Kaiafas

To the west of the prefecture of Ilia, 27 km from its capital, Pyrgos, lies the area known as Kaiafas, comprising a vast beach on the side of the Ionian sea, a coastal pine forest and the homonymous lake, which is the centre of health tourism in the area. The healing properties of the Kaiafa lake waters have been known since antiquity; according to the ancient Greeks, they owed their properties to the nymphs who inhabited the forests surrounding the area. For that reason they honoured them with great... διαβάστε περισσότερα

Ancient Ilida

Ilida or Ilis was a city-state in ancient Ilia, very near ancient Olympia, and took up the area which today extends from the village of Paliopoli (or Nea Ilida) to the southeast, Bouchioti (or Avgeio) to the southwest and Kalyvia to the west. According to myth, it was founded by Oxylus, son of Aemon and Gorgi, who is also mentioned in some traditions as the founder of the Olympic Games. Oxylus, who hailed from Aetolia, founded Ilida by merging all pre-existing towns in the area, and became its first... διαβάστε περισσότερα

Foloi oak forest

Foloi oak forest is a designated site under NATURA 2000 that dates back to ancient times. It’s the only flat forest in Greece situated on the boundaries between Elis, Arcadia and Achaia, at an altitude of 600meters. It covers a total surface of 218.000 acres and it consists mainly of broadleaf oaks. Foloi oak forest is a designated site under NATURA 2000 that dates back to ancient times. It’s the only flat forest in Greece situated on the boundaries between Elis, Arcadia and Achaia, at an altitude... διαβάστε περισσότερα

Pineios River and Pineios artificial lake

Pineios is one of the Peloponnese’s most significant rivers, its total length is 70 km. Also known as Gastouni River, it has its sources in the mount Erymanthos and empties in the Ionian Sea near town bearing the same name. According to mythology, Hercules diverted the flow of Pineios and Alfeios rivers in order to clean the Augean Stables in his fifth labor. After having demolished the stables’ walls, the hero used the river flow to clean the dung. Pineios River, on its way to the sea, supplies... διαβάστε περισσότερα

Alfeios

Peloponnese’s longest river (111km long) has its source in Arcadia and its mouth in the Prefecture of Elis. According to mythology, Apheus was one of the river-gods of antiquity, worshiped mainly in the regions of Arcadia, Elis and Messinia. Son of Oceanus and Tethys, he killed his brother Cercaphus and haunted by the Erinyes, he leapt into the river which was later named after him. Source: www.mythicalpeloponnese.gr [vc_row][vc_column][ivi_nbcaj layout="5" viewas="list" cat_id="Elis" animation="fadeInRight"... διαβάστε περισσότερα

Ancient Olympia

During classical times Olympia was the city of Ilia best known as the area where the Olympic Games took place, the greatest athletic event of the then-Greek world. Today Ancient Olympia is a village and a municipality of Ilia, built in the valley of river Alpheus. Nearby lies the archaeological site, one of the most popular ones in Greece, which attracts every year tourists from all over the world. The first excavations in the area began in 1829 and are still on-going, with important information... διαβάστε περισσότερα

Chlemoutsi Castle

Located on a hilltop in the village Castro, overlooking Elis plain, Chlemoutsi castle is one of the most imposing castles in the Peloponnese. Its name is of Slav origin and it resulted from a distortion of the word “Chelmos” or “Chelonata” which is the name of the hill on which it is built. There is evidence of a palaeolithic and middle Helladic settlement (10.000 b.C and 2.000 b.C). The most powerful fortress of the Frankish Principate of Achaea was established in 1220-1223 by Geoffrey... διαβάστε περισσότερα

Municipal Market (Agora) of Pyrgos

In the late 19th century, recently naturalized Greek citizen, Ernst Ziller arrived at the town of Pyrgos in order to build the municipal market, Stavropazaro. The Agora occupies an entire street block. The town’s most significant listed building is a two storey edifice with four entrances and several patios. Its four sides present four different architectural styles. The façade of Karaiskaki Street has intense Renaissance elements. The façade on Metaxa Street, opposite administrative buildings,... διαβάστε περισσότερα