After breakfast, start your journey from Athens till Corinth first stop.
Since 1893, it separates Central Greece from Peloponnese, so you will have to cross it to reach the peninsula Peloponnese. Before it was built, if you wanted to go from the Ionian Sea to the Aegean Sea and Saronic Gulf by boat, you had to make a 400km detour! The original idea of a canal emerged at the end of the 7th century B.C, but it couldn’t be achieved with the ancient technologies. Instead, the boats were towed on a paved road. Another particularity of Corinth Canal is its 2 submersible bridges. Located at each end of the Canal, they must be lowered into the water every time a boat cross. It’s quite unique to watch.
Head towards Ancient Olympia. Located in the western Peloponnese, Ancient Olympia was one of the most sacred and glorious sanctuaries of the ancient world. And, though only the foundations of many of its structures remain, it is still one of the most evocative of Greece’s archaeological sites. Capturing all the spirit of the Olympic Games, it’s also the place where the Olympic flame is lit in commemoration of the Games that originated and were held here every four years for a staggering 1,000 years. The most important building of the Altis (or Sacred Precinct of Zeus) was the immense 5th-century-BC Doric temple dedicated to the king of the gods. It housed Pheidias’ statue of Zeus for more than 800 years. One column of the temple has been restored, allowing you to appreciate its size. Passing through a stone archway, you enter the remains of the Ancient Stadium, once housing more than 45,000 spectators. The mind boggles at being able to line up on the track (measuring 192.27m), just as the finest athletes in the land did thousands of years ago. Nearby are the judges’ seats.
Leaving behind Olympia, head towards Kyllini port to take the ferry to the beautiful Island of Zakynthos. One hour later, you'll reach Zante Island.
