Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Andritsena (€6.20, two hours) and Kalamata (€13.10, two hours). The schedule is re-
duced on weekends. Buses to Olympia depart from Pyrgos (€2.20, 30 minutes).
There's a small train on the branch line from Pyrgos to Olympia (around €2, 40
minutes, two daily).
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Tholos to Olympia
Heading north into Elia from Messinia, the mountains to the east give way to populated
plains fringed by golden-sand beaches. Elia's coastline comprises long stretches of
beaches, interspersed here and there by pebbled shores and rocky outcrops. Unfortu-
nately, behind the beaches, buildings are increasingly impeding potentially pretty views.
Among the best southern beaches are
Tholos
,
Kakovatos
and
Kouroutas
. There is sea-
side accommodation available in each village, but most of it is in uninspiring concrete
buildings.
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OlympiaΟλυμπία
POP 1000
With countless overpriced souvenir shops and eateries, the modern village of Olympia
(o-lim-bee-
ah
) panders unashