Nafplio, Argos, Epidaurus, Mycenae – so much to see, top Archeological sites – so close together.
The East part of Peloponnese region offers to those of you, who really enjoy ancient Greece and archeological sites, a great opportunity to see too many different places, all so close together.
The first capital city of modern Greece was Nafplio and even day you can see ruins of its fortress high up on the mountain side, overlooking the town. You can visit the ruins and not only experience history, but also get a bird’s-eye view of the stunning Neo-classical port city below!
Argos is considered to be the longest continually inhabited town in Europe. It is dotted with ancient ruins of citadels and theatres. An intriguing theory, which may very well be true, is that Argos was the centre of the Mycenaean empire which ruled over Greece from 1600 to 1100 BC.
The Mycenaean archaeological site in Argolis is also not to be missed by anyone who appreciates history. This is where Heracles is said to have performed his Twelve Labors. Although it is widely considered to date back to the Bronze Age, the hill fort has recorded occupation ranging back seven thousand years before the beginning of the Bronze Age! An ancient legend holds that the massive walls that surround it were built by the Cyclops.
In Epidaurus you will find ancient ruins and an impressive ancient Greek theatre, one of the best preserved ancient theatres in the world! Epidaurus is a must-see on any trip through the Peloponnese and during the summer months there are weekend shows at the ancient theatre of Epidaurus, that attract crowds of thousands of spectators from all around the world. Be sure to check out the Sanctuary of Asklepios in Epidaurus as well.
Wondering how to visit them?
Well, all the above archeological sites are located on the East part of Peloponnese Region – Argolida region. The capital city of the region is Nafplio and it is located only 120Km away from Athens.
From Nafplio, within 20 minutes drive you can reach any of these sites.
Thinking of when to visit?
Well, all these sites are some of the TOP visited archeological places of Greece and during the high season they use to be busy enough. The periods from October to December and from January to March are really good if you want to explore these places on a more quiet time.
For more information regarding the archeological sites of the area, please find HERE a full presentation of all East Peloponnese archeological sites.