The agora of one of the great Greek and Roman cities — the Temple of Apollo, the Pirene fountain, the bema where the apostle Paul addressed the Corinthians, all on a single open site.
Ancient Corinth is the most accessible major archaeological site in the Peloponnese — entirely walkable in two hours, with most of what you see Roman 1st-century, the great Doric Apollo temple six centuries older.
Corinth was the richest city in Greece for much of the classical period. It controlled the isthmus and the trade between the Aegean and the western Mediterranean, with two harbours (Lechaion on the Corinthian Gulf, Kenchreai on the Saronic) and a famous-bordering-on-notorious cosmopolitan culture. The Greek city was destroyed by Rome in 146 BC; Julius Caesar refounded it as a Roman colony in 44 BC, and most of what is visible today is Roman: the agora, the bouleuterion, the Pirene fountain (still flowing), the bema where the apostle Paul stood trial in AD 51 (Acts 18). The seven standing Doric columns of the Temple of Apollo (c. 540 BC) are the only major Greek-period survival on the lower site — they have stood through earthquakes, wars and the Roman destruction, and are the postcard. The on-site museum (€8 combined ticket) is small, sharp, and includes the famous mosaic of Dionysos and the painted pottery. Two hours on the site, one in the museum. Combine with Acrocorinth (the medieval fortress on the rock above) for a full day. Avoid summer midday heat — go early or late.
A half-day at Ancient Corinth + Acrocorinth.
Park at the site; cool morning light on the Apollo temple.
Two hours — bema, fountain, shops, temple.
An hour.
Marinos or a working village taverna.
Five minutes' drive; two hours walking the fortress.
From the upper fortress.
Within thirty minutes.
The fortress directly above — five minutes' drive. Detail on the Acrocorinth page.
Twelve minutes east — the engineering wonder. Detail on the Corinth Canal page.
Forty minutes west — wine country. Detail on the Nemea page.
Twenty-five minutes north-east — spa coast. Detail on the Loutraki page.
Tell us a little about the trip you want — pace, who's coming, how you'd like to spend your mornings. We'll build the days.
