Kostanikos Villa
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Things to do
THINGS TO DO - HISTORICAL SITES NEAR THE VILLA
There are numerous historical sites in the area. Below we have listed our favourites together with a brief description
The site of Ancient Corinth is ten-minutes' drive from the villa. Shade at the site is limited so it's best to visit early in the morning or late-afternoon. The site is dominated by the 6th-century BC Temple of Apollo. The archeological museum here is also worth visiting. Further information on the site and the museum can be found here
Acrocorinth is located on the mountain above Ancient Corinth. There's little up there aside from a cafe & the medieval castle ruins but the views are stunning, especially at sunset. Further information is available here
Ancient MycenaeMycenae is around an hour's drive from the villa. Like many archaeological sites, shade is limited so we would advise you to visit early in the morning or late-afternoon. While the ruins themselves at Mycenae require much imagination to appreciate and understand, a visit to the citadel that dominated Mycenaean Greece is essential for those who have read the Iliad and want to see the place from where Agamemnon ruled bronze-age Greece. Please note that Ancient Nemea and Mycenae are fairly close to one another geographically (yet 1000 years separates them in time!) so you might want to do both these sites in one day plus go wine tasting in Nemea!
EpidaurusThe amphitheatre at Epidaurus is one of the best preserved classical Greek buildings and is renowned for its remarkable acoustics. It is approximately 1ΒΌ hours drive from the villa. The theatre seats 14,000 people and the ruins can be visited at any time of year. The festival of Epidaurus runs from late July to the end of August and during this period ancient dramas (as well as modern plays) are performed in the evenings, starting at 9:00pm. For further details visit the Hellenic Festival Web Site.
There is also a picturesque coastal village nearby called Palea Epidaurus. It has a beautiful little port that is used as an overnight stop by flotillas. If you have a car this would be a great place to have lunch or dinner after you visit the site. About a mile south of here just off Kalymnios Beach you can snorkel over the Sunken City. Be warned....you may fall in love with Palea Epidaurus and end up staying the night in one of the hotels overlooking the harbour! We did.
Athens
Athens is also well within striking distance of the villa and the Proastiakos Railway has made a day trip to the sites of Central Athens very easy. Simply drive to the train station in Corinth or Zevgolatio, leave your car there for the day, and jump on the train (buy and validate tickets before you board!). You can visit the Acropolis, numerous museums (including the National Archaeological Museum) and try your hand at haggling with a shop keeper in the famous Monastiraki flea market in the Plaka district below the Acropolis.
Ancient Nemea
Dating from 300BC or so Ancient Nemea was the site of the bi-annual Nemean Games in Ancient times. The site is small but interesting with a very informative museum and a partially restored temple dedicated to Zeus. About 0.5 km from the main site is the stadium and running track so when you buy your entrance tickets make sure you buy them for the stadium too. Nearby are a number of wineries including the Palivou estate so you can go tasting after your visit!
Ancient Sikyon
A few kilometres inland from Kiato (20min drive west of the villa along the coast) this is all that remains of the city state of Sikyon. The main attraction here is the delightful little museum full of artefacts. We have visited 3 times and on each occasion the museum was opened especially for us so we had it completely to ourselves.
NafplionNafplion is about 1 to 1.5 hours drive away or you can catch a bus from Corinth. It is a delightful little coastal city with no less than three fortresses. There are regular boat trips out to the fort on the island shown in the picture to the left. The old town consists of narrow little streets with beautiful, Venetian houses covered in flowers. Although there is a large square in the town centre with several restaurants and bars, if you eat here we would suggest trying one of the tavernas in the little back streets behind the square. There are several sandy beaches within a few kilometres of the town if you fancy a swim.