Olympia Tour From Athens

Starting our full-day Olympia tour from Athens, we drive southwest for approximately 3.5 hours. We will make a short stop at the Corinth Canal to see a masterpiece of engineering, built back in the 19th century by a Hungarian company. After the shortstop, we continue to the birthplace of the Olympic Games — ancient Olympia

Inside the archaeological museum, you will see many spectacular masterpieces of the Greek ancient world such as the Hermes statue of Praxiteles, the statue of Nike, the statue of Dionysus, the amazing friezes from the temples, the famous workshop of Phidias, the helmet of Miltiades who was the General of the battle of Marathon, etc.
After the museum visit, you will be able to see the archaeological site where the ancient Olympic Games took place every four years in order to honor Zeus.
According to mythology, Zeus fought against his father Cronus and defeated him, after his win, he took the throne of Olympus. We don’t know exactly why the Games were held every four years, but, a myth says that Heracles (not Hercules) hero who had won a race at Olympia commanded that the race should be repeated every four years.

The monuments inside the archeological area that you will visit are the temple of Hera that was built in 600 BC, the temple of Zeus which housed one of seven miracles of the World, the 17 meters statue of Zeus made of gold and ivory from the same sculptor-Phidias. Palestra, a school for wrestling and boxing,
Gymnasium, a training facility for the athletes plus bathhouses, the Stadium that could house up to 60.000 spectators, Prytaneion where officials and winners could meet, the Philippeion, a memorial which contained statues of king Phillip and Alexander the Great.
During the games an Olympic truce was enacted, so the athletes could easily reach Olympia. The winners were crowned with an olive wreath and when they have turned back to their city huge celebrations took place.

In this world heritage site takes place the ceremony of Olympic flame.

Later on, you will have time for shopping and lunch, and after finishing our full-day private Olympia from Athens tour, we will return back to Athens!