REVEALING PELOPONNESE
PARTNERS
Hidden Places, Unique Experiences.
HIDDEN PLACES
UNIQUE EXPERIENCES
Revealing the hidden treasures of
South Peloponnese...
Olympia | Ancient Messene | Foinikounta
held the meeting between King Philip V Macedon
and Aratos the Sikyonian in 214B.C, the day following the revolt of the Messenian people.
The Asclepieion: Pausanias represents the
Asklepieion as a museum of art works, mainly
statues, rather than the more usual sanatorium for
sick patients. It was the most conspicuous site in
Messene and the center of the public life of the city,
functioning as such alongside the nearby Agora.
Natural and Adventure Tourism
Lake Divari and the Gorge of Neda can offer an
extraordinary adventure experience for whom would
like to visit them such as hiking, climbing, rafting.
Day 3
Foinikounta (Time for fun and relaxation)
After spending the day in Ancient Messene travelers will head for Foinikounta which is situated in the
southwestern tip of the Peloponnese peninsula, in
Messenia, between Methoni and Koroni. The village
sits on a beautiful location with a great seaside front,
and is notable for its magnificent sandy beaches. The
most ancient reference to the region of Foinikounta
is found on the clay tablets that were discovered in
Mycenaean Pylos, in the palace of Nestor.
Guests in Foinikounda are able to choose
from various activities such as: • swimming at beautiful beaches of the region
• water sports (wind-surfing, sailing, canoeing) in
the Gulf • visits to nearby destinations of historical importance, such as Pylos the museum, the castle and
the palace of Nestor, the Methoni the medieval
castle and the octagonal Mpourtzi, the Koroni
with Venetian castle and the imposing walls • visit by boat to the islands Sapietza, Agia Marina
and Schiza which have an ecological interest tour of the lagoon and the Voidokoilia beach • Exploration of the unique nature of the area by
bike or on foot and acquaintance with traditional
villages
DISCLAIMER
This publication has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Union under the ENPI CBC Mediterranean
Sea Basin Programme. The contents of this document are the sole responsibility of the German-Arab Chamber for Industry and
Commerce and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union or of the Programme’s
management structures.
“The 2007-2013 ENPI CBC Mediterranean Sea Basin Programme is a multilateral Cross-Border Cooperation initiative funded
by the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI). The Programme objective is to promote the sustainable
and harmonious cooperation process at the Mediterranean Basin level by dealing with the common challenges and enhancing
its endogenous potential. It finances cooperation projects as a contribution to the economic, social, environmental and cultural
development of the Mediterranean region. The following 14 countries participate in the Programme: Cyprus, Egypt, France,
Greece, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Malta, Palestine, Portugal, Spain, Syria (participation currently suspended), Tunisia.
The Joint Managing Authority (JMA) is the Autonomous Region of Sardinia (Italy). Official Programme languages are Arabic,
English and French.”
“The GOALS project is implemented under the ENPI CBC Mediterranean Sea Basin Programme (www.enpicbcmed.eu). It’s
total budget is € 1.600.000 and it is financed, for an amount of € 1.440.000, by the European Union through the European
Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument. The ENPI CBC Med Programme aims at reinforcing cooperation between the
European Union and partner countries regions placed along the shores of the Mediterranean Sea.”
Useful numbers and websites:
Ancient Messene Travel guide
HCL Management
• http://www.peloponnese.eu/peloponnese-attractions/ancient-messini
• Ancient Olympia website info
• http://www.olympia-greece.org/
• Foinikounta
• http://www.peloponnese.eu/hotels/foinikountahotels/viva-mare-foinikounta
• http://www.web-greece.gr/messinia/finikounda/
finikounda-gr.htm#
Tel. 210 9240885
/goals-enpicbcmed
[email protected]
/goals-enpicbcmed
www.goals-enpicbcmed.com
[email protected]
Of ce Management: +39 0823 2477261
+39 0823 2477262
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PELOPONNESE, GREECE
CASERTA/SALERNO, ITALY
ALEXANDRIA, EGYPT
JEZZINE, LEBANON
SEVILLA, SPAIN
WEST BANK, PALESTINE
AS-SALT CITY, JORDAN
www.goals-enpicbcmed.com
[email protected]
Of ce Management: +39 0823 2477261
+39 0823 2477262
South-West Peloponnese
Olympia | Ancient Messene | Foinikounta
3 Days
Day 1 Start point: Olympia | End point: Ancient Messene
Day 2 Start point: Ancient Messene | End point: Foinikounta
Day 3 Start point: Foinikounta | End Point: Olympia
Itinerary Description
Day 1
Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympic Games
Olympia is directly and tangibly associated with an
event of universal significance. The Olympic Games
were celebrated regularly beginning in 776 BC. The
Olympiad - the four-year period between two successive celebrations falling every fifth year. Olympia
bears exceptional testimony to the ancient civilizations of Peloponnese, in terms of both duration and
quality.
