Explore Korinthia
Unwind the clock of modern life. Unlock the door to a wonder of the world.
Its History The region of Korinthos was the largest commercial centre in ancient Greece. During its history, it had been occupied by Macedonians, Romans, Byzantines, Franks, Venetians, Ioannites Knights of Rhodes and Turks. Ancient fortresses, citadels, ancient monuments, Byzantine churches, reservoirs, cobbled streets, towers and arches, all testify the city’s glorious past. Korinthia’s landscape exerts a strange attraction to visitors – the picturesque mountain villages of “Mountainous Korinthia”, with its stone-built houses, pine covered mountains, fir and oak trees, lakes, natural hot springs, the lagoon, the caves and of course its beautiful beaches.
The Castle of Acrokorinthos The Castle of Acrokorinthos Share Tweet Pin it Email Atop the steep cliff of Akrocorinthos stands the Acropolis, the ancient fortress of Korinthos with the ancient settlement stretching down to its foothills. It is surrounded by stone walls that follow the line of the rock, built in three successive layers of fortifications. A paved path leads to the three gates of the castle. The first gate is arched, with a Byzantine marble slab; the second is a two-storey castellated gate. An exterior staircase leads to a subterranean vaulted space. The third gate has a horseshoe-shaped arch and two towers to the right and left. Inside the castle there are several ruins of buildings, including temples, fountains, pools with pillars brick arches, the fountain of Upper Peirene, the temple of Aphrodite at the highest point of the Acrokorinthos and a two-storey tower serving as a lookout, with windows and loopholes, and the lower floor functioning as a reservoir. From the top of Acrokorinthos, the view extends to the mountains Kithaironas (across the gulf in Central Greece), Ziria and Panachaiko, of course the Korinthiakos and the Saronic Gulf. Opening hours: Daily 8:00-19:00. –
Corinth Canal From ancient times, people have searched for an easier way to transfer ships from the Korinthian to the Saronic Gulf and vice versa. Created for this reason was the Diolkos, a paved road along which boats could be dragged across the isthmus.The Diolkos was constructed by the tyrant Periander of Korinthos, who had envisioned the opening of the canal. The opening of the canal had subsequently been attempted by Demetrios Poliorketes, Julius Caesar, Caligula, Nero, Herod Atticus, various Byzantines and Venetians, to no avail. The opening was re-launched by Kapodistrias, but was again stopped due to lack of money. In 1881 the work of the excavation was undertaken by a Hungarian businessman, in exchange for a 99 year lease on the site, but who also abandoned the effort. The cutting was eventually completed thanks to the donation of Andreas Syngros. Over 10 years the Greeks finally managed to dig the canal, which opened on 25 July 1893. About 15,000 ships pass through the Canal of Korinthos every year.
