Perched on the west coast of the Peloponnesus, Greece's largest peninsula, this sleepy fishing village of some 300 souls is your gateway to Olympia, site of the original Olympic Games. Held every four years between 776 B.C. and 393 A.D., when the Emperor Theodosius banned pagan festivals, the Olympic Games celebrated the ideal harmony of mind and body. Every four years, the sacred flame of Altis is rekindled to light the torch for the Modern Games.
Olympia's temples were destroyed after the games were banned. An earthquake in the 6th century compounded the destruction, and floods buried the site. Excavation of the ruins began in 1875, and Olympia was declared a National Park in 1976.
Olympia Archaeological SiteAncient Olympia lies in the valley formed by the Alfios River, and is home to the Temple of Hera, the Temple of Zeus where the gold and ivory Statue of Zeus - one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World - was housed, and the Stadium, where the marble starting blocks are still in position.
Olympia Archaeological MuseumClassical and Roman history is beautifully unveiled, with some of the finest decorative sculpture on display - the famous Nike Winged Victory, to a pediment from the Temple of Zeus.
Domain Mercouri WineryThis family-run estate is one of Katakolon's oldest established wineries, with vineyards that border the Ionian Sea. Behold a wine cellar and olive press, and a family museum with old agricultural tools.
Kourouta BeachWith sand stretching over 10 miles with the Ionian Sea at your feet, and a seafront lined with tavernas, Kourouta Beach is one of the most famous beaches in the area.