Olympia

Does the name ring a bell? Yes, it is the one and only site where the ancient Olympic Games took place for over ten centuries. The legacy of Olympia is still very vivid on the archeological site, embodied in countless ancient monuments. As you tour the site, you will feel the existence of joy and vigor brought by the games back in the day. The cheer of spectators still echoes all the way through the colonnaded road. There you will walk into a complex of temples and an incredible stadium. The Olympic flame is still lit at the site at the beginning of every Olympic games. And, Olympia remains a popular traveler pilgrimage even today.

A city of physical arts and athletics in itself, Olympia has a sophisticated layout of different functional units. You will begin with the Hellenistic gymnasium and gradually descend to Pheidias’ workshop. There, a gigantic golden statue of Zeus once stood, sculpted by the master himself at the very spot. A statue that you can admire today is the statue of Nike, the goddess of victory, preserved within the archeological museum of Olympia. Last but not least, the road will take you to the legendary stadium where the most contentious games in history used to take place. You will feel small in the enormous space, but it will surely give you a sense of euphoria in no time.