We drove from the south of Peloponnese (🛣️ – 4,80 EUR, ⛽ – diesel 1,939 EUR / l) to reach where the Olympic Games took place every four years from 776 BC, until their abolition by Emperor Theodosius I in 393 AD. The ruined ancient sanctuary of Olympia has been inhabited since prehistoric times. In the 10th century BC, Olympia became a center for the worship of Zeus. Thanks to the destruction ordered by Theodosius II in 420 AD and various subsequent earthquakes, little remains of the magnificent temples and athletic facilities, but enough exists to wander amid the tree-shaded ruins to get a hint of the sanctuary’s former glory. The Altis – the sanctuary to the gods – has one of the highest concentrations of masterpieces from the ancient Greek world displayed in the excellent Archeological Museum (🎟️ – 12 EUR).
Parking location – Olympia: 37.644405N 21.626659E (🚻)