifications (built atop the ancient walls) and Turkish additions have left deep signs of their successive claims to supremacy.
At the summit, which offers a magnificent view, there were a vast number of shrines and temples dominated by the Temple of Aphrodite. Lower down is the Upper Peirene Spring. Pausanias mentions that Peirene was a woman who was transformed into a spring by the tears she shed for her son who had been killed by Artemis. ABOUT NAFPLION The CityFirst capital of the liberated, from the Turks, Greece. The first primary school was also accommodated in Nafplio, under the auspices of Kapodistrias. Today, Nafplio is the capital and administrative center of the prefecture of Argolida, but also an important touristic center. With its buildings, renowned castles and generally the whole layout of the city makes Nafplio one of the most beautiful places in Greece.
The fortress complex of Nafplio is extensive and imposing. The oldest fortress of all is Akronafplia, in the homonymous peninsula. On the opposite rocky hill rises the famous Palamidi. Bourtzi is found in front of the harbor, in the shallow waters, and was connected, during the old times, by chains with the land, which is also the reason it was called Porto Cadena. All three castles are remarkable not only for their arcaelogical importance but also for their incredible adjustment in the place's topography.
The city itself includes many praiseworthy monuments, such as the imposing Venetian arms depot - which is maintained intact and accommodates the Archaelogical museum -, the Mosque in Syntagmatos square, the church of Saint Spyridonas, famous because on the entrance of which Kapodistrias was murdered, the Bavarian lion, and other buildings along the mole which compose this rare architectural and urban plan whole making Nafplio distinguish as the best preserved example of a neoclassical city of the 19th century. Bourtzi Castle 
Venetian creation, blazon of Nafplio. The Venetians firm its fortification in 1473. Greeks regain it from the Turks in 18th June 1822, from where they wil assist the siege of Nafplio. Bourtzi serves as a fortress until 1865. It then transformed into residence of the hangmen who executed the convicts in Palamidi. From 1930 to 1970 served as a hotel. Palamidi This imposing castle, with its 216 m, enjoys a Panhellenic fame. The prehistoric settlement found here indicates that there were not only the younger who tried to conquer it.
Two-year pride of the Venetians was completed in 1714. The bastions with the renowned Venetian names, came to the hands of the Turks in 1715. The change names for third time, when Greeks regain it in November 30th 1822. Except from the bastion of Saint Andrew there are also the bastions of : Fokionas, Themistokles, Miltiades, Epaminondas, Leonidas, Achilles.
A road of asphalt leads from the suburb of Pronoia inside Palamidi. The view from Palamidi is awesome. The 999 steps, built by the Bavarian army who used the convicts for that, offer the visitor an exciting descending.
Inside the homonymous bastion of the fortress lies the church of Saint Andrew. It has a hemicylindrical dome and its half east side steals into one of the arches that support the walk of the walls. The open part of the church is double-aisled. |
