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Tucked into the Alfeios River valley in the western Peloponnese, you'll find the ruins of ancient Olympia. On this tour from Kalamata, you'll step back in time to when the Olympic Games were first held and embark on a guided excursion of the Archaeological Museum, temples and ancient sports facilities. Anna, one of our expert local guides, says, ‘Olympia is perhaps most famous as the home of athletic competitions, but it is also an important religious centre dedicated to Zeus, the king of the gods. The Olympic Games were held in honour of Zeus, and athletes would offer sacrifices and pray to the gods for victory.'
You'll travel from Kalamata to visit the ruins of Olympia, which will be brought to life as your guide regales you with anecdotes and history while you explore this open-air history book. Olympia was one of the largest sanctuaries in ancient Greece - a centre of worship where a religious festival was the major event and the sports contest was second to this.
First up, you'll take a guided tour of the site where the ancient Olympic Games were held, including the stadium and accommodation for visiting officials. You'll also set eyes on the ruins of Temple of Zeus – once the largest in the Peloponnese – where one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Statue of Zeus, was housed. It was over 40 feet tall and made of ivory and gold. Unfortunately, the statue was destroyed in a fire during the 5th century AD. After your guided tour, you'll have free time for shopping before heading back.
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