Category Archives: olympia

4 Reasons Why Olympia is the Best Vacation for Kids

19 Monday Jun 2017

Posted by in ancient olympia, olympia

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Sea, sun, fun, great legends and fantastic food make happy family vacations! Olympia is the perfect holiday destination for families with kids as it is both educational and fun. The famous Greek myths, the heart-warming hospitality, the crystal-clear sea, the endless sandy beaches and the mouth-watering food are just a few reasons why Olympia is the best vacation for kids.

 

 

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1. Children love Greek myths

 

Just about every kid has either read or at least heard of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians adventure and mythological fiction books! Well, here in Olympia the young ones can make their myth come alive as they run the Olympic track where Hercules first participated and even make their own olive wreaths and challenge each other for the crown!

 

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2. The locals love children

 

Traveling with children is your passport to excellent service and affection, if they can withstand their cheeks being pinched by everyone they meet! Greek people love children and are always offering them some kind of yummy treat.

 

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3. Safe, clean beaches

 

The clear, shallow water and sandy beaches are perfect for children. The beaches near Olympia are ideal for families since the waters are crystal clear and thus have been awarded the Blue Flag, a voluntary Eco-label given to clean beaches that are also safe.

 

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4. Greek fast food, but not junk food

 

Last but not least, kids absolute love Greek souvlaki! Souvlaki wraps may be fast, but they are definitely not junk. Let’s not forget the Greek salads – straight from the garden, and the fruit – straight from the tree. And after all this healthy food, all you can eat ice-cream!

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Olympia is the best vacation for kids! Book a fun-filled Ancient Olympia & Beach Fun for Kids tour, ideal for families with children and enjoy all the ingredients which make learning fun!

Olympia Tours by Locals

11 Sunday Jun 2017

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Meeting Elena turned out to be incredibly enlightening and entertaining at the same time. As a certified tour guide and archaeologist, no one knows more about Olympia than her. She tells thought-provoking stories and is most passionate about her job.

 

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Meet Elena

Hi, I’m Elena Aggeli. I was born in Athens, the capital of Greece, and moved to the area about 12 years ago. After finishing my studies in Greek Archaeology at the University of Giannina, I enrolled in the Public School of Tourist Guides. I speak fluent English, Spanish and Greek and or more than a decade, I have spent my time on archaeological research and tourism.

What is your job?

I work as a certified tour guide here in the Olympia region all year round and have the pleasure of presenting this incredible place to foreigners and locals alike. I provide visitors with all the necessary guidelines and help them plan their travel itinerary according to their needs and preferences.

How would you describe Olympia?

In Greece, we have a saying, “Up on Mount Olympus, the Gods used to live. And down here in Olympia, the Gods used to play”. So, welcome to the playground of the Gods, welcome to Olympia – the birthplace of the Olympics!

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Where do you live?

I live in Pyrgos, a small town about 18 kilometers from Olympia. Pyrgos is also 13 kilometers from Katakolon Port where major cruise ships dock in order to visit the Archaeological Site and Museum in Olympia, and not only.

What do you love most about your work?

That I have the good fortune to live and work in place of unique natural beauty. A place that, although in ruins, still remains alive through its Olympic spirit which unites the peoples and urges us to come together in world peace.

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Where do you go on your day off?

The ultimate locations for me are the local beaches, the unknown side of the area. When we think of Olympia, we tend to think about ancient sites and museums. However, the region offers a combination of both ruins and a spectacular endless coastline of sandy and rocky beaches and isolated coves.

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What is the difference between a certified guide and a guide who is not certified?

Here in Greece, you need to be a university degree holder in History/Archaeology/Arts and then attend a 2-month seminar for tour guides in order to become certified. Only certified tour guides, or tourist guides, by the Greek Ministry of Tourism may conduct tours within archaeological sites and museums. We, as licensed guides, can be recognized by the badge we have to wear when on duty.

Can you name a few reasons why someone should book a certified guide?

Travelers have access to things that they would not be aware of otherwise. They learn about culture in-depth from an insider. They also have the flexibility to change their travel plans and to set up priorities. They can cover more places, especially when the have very little time, as is the case for cruisers. Tour guides know the ins-and-outs away from crowded places. And these are just to name a few!

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Uncover the past and present with a local. Discover the world of Olympia with Elena, the Olympia insider!

 

 

Εκλογές vs Ημέρα Μουσείων

20 Tuesday May 2014

Posted by in events, olympia, the travel insiders

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Εκλογές vs Ημέρα Μουσείων

MAY 19, 2014

Η χθεσινή μέρα, ως ημέρα των εκλογών – Δημοτικών και Περιφερειακών – αλλά και ως Παγκόσμια Ημέρα Μουσείων, ήταν μια δύσκολη μέρα. Από τη μια, όλοι όσοι είχαν αποφασίσει να ασκήσουν το εκλογικό τους δικαίωμα και από την άλλη, μια «γιορτή» και μια ευκαιρία για τους Έλληνες, να επισκεφτούν τα Μουσεία και τους Αρχαιολογικούς Χώρους της χώρας για να «κοινωνήσουν» το Αρχαίο Πνεύμα και την Ιστορία μας….

