The Peloponnese is a peninsula in the south of mainland Greece, lying between the Aegean and Ionian seas. There are well-known archaeological sites in Epidaurus and Mycenae, as well as the ruins of the Byzantine city of Mystras.
The peninsula has a very extensive shoreline, full of coves and capes. The interior is covered with mountains reaching a height of 2400 m above sea level. The rest of Greece is connected to the peninsula by a narrow Isthmus of Corinth, through which the Corinth Canal was dug in the 19th century and the Rion-Antirion bridge near Patra. The Peloponnese region does not entirely coincide with the peninsula. Patra and Pyrgos, located on the Peloponnese, already belong to Western Greece.
The most attractive and known to tourists part of the Peloponnese is its northern part with Argolida and Corinth. The impressive ruins of ancient Corinth are pilgrimage destinations on the trail of St. Paul. In Epidaurus, on the other hand, you can admire the powerful ancient theater and the sanctuary of Asklepios. The nearby Mycenae and Tyryns are famous for the Mycenaean citadels, while in the area of Kalamata you can see a huge, still discovered archaeological complex in place of ancient Messini.
On the Peloponnese you can also see many Byzantine, Venetian and Ottoman monuments. The most famous of them is the abandoned city of Mystras, entered on the UNESCO list. Monemwasja lying at the foot of the rock looks beautiful and one of the most beautiful Greek cities, Nafplion, while in the south perfectly preserved fortresses rise in Koroni, Methoni and Pylos.
The Peloponnese is also a good place for a summer vacation. The most famous resorts are Tolo, Kalamata, Gythio and Kardamyli.
