Next to the Saronic Gulf, southeast of Corinth, a “window” opens with a perfect view of the Saronic Gulf. A reference point here is the second Ancient Port of Corinth, the port of Kechries. Many foundations of his facilities survive to this day. From this point on, the Apostle Paul sailed for Ephesus for the spread of Christianity.

In Kechries you will find a windless, sandy, organized beach with crystal clear and shallow waters. It is considered one of the most beautiful places for swimming and is especially preferred by families with young children.

Of course there is free space for those who want to lay their towel on the sand.

If you still do not “like” the sand, on the way to Epidavros immediately after Kechries you will find “Loutra Oreas Elenis” (Helen of Troy baths), a picturesque seaside village with many holiday modern and traditional recidences. Here you will find everything you need for a comfortable stay. Taverns, cafes, tourist shops, hotels and campsites.

The area took their name from the thermal springs that are said to have been bathed by the Queen of Sparta, the Beautiful Helen, wife of Menelaus, central figure of the Trojan War. The water of the spring with the Thermal water in the Baths of the Beautiful Helen, is suitable for hydrotherapy for rheumatism. The water temperature is 19 degrees Celsius.

Following the coastal road, at 2km, is the beach of Kato Almyri, a favorite summer vacation destination. Large beach with pebbles and in most parts organized, with umbrellas and sunbeds that provide their customers with free beach bars.

It is particularly interesting to visit the Kokkosiou wetland, located on the edge of Kato Almyri beach, on the way to Katakali. The protected wetland has been created by the waters that originate from the mountain of Katakali and presents rare flora and fauna. Somewhere in the distance there is a half-ruined watermill. The icy brackish water ends up rushing into the sea. In fact, in a narrow spot, the momentum created by a natural water slide increases so much. Swimming in the crystal clear waters of Kokkosiou beach is refreshing.

The wider area is a top fishing destination. Choose a rock and set up a rod or throw line, sea bream, sea bass, sea bream and sterile in abundance. Pay attention only to spearfishers.

Nature lovers will enjoy the route to Katakali, a quiet village with stone houses. From there, a hiking trail begins, which passes by Lychnari beach, the beach of “Vagia” and ends at the blue-green beach of Frangolimanos.

Alternatively, the road to the car is good and leads right in front of the tiny beach of Katakali, Siderona and the neighboring bays.

 

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In a magnificent pine forest of 80,000 acres, the area has a variety of historic churches and monasteries, with admirable and rare architecture and hagiography. In the valley of Larissa, the temple of the Brigadiers, of the 12th century, will pique your interest with the excessively beautiful frescoes of the 16th century, works of strict Cretan art. The village is also adorned by the church of Agios Georgios (1700), the recently renovated church of Evangelistria in the district “Kokkinia” and the church of Agia Triada in the place “Larisi”.

At the top of the hill dominates the historic monastery of the Assumption of the Virgin, a 12th century convent, built with materials from the great ancient Greek temple of Aphrodite, which are still scattered in the monastery’s courtyard.

Nearby is the church of Agia Paraskevi, built in 1617, decorated with frescoes of significant folklore value.

The landscape of the churches is complemented by the two temples, dedicated to Saints Nicholas and Demetrius, with excellent frescoes, inspired by the daily life of the 18th century Sofikites.

During the summer months, the stone-built Open Theater of Soligeia hosts remarkable cultural events. Next to the theater, there is a path that connects Sofiko with Korfos, a route gently through a pine forest that along the path you see the characteristic sections for the resin collection in which the inhabitants of Sofiko have a tradition.

The resin collectors, who have been active in Sofiko for decades, are inextricably linked to the forest, offering irreplaceable services in their protection and development. In the beautiful forest of the area, if you browse, you will see “worked” trees of 300 years old.

At an altitude of 780 meters, the mountain village of Angelokastro is built. Every corner of the village is neat, tidy and clean and this shows how much its inhabitants love it. The village associations organize festivals and events with one of them, which is the “threshing festival” and takes place in early July, to be very dear and popular.

On a hill west of the village, there are ruins of a 13th-century Byzantine castle and the church of Agios Nikolaos with remarkable frescoes dating from the 10th century. Next to the village near Dervenakia, you can see the remains of an ancient quarry, a sample of ancient Greek technology. The pottery and coins found there show that the quarry operated from the 5th to the 3rd century BC. century.

