Olympia Things To Do

Olympia holidays have an attraction that's unashamedly historical, with sightseeing based around the traditions of the ancient Olympic Games and the related worship of the Greek gods. A holiday in Olympia would not be complete without a visit to the Ancient Olympia archaeological site. You'll pay just a few euros and emerge with a real idea not only about the ancient Games but also about the importance of the Greek gods to the event. If you're not staying in Olympia itself, a good travel option is to take a cruise ship to Katakolon, then a train to Olympia. It's fast, reliable and offers great views on the Greek countryside.

Olympia holidays should also take in a trip to the Temple of Zeus. Although an earthquake put paid to the original building, there's a big clue about its impressive form in the huge chunks that remain. There's a 91-foot by 210-foot crepidoma with 34-foot columns in a building about 65 feet tall. Some impressive sculpture from the 5th century BC can also be seen.

 

Visit the Museum at Olympia on your holidays and see finds from the Sacred Precinct of the Altis, which date from prehistoric to Early Christian times. The museum is particularly famous for its terracotta collection, sculpture collection, and the richest bronze collection in the world.

 

The Museum of the Modern Olympic Games

Once the site of the Panhellenic Games, Olympia has a sporting spirit that lives on in the Museum of the Modern Olympic Games, which contains artefacts from the modern Olympic Games, including the box in which the heart of Pierre de Coubertin, the man who resurrected the modern Games, was transported from Paris to its final resting place in Olympia.