Immerse yourselves in one of the greatest religious centers of Ancient Greece and the birthplace of the Olympic games, the most important sports events in all antiquity.
The Archeological site of Olympia is located 3 hours from Athens, on the western side of Peloponnese. This site held over 70 temples dedicated to Zeus the father of Gods and other Olympian gods, ruins of which survive until today. When visiting Olympia, you will have the chance to walk through the remains of ancient buildings, statues, worship areas, and ancient stadiums. Moreover, you can visit the Archeological Museum of Olympia and witness its ancient exhibits up close.
In 1989 the archeological site of Ancient Olympia was listed as a World Heritage site by UNESCO. According to UNESCO’s World Heritage website, there is probably no ancient archaeological site anywhere in the world more relevant in today’s world than Olympia.
During the summertime, various festivals are being held there like the international Festival of Ancient Olympia and the International Film Festival for Children and Young people. Also, every four years and several months before the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, a traditional celebration is being held there to ignite the fire that is being passed through a torch from the previous to the next city that hosts the games.
We will begin our trip from Athens heading towards Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympic Games.
The site of the Ancient Olympic Games in Olympia includes impressive sights; the Ancient Stadium (which could seat 20,000 spectators), the temples of Zeus and Hera (where the Olympic Flame is still kindled by the light of the sun), the palaestra, and the workshop of Pheidias.
Adjoining the site is the Archaeological Museum of Olympia, which contains some of Greece’s most valuable historic artifacts found in the Altis or sanctuary to Zeus. The museum is famous for its sculpture collection, including Nike which was believed to come from the sky and hand a palm leaf to the victors. The large terracotta collection is also renowned and this modern museum is a great way to get a feel for how it was to participate in those ancient games.
After our educational visit to ancient Olympia and the museum, we can have a walk alongside the town of Katakolo, which is famous for the small & cozy seaside taverns and the sea view.
Let us know the destinations of your preference, and we can customize the Olympia Tour just for you.
