The Peloponnese (“Island of Pelops”) is the name given to the large peninsular which dominates southern Greece. It is an area which is extraordinarily rich in history and is home to five UNESCO World Heritage sites. It also features prominently in Homer’s epic poems.

The Peloponnese has always played a leading role in the evolution of Greece. It was the setting for the great centres of the Mycenean civilisation, the location of such major city-states such as Corinth, Argos and Sparta and the scene of famous battles during the Peloponnesian War. During the Byzantine period, Mystras was second in importance only to Constantinople. It is also in the Peloponnese that Greeks first rose up against the Ottomans at the start of the War of Independence.

The sites presented here reflect all aspects of the long and tumultuous history of the Peloponnese including Neolithic settlements, Bronze Age citadels, ancient religious sanctuaries and stadiums, classical temples and monuments, Byzantine churches and Frankish castles.

Visitors to Greek archaeological sites may wish to read this useful summary:

A bird’s eye view of Greek history by Jaap-Jan Flinterman

The Bronze Age kingdom of Mycenae dominated mainland Greece and gave its name to the Mycenaean civilisation which flourished in the second millennium BC and which went on to overwhelm the Minoan culture in Crete and the Aegean. Described by Homer as the “city rich in gold”, Mycenae played a central role in the Iliad as home of King Agamemnon who led the expedition of one thousand ships against Troy. Along with nearby Tiryns, Mycenae is listed as a World Heritage site and is one of the most visited sites in Greece.

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Olympia is situated in the fertile valley between the Alpheios and Kladeos rivers, an area which has been inhabited since the late stone age. By the 10th century BC it had become a sanctuary for the worship of Zeus and in 776 BC the Olympic games were first staged. These were held every 4 years until the 4th century AD and marked Olympia as a major religious and athletics centre. The Olympics were the preeminent panhellenic sporting event attracting competitors and visitors from right across the Greek world.

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The world famous theatre of Epidauros is an integral part of the Sanctuary of Asclepius, the first organized healing centre in the world and the birthplace of modern medicine. The area had long been associated with the worship of healing deities. On a nearby hill there was a Bronze Age sanctuary dedicated to a female fertility goddess followed in the Archaic period by one devoted to Apollo. The theater itself is an artistic masterpiece both in terms of its stunning acoustics as well as its perfect architectural proportions.

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Just a few kilometres north west of Sparta are the spectacular remains of the Byzantine city of Mystras, built on a steep foothill of Mount Taygetos. Originally the site of a fortress built by the Franks, Mystras was to become one of the most important centres of Byzantium and the seat of power in the Morea (Peloponnese). It was inhabited for 600 years from the 13th to the 19th centuries and visitors today can wander through the remarkably well-preserved cobblestone streets, churches, monasteries, palaces and residential buildings of this period.

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Corinth was one of the largest and most important city-states of ancient Greece and for centuries was second only to Athens in power. Located on the isthmus which connects mainland Greece to the Peloponnese and which separates the Gulf of Corinth from the Saronic Gulf, Corinth has always been of great strategic relevance and over its long and tumultuous history has played an active part in the numerous wars that have affected the region. It has also been a significant site for Christians and was the home of early Greek Christianity.

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The first human settlement in Argos dates to around 5000 BC making it one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world. Favourably located in the fertile Argolid plain, it was a major Mycenean stronghold in the late Bronze Age and remained important through the Archaic, Classical, Hellenistic and Roman periods. At its height in the 7th century BC it was the largest city in Greece and could rival neighbouring Sparta in military power. Today the city is dominated by the Frankish castle built on the site of the old Acropolis at the peak of Larisa hill. The magnificent theatre (still in use) and the Roman Baths and Agora to the South of the city are testament to its illustrious past.

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Nafplion is perhaps best known as the first capital of modern Greece but has a long history going back to antiquity. The city is dominated by Palamidi castle which towers above it although there are earlier fortifications known as Nauplia on several levels of the rocky peninsular adjacent to the harbour. In the Byzantine era Nafplion was an important strategic and commercial centre due to its location at the head of the Myrtoon Gulf. Following the Roman and Byzantine periods Nafplion was occupied by Frankish, Venetian and Turkish conquerors all of whom left their mark on the city.