 

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A beautiful route from Chiliomodi leads to Klenia. The road ascends slightly through the fertile plain where the ancient city of Tenea was once located. Here Oedipus was raised by the king of the region Polybo. Few ruins of the ancient city survive on a small hill south of the village of Klenia, on the left side of the road from Chiliomodi.

After Klenia, the road continues on the west side of the ravine of the stream of Kleisoura and immediately afterwards it highlights the large village of Agionori, an important coma during the Byzantine period. The Byzantine fortress of the village – the fortification of the diocese of Kontoporeia – still stands today.

The surviving fortress is small and polygonal, while inside the castle dominates the cross-roofed church of Agioi Anargyroi.

The construction of a number of temples in and around the castle of Agionorio is admirable. The most glorious moment in the history of this castle was July 28, 1822: the Greek chiefs Nikitaras and Nikitas Flessas, with their few but spirited men, who were buried here, dissolved the remnants of Dramalis’ army.

Agionori is famous for the melons it produces, with their sweet taste and strong aroma. The taverns of the village attract many Corinthians who are looking for authentic local flavors and good prices.

Descending from Agionori you meet the picturesque Stefani, with the Observatory a trademark of the area but also a pole of development. The Astronomy Municipal Library of Corinth team in collaboration with the hyperactive Educational & Cultural Association of Stefaniou regularly organizes astronomical meetings. For lovers of mountain hiking and for those looking for contact with nature, the area of ​​Stefaniou has a lot to offer.

On the outskirts of the village you can find Byzantine churches and monasteries: Old Monastery of Taxiarches, New Monastery of Agios Dimitrios, which was part of the old monastery of Taxiarches. Today, the monastery, stripped of its sacred relics, after repeated kidnappings and looting, continues its destination, with the recognition of a remarkable office, located in the little house, a relic of the late Eleftherios Venizelos.

 

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South of Corinth, at a distance of 5 km you will find the picturesque village of Solomon. Behind the church of Agios Konstantinos and Eleni, there used to be a grape press that today has been transformed with a lot of love and passion into a Folklore Museum. In a quiet area above orchards with olive trees and overlooking Acrocorinth and the Corinthian Gulf, there is a new climbing field, ideal for schools and young climbers.

Athikia

This tidy small town is built at the foot of Mount Skarumbalo. At the entrance there is a natural opening of the “Two Mountains”.

Most houses in Athikia with their red roofs look like poppies from above on a green meadow. Their gardens musk all season long from the scent of flowers. Among them are some old houses with tiled roofs, wooden loggias, whitewashed walls and courtyards with freshly painted pots, offering a rare architectural beauty.

Of particular interest are the Kollia house, which has been declared a protected building, the Mill and the Tsipouradiko of Manos, two impressive buildings – industries of peculiar architecture in Pigadia. The Mill has been designated as a historical monument. It is a monument of fine art and taste and is of great artistic interest. The Cultural Center “Eleni Sot. Didaskalou”, is a donation of the late Sotirios Didaskalos to his village and is the focus of efforts for every form of expression of Culture.

The Annunciation of the Virgin or Evangelistria, is located in the center of the village and has been built three times. Its bell tower, a jewel of architecture, was built in 1923 by the master builder of Asia Minor G. Sideris and has a height of 24 m. August 6, when a big festival takes place.

Athikia is famous for its good olive oil, sweet wine and giosa (delicius local food based on meat). In its taverns you will taste the best giosa you have ever eaten grilled or in a traditional oven.

Above Athikia, a small village, drowned in the red rocks, Agios Ioannis or “Agiannis” as they call it. A livestock village that looks like time has not touched it. Its wild beauty is awe-inspiring. See the unique tour on the website of the village agiannis.gr

Chiliomodi is 18 km from Corinth, located in a nice location, with olive groves and a plain all around and next to a wonderful forest. It is the central village of an area with picturesque villages and rich heritage of Klenia, Agionori, Stefani, Agios Vassilios, Koutalas, Mapsos, Spathovouni.

In recent years it has attracted the attention of the whole world, due to the extensive tributes to the press for the great archeological findings of Ancient Tenea. Legend has it that the Teneats are descendants of Trojan captives, whom Agamemnon settled in the area.

