The Peloponessos: Heart and Soul of Greece

When most people think of holidays in Greece they think of the Greek islands. The idea of all these islands, each different from the next, the whitewashed houses and beautiful beaches is an enticement to anyone. But lost in the commotion over Mykonos, Santorini, Rhodes and Corfu is the fact that some of the most beautiful and interesting areas in Greece are not on the islands, but on the mainland in places like the Peloponessos. (or Peloponnese, Peloponnisos, or any number of spellings...)

Name the first Capital of modern Greece. Give up? It wasn't Athens or Thessaloniki. It was Nafplio. At the time the Peloponessos was all there was of Greece since it was the first part of the country to be liberated from the Turks in 1821 and in fact nearly went back to the Turks when the heroes of the revolution began fighting amongst themselves. But such is life in Greece. For many, the Peloponnesos is the true Greece and to them the narrow isthmus of Corinth is all that separates them from a world of Albanians, Vlachs, Bulgarians and Macedonians,  who are all Greeks to us. But the Peloponessos can be said to be the heart and soul of Greece and though it has been left off the tourist map that was especially painted for Americans, it is as worthwhile a place to visit as any ten islands combined.

From Myceneae to Sparta to Mistra to the guns of Navarone, the Peloponessos has seen its share of history. This is where Paris stole Helen from King Menelaous and where Agamemnon set forth with his ships to Troy, only to be murdered in his bathtub by his wife when he returned. It is a land of rugged mountains, green valleys, the ancient games of Olympia, and a coastline with some of the best beaches in Greece. What follows is a description of the different regions of the Peloponessos.

Peloponnesos Index

Corinth and
Argolis

Laconia
and Mani

Messinia

Arkadia

Achaia

Eleia
and Olympia

Helpful Info

 Other Peloponnesos Pages and Helpful Information

Peloponessos
Photo Album

Mystras

Gythion

Diros Caves

Elafonissos

Monemvasia

Nafplion

Kyparissi

Kalavrita

Olympia

Greek Islands

River Rafting
and Trekking

Bus Schedules

Stoupa

Taxi Tours

 Car Rentals

Hotels of Greece

Travel Agents

Athens Guide

The Argolis
with George

E-mail Me
for Help

Trekking-Greece offers River Trekking and Rafting in the Peloponnese, a 5-Day adventure through the gorges, rivers and mountain villages of Arkadia

You can find hotels in the Peloponessos by location, price, whether or not it has a swimming pool, and see photos and reviews by using this link to booking.com. Excellent prices and many hotels you can book and then cancel with no cancellation fee. For those who want to book without using a travel agency this is the best way to do it.

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(The money does not go to me but to SOS Children's Villages)

Help Support Matt's Greece Travel Guides 
Do you enjoy using my site? Have you found it entertaining as well as useful? If so please show your appreciation by booking hotels through the travel agencies and the links found on my Greek Travel Agents Page. The small comission I make on the bookings enable me to keep working and in most cases you won't find them any cheaper by searching elsewhere. You can also book at Booking.com's Peloponessos Page and they give me a small percentage on each booking.