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Ancient Messini was founded by the Theban general Epamonindas two years after his victory over the Spartans at the Battle of Leuctra in 371 BC. It became the capital of the newly liberated region of Messenia after over 300 years of Spartan servitude and was populated by freed helots as well as returning members of the exiled Messenian community from Italy and North Africa. The city was well planned and grew to become one of the major Greek cities in antiquity. It flourished throughout the Classical, Hellenistic and Roman periods.

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Just north of Nafplion and 20km south of Mycenae are the well-preserved ruins of the ancient citadel of Tiryns which has a history dating back seven thousand years. A hill fort since Neolithic times, Tiryns later became one of the most important centres of the Mycenaean world and functioned as a major Mediterranean Bronze Age port as the sea at that time was just 2km away. Described by Homer as “mighty-walled Tiryns” it is also famous as the site from where Heracles performed his 12 labours. Tiryns was first excavated by Heinrich Schliemann in 1884–1885, and was recognized as a World Heritage Site in 1999. With its excellent state of preservation, Tiryns is a superb example of Mycenaean palatial architecture and fortification and should not be missed.

Pylos features prominently in the history of Greece and is best known for Nestor’s Palace, the centre of the Mycenean civilisation in the western Peloponnese. It is also famous as the site of two major naval battles, the first between Athens and Sparta during the Peloponnesian War and the second in 1827 which resulted in the defeat of the Egyptian-Ottoman fleet and preceded the emergence of the independent Greek state. The natural harbour is the largest in the Peloponnese and has attracted Franks, Byzantines, Turks and Ottomans who have taken turns to occupy it and strengthen coastal fortifications including the construction of two castles .

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Located at the extreme South West of the Peloponnese, Methoni with its natural harbour has always been of great strategic importance to rival regional powers. The area has been inhabited and defended since ancient times but the Castle of Methoni (actually a fortified city) was built by the Venetians in 1209 and over the next 600 years repeatedly changed hands. It was liberated by French forces just after the Greek War of Independence following which its residents were relocated to the adjacent new town of the same name.

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Nemea is a popular destination for visitors to the Peloponnese and in Greek mythology is where Hercules is said to have killed the Nemean lion. It is also famous for being the location of the Panhellenic Nemean Games and is similar to Olympia in that it was never itself a city-state but functioned purely as a religious sanctuary which also hosted sporting events. The site is split into two parts with a separate entrance for each. One includes the Temple of Zeus and several other structures along with the museum. The other site, about 400 metres away consists of the stadium and the tunnelled entrance (a single ticket covers both sites as well as the museum).

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Just 10 km southeast of Tripoli in the village of Alea are the imposing remains of the site of ancient Tegea. This was one of the most powerful cities in Arcadia which at its height it had several thousand citizens and even struck its own coins. It is also mentioned by Homer as one of the cities which sent soldiers to fight in the Trojan War. Tegea was the location of the Temple of Athena Alea which was one of the most important religious centres in ancient Greece. Just a short walk (200m) from the site itself is the museum of Tegea which displays many fascinating exhibits found in the area.

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The breathtakingly picturesque town of Monemvasia is situated on a small islet close to the coast of Laconia and is accessed via a causeway. It is popular with tourists who come to see the carefully restored medieval buildings of the lower town as well as the Byzantine church of Aghia Sofia and the ruins of the citadel in the upper town and plateau. Founded in the sixth century as a refuge from Slavic invaders, Monemvasia has a complex history and has repeatedly changed hands between the occupying powers often after putting up stiff resistance. It was the last Byzantine stronghold to fall to the Turks and the first Greek fortress to be liberated in the War of Independence.

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Just outside Tolo and 9km from the town of Nafplion are the ruins of Asini on a triangular hill jutting out into the sea. Asini has been inhabited since Neolithic times and is mentioned by Homer as having sent ships to Troy.  The site has always been of strategic importance due to its location at the head of the Argolic gulf and its superb natural defences.  Ancient Cyclopean walls dating to the Bronze Age were rebuilt and extended by the Macedonians in the Hellenistic period.  In the Second World War the Italian forces occupied Asini and built a number of defensive structures to prepare for an allied invasion..