Cross the famous pine forest of Chiliomodi, a wonderful natural forest ecosystem, a remnant of a larger and more ancient forest in the area. It is an environmentally interesting and important pine forest from which the characteristic smell of pine and resin stands out. The route, the run and the walk in the forest of Chiliomodi is wonderful and refreshing.

The area is of remarkable religious interest: 2.5 km outside of Chiliomodi is the New Holy Monastery of Panagia Faneromeni, a 1896 building, where the pilgrim has the opportunity to admire the Byzantine icon of the Virgin Mary, placed on a wood-carved iconostasis of rare art.

Passing an uphill distance of 3 km you reach the old JM Faneromeni. It was founded in the 11th century, at the entrance of the crevice of a rock, where the miraculous image of the Virgin Mary was revealed, while it is mentioned that of all the monasteries of Faneromeni throughout Greece, Corinthian is the most important, oldest and most official. Every year on the night of the Life of the Life-Giving Spring, a custom is revived. The young people of the village light fires in the mountains that surround the old monastery of Panagia tis Faneromeni, outside the village, forming the shape of the Cross. Then they gather in the precinct of the monastery where a party follows until the early morning hours.

From Chiliomodi you have the opportunity to follow two different but equally interesting routes: the first one crosses the Teneatiko field to the west and ends at Agios Vassilios. The castle of Agios Vassilios, at a height of 500 m, dominates there, with an amazing view of the fertile plain.

 

After Agios Vassilios, the historic settlement of Dervenakia meets, where it was defeated, in a historic battle of 1823, the army of Dramalis by the Greek fighters, with Nikitaras and Kolokotronis at the forefront.

The second route, southwest of Chiliomodio, will take you to the villages of Koutala, Spathovouni and Mapso. The inhabitants are mainly engaged in agriculture. In fact, Koutalas is famous for its potatoes, which you can try in various versions at the Potato Festival that takes place in July. If you arrive in Mapsos, visit the famous Monastery of the Holy Cross. It is a wonderful and hospitable monastery that, in addition to spiritual work, has to showcase productive livestock products from its rich farm.

 

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Today’s village of Ancient Corinth is located in the shadow of the Acrocorinth and stretches around the imposing Archaeological Site and the Museum. Its center is a cobbled sidewalk with cafes, restaurants and tourist shops. The shop windows stand out with the handmade ceramics, faithful copies of the findings of the area and other exhibits.

He spent an entire day in Ancient Corinth and traveled between myth and history.

Otherwise, choose Ancient Corinth as your holiday destination as a boutique hotel and rooms to let all year round. It is about seven kilometers from Corinth.

Visit the nearby villages of Examilia and Xylokeriza to hike in the Onia Mountains, among dense forest and wonderful sea views.

EOS Corinth has organized and marked a network of 4 routes, starting from the small church of the Ascension just outside the Examilia and ends at the Baths of the Beautiful Helen. In Examilia you can visit the female Holy Monastery of the Holy Trinity that celebrates the Holy Spirit.

 

 

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Driving northwest of Corinth, on the old National Road Corinth – Patras, you meet successive coastal villages and holiday settlements. An endless lacy coastline that forms successive bays with small sandy beaches that families with small children prefer because the sea is shallow and warm.

Choose the natural shade from the tamarisk trees or if you prefer umbrellas and sunbeds you will find many cafes and picturesque taverns, mainly with fish and seafood, with tables “on the sea”. Alternatively, on the main road you will find many grills with grilled piglets and taverns with delicious meat.

In the area there are rooms for rent and camping for carefree summer holidays.

At the entrance of Lechaio, the Ancient Port, the main – port port of Ancient Corinth. A miracle of know-how and technology, copied by the Carthaginians first and then the Romans. It is named after Lehi, son of Pyrenees and Poseidon.

The old warehouses of an Agricultural Cooperative have been transformed with a lot of passion and love into the Theater of Perigiali. Every year they upload carefully and remarkable works that are worth watching.

Take a walk in the rural hinterland, it is overgrown with vineyards with the famous Corinthian sultana, but also with citrus varieties.

In the village of Assos, in the hinterland, the beautiful temple of the Brigadiers stands out. It is a large one-room house of Vasiliki, with a gabled tiled roof, a three-sided arch of the sanctuary, entrances on the west and south sides, with arched lintels and hagiographies of great artistic interest. It was built in 1822, in memory of the flight of the Turks on the day of the feast of the Brigadiers.

 

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