Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
northeast of Neapoli (allow half an hour), contains one of the best examples of rare
stalactites and stalagmites in Europe. The stalactites are estimated to be around three mil-
lion years old; 1cm of a stalactite takes 100 years to form. You can view around 1,500 sq
metres of stalactites as you walk around a raised and lit 300m circuit. Large sections of
the cave still remain unexplored. Tours in English depart hourly (last tour 4.30pm). The
guide's rote-like spiel won't sate (or create) wannabe scientists; information focuses on
the comic resemblance of the formations rather than geological facts. But don't let this
detract from the awe- inspiring experience.
Keep in mind that opening hours and tour times can be extremely flexible; check for a
notice on the front window of the town hall in Neapoli.
MYTHOLOGY MADE PELOPONNEASY
If you are interested in treading the real landscape of Greek mythology, the Pelo-
ponnese is home to many of its fabled places.
It takes some getting used to seeing so many road signs to places of legend,
such as Mycenae, Tiryns and Nestor's Palace; homes to Homer's heroes and vil-
lains in the 'Iliad', and places of real historical as well as mythological interest.
If you want to find the entrance to the Underworld, try exploring along the Styx
River in northeastern Arkadia, known to modern Greeks as the Mavroneri River. Or
perhaps you'd prefer to see Aphrodite's birthplace, off a magnificent spot on the
remote island of Kythira.
Even the territory itself is named after a mythical figure - Pelops - who, accord-
ing to legend, became king of Elia after sneakily defeating the previous king Oiman-
aos in a chariot race (by tampering with his chariot wheels) and to whom subse-
quent rulers from the area were desperate to prove a blood line.
Gods and demigods sported here, too, including Pan, who sexually harassed
nymphs in bucolic Arkadia, and Hercules, who worked as a kind of supernatural
pest controller, ridding the country around Argos of the many-headed Hydra and
strangling the fearsome Nemean Lion at Nemea. According to the ancient Greek
writer Plutarch, even Zeus himself celebrated here, after beating his father Cronos
at wrestling, by holding the first ever Olympics at Ancient Olympia.
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