Ancient Olympia & the Museum
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Port
Katakolon (Olympia), Greece
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Activity Level
Moderate
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Excursion Type
Local Sightseeing,All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At
$109.95
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 4 Hours
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Meals Included
Meals not included
At Ancient Olympia, 25 miles east of the small fishing village of Katákolon, you will step back 2,000 years into the past, to the days of the original Olympic games. Imagine the area crowded with athletes, orators, merchants and philosophers. Picture the Temple of Zeus and its forty-foot statue of the god, which was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The ruins of the temple are still visible today. Deep in the past lies the roar of the spectators as the athletes took their marks on the marble starting blocks that are still in place. Spectators looked on, surrounded by temples, treasuries, porticoes and statues that today are reduced to ruins.
After your visit to Olympia, you will take the short walk to the newly-renovated museum. The exhibits here are findings from the excavations at the site. The most prized exhibit is a 4th-century Parian marble statue of Hermes of Praxitelis, a masterpiece of classical sculpture from the Temple of Hera. Other exhibits to visit are a sculptured head of Hera and the pediments and metopes from the Temple of Zeus.
Notes:
Shade is limited; please dress accordingly. Bring a hat and wear sunscreen. Expect dense crowding and congestion at the site. Use of an audio headset (included) will enhance your tour experience.