The travelers will begin their journey from Korinthos
or Patra, depending on the selected airport and drive
North or South towards Olympia respectively.
Olympia is easily accessible from other areas of
interest of Greece. It is less than 4 hours away from
Athens and only 1 hour from Patras port, or Kalamata
airport. There are numerous daily buses and trains
that connect Athens to Olympia. Another option for
getting to Olympia from Athens is to take one of the
many sightseeing tours available out of Athens.
Indicative Schedule
9.00 Arrival at Ancient Olympia and visit of the
Archaeological Site of Ancient Olympia and the
Museums. 12.00 Departure from Olympia and visit
of Katafigio Agrias Zois Arkoudorema-Chaliki. 14.00
Departure for Bassae and visit of the Temple of
Apollo Epikourios. 15.00 Departure for Kiparissia and
over night stay.
Main highlights and Description
Visitors have the option to visit the local market in
Olympia, where they can find: Greek handmade
souvenirs, gold and silver jewellery, leather, clothes,
coffee shops and traditional restaurants.
In the western Peloponnese, in the so-called “Valley of Gods”, lies the most celebrated sanctuary
of ancient Greece, and the birthplace of the most
important athletic mega-event of all times; the Olympic Games.
Visitors can walk through the impressive ruins of
the area where athletes used to train and they can
test their running abilities in the ancient stadium;
just as the ancient Olympians did after their victory
3000 years ago. They can also visit the museum
and get the chance to see some unbelievable sculptures such as the sculpted decoration of the temple
of Zeus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient
Word, the famous Hermis of Praxiteles and the
statue of Nike of Paionios.
Visitors may also visit and participate in the local
folklore and naturalist festivals such as the Ancient
Olympia International Festival and the Alfios River
Eco-festival, where they can explore the magnificent natural environment of the Alfios River, Kato
Samiko’s unspoiled beach that is only 18km away
or enjoy the natural Kaiafas Thermal Spa. They can
also have the option of taking part in activities such
as walking along the promenade, and sports such as
biking, rafting, kayak, kite-surf, etc.
Olympia can also become the base/ central point for
the visitors’ ventures to the border region. It is only
33km from Katakolo port and village, 30km from the
Temple of Apollo Epikourios, 30km from the Temple
of Aphrodite, 57km from Ancient Ilida, 60km from
Chlemoutsi Castle and many others.
UNESCO site
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Chlemoutsi Castle Music Festival
The Andravida horse show
Local feasts ( panigiria)
Monastery of Kremasti
Eco-tourism and Adventure Tourism
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Alfios River
Activities in Olympia valley
Kato Samiko Beach
Kaiafas Thermal Spa
Lagoon of Kotychi & Strofilia Forest
Nedas’ Waterfalls
Zacharo beach
The site of Olympia, in a valley in the Peloponnese,
has been inhabited since prehistoric times. The Altis
- the sanctuary to the gods - has one of the highest
concentrations of masterpieces from the ancient
Greek world. In addition to temples, there are the
remains of all the sports infrastructures erected for
the Olympic Games, which were held in Olympia
every four years beginning in 776 B.C.
Day 2
Thematic tourism packages
Ancient Messene
Archaeological Tourism
Departure at 10:00 am: The travelers continue their
journey from Kiparrisia towards Ancient Messene
(travel time: less than an hour).