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Παρ’ όλα αυτά, κάποιοι συμπολίτες μας, αφού άσκησαν το εκλογικό τους δικαίωμα, είχαν προβλέψει και την επίσκεψή τους σε κάποιο Μουσείο ή Αρχαιολογικό Χώρο και αυτό είναι ίσως περισσότερο παρήγορο. Υπήρξαν δε και κάποιοι που, που παρ’ όλο που η μέρα ήταν δύσκολη, πήραν την πρωτοβουλία να προσφέρουν τον χρόνο τους και να αξιοποιήσουν όσο το δυνατόν καλύτερα τις γνώσεις τους στους πιο ευαισθητοποιημένους που προγραμμάτισαν να κάνουν και κάτι διαφορετικό εκείνη τη μέρα.

Με μεγάλη μας έκπληξη είδαμε στον Αρχαιολογικό Χώρο της Ολυμπίας, ένα γκρουπ Έλληνες να περιδιαβαίνουν και να ξεναγούνται στις «αρχαίες πέτρες» του Ιερού. Η πρωτοβουλία όπως μάθαμε ανήκει στο ταξιδιωτικό γραφείο «The travel insiders» που εδρεύει στον Πύργο, το οποίο αφιλοκερδώς προσέφερε τη μεταφορά (από τον Πύργο) και την ξενάγηση στους ενδιαφερόμενους. Η πρωτοβουλία αυτή, ιδιαίτερα σε καιρούς που όπως περιγράψαμε πιο πάνω, η καθημερινότητα είναι τόσο μα τόσο αποπνικτική που δύσκολα σου αφήνει περιθώρια να σκεφθείς κάτι εκτός από το πώς θα «τα φέρεις πέρα», είναι κάτι παραπάνω από αξιόλογη. Υπάρχουν ευτυχώς συμπολίτες μας που έχουν συνειδητοποιήσει μερικά πράγματα παραπάνω και που μπορούν με ελάχιστη προσπάθεια να τα κάνουν πράξη. Αξίζουν συγχαρητήρια – και δεν τα απευθύνουμε μόνο στους διοργανωτές – αλλά και σε όλους όσους είχαν το μεράκι και τη διάθεση να βάλουν στο ημερήσιο πρόγραμμά τους και την επίσκεψη στις αρχαιότητες….

continue reading…dioskouroiolympia96

 

 

aethlios 2014 – Olympian race

15 Thursday May 2014

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A modern athlos through the traces of a legend

 

olympian race

aethlios 2014

Aethlios was the first king of Elis in ancient Olympia. He was the son of Zeus and Protogeinia. After Hercules, it is stated that Aethlios continues to protect the Races at Olympia.

From his name derive the words athlete, athlos … to define for ever the endeavour of man to surpass his natural powers.

OLYMPIAN RACE  2014

Starting on Friday, 16th May 2014 at 14:30, Ancient Stadium of Nemea

Finishing on Saturday, 17th May 2014, no later than 18:30, Ancient Stadium of Olympia

Total length of race 180km, 28hrs duration, non-stop.

Total length of race 180km,

 

62 Km Race

will take place alongside with Olympian Race and with

common start and route 62 Km race. The race will follow the route from

the  Ancient stadium of Nemea to Levidi and will have a duration of 10 hours.

olympia

16 Sunday Mar 2014

Posted by in katakolon, olympia, sights

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Olympia

History

Olympia is the place where the very first Olympic Games were organized. These Games were held in honour of Zeus, once every four years, as part of a religious festival. They were greatly respected and even had the power to suspend wars for a period of three months.

In the beginning these games had a local character and only Greeks from the area of Olympia could take part. Over time, however, they got a Pan-Hellenic character and Greeks from all over the then known Greek world would travel to Olympia in order to be part of this feast. The highest moral award for an Olympic winner was a wreath made out of the branches of a wild olive tree. Victory symbolized by a wreath meant rather more than sponsors, deals and advertising campaigns. The Olympic winners won immortal fame.

The archaeological site

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to run the original Olympic track. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity! Other spots of interests are the training facilities where the athletes would warm up their muscles, the hotel for VIPs’ only and the place where the Olympic flame is lit twice every four years.

The archaeological museum

The Archaeological Museum of Olympia houses the most important finds of the excavations, which began in 1875 by the German archaeologists.

Some of the highlights are the original marble sculptures of the Zeus temple, the metopes of the temple which depict the 12 labours of Hercules (the idol of all muscle –men in ancient times), the Nike statue and the late-classical Hermes statue which has the perfect proportions. Don’t forget to walk around the statue because his “behind” is really worthy of seeing as well. Other finds of interest are the ancient “strigils”, scrapers. In ancient times the athletes would get really dirty since they would rub themselves with olive oil and sand to protect their skin from the sun. After training they would use these scrapers as a kind of peeling.

Hermes of Praxiteles

The museum of the history of the Olympic Games

Here you will find “ancient Playmobil”, small stylized statuettes of animals which were actually the offerings of the poor people. If you didn’t have the money to sacrifice a real animal to Zeus, you could buy a little votive offering at one of the ancient souvenir stands in Olympia and dedicate this to Zeus.