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Olympia Archaeological Site
Archaeological Museum of Olympia
History of the (ancient) Olympic Games Museum
Museum of the Modern Olympic Games
Pier de Coubertin’s Monument
Temple of Apollo Epikourios
Temple of Aphrodite
Ancient Ilida
Chlemoutsi medieval Castle
Nestor’s Palace
Cultural Tourism
• Ancient Olympia Festival
• Olympia International Film Festival for Children &
Young People
• Alfios river Eco-festival
• Monastery of Sepetou
• Ancient Ilida Festival
Ancient Messene is situated in the western foothills
of mountain Ithomi, near the village called today
Mavromati. A large part of it came to light, and reveals
its great expanse and also its significance during
ancient times.
The traveller Pausanias visited the city between 155
and 160 B.C. and recorded significant historic information regarding its structure, and all public and holy
buildings. First of all the stone wall that enclosed it,
(approximately 9 kilometres long) protected the city
from all directions, where Ithomi stood as a natural
fort.
In size, form and preservation, Messene is one of the
most important cities of antiquity, and still has a great
deal to offer. It boasts not only religious and public
buildings, but also imposing fortifications, houses and
funerary monuments.
The city has the rare advantage of not having
been destroyed or covered by later settlements and
of being situated in an untouched Mediterranean
natural environment par excellence. This landscape
combines the mountainous majesty of Delphi and the
lowland riverine tranquillity of Olympia, with the looming bare limestone mass of Ithomi and its acropolis,
and the low, fertile valley around the ancient city.
Ancient Messene is included in the list to be
nominated To UNESCO World Heritage.
In this area an important wildlife refuge at Lake Divari
and the Gorge of Neda can offer an extraordinary
adventure experience for whom would like to visit
them (such as hiking, climbing, rafting).
The archaeological site and monuments of Ancient
Messene constitute an exceptional testimony to
the urban environment and living conditions of an
ancient Greek city, preserving all those elements that
make up the ancient Greek way of life in an ancient
Greek city (secular, religious, political/administrative,
residential, funerary).
The conquest of fertile Messene by the Spartans
formed the cornerstone of Spartan power, and its
400-year occupation (by no means easy to maintain,
since the Messenians never lost their identity and
made constant attempts to regain their freedom)
allowed Sparta to evolve into the military superpower
which, together with its rival Athens, was to shape
the history of Classical Greece.
Thematic Tourism Packages
Archaelogical Toursim
Archaeological site of Ancient Messene: The
archaeological site of ancient Messene lies in a fertile
valley approximately in the centre of the Regional
Unit of Messenia, south of Mountain Ithome. Ithome
was the strongest natural and manmade fortress of
Messenia, controlling the valleys of Stenyclaros to
the north and Makaria to the south. All the sacred
buildings belonged to a town named Ithome. The
Spartan annexation of the area following the First
Messenian War (743-724 BC) put a stop to the evolution of the town into a more complex urban organism
and the development of an urban outlook. The Spartan occupation, however, did not result in a total loss
of national consciousness among the inhabitants,
who were now helots.
Fortification - The Arcadian gate: Ithome was the
strongest natural and man-made fortress in Messenia. It controlled the Stenyklaros valley to the north
and the Makaria valley to the south. The fortification
walls are best preserved on the north- northwestern
side, on either side of the Arcadian Gate. Remains of
the walls are extant along its entire course (9.5km).
Large rectangular limestone blocks were used for its
construction quarried on the spot on the rocky body
of Mt. Ithome which at places preserves evidence of
ancient quarrying activity.
The top of mountain Ithome was also fortified. The
towers are normally square-shaped with the exception of one horse shoe-shaped and a circular on.
The Laconian Gate: The eastern Laconian Gate did
not survive. It was destroyed in the 18th century during road construction works necessary for providing
access to the lower new Monastery of Voulkano. A
relief representing Artemis and the feet of a marble
male statue are built into the southeastern corner of
the enclosing wall of the new Monastery.
The Arcadian Gate: The western Gate, the so called
Arcadian, is preserved in relatively good condition and since the time of the early travelers it has
become the symbol of the city depicted repeatedly
on engravings. The Arcadian Gate is a monumental
construction built of gigantic awe inspiring limestone
blocks Its shape is circular with two entrances, a
double one in the interior and an external one, the
latter being protected on either side by two squareshaped towers.
The Theatre: The first monument one encounters on
the way from the Museum to the archaeological site
is the theatre. The theatre was used for large scale
assemblies of political character. In this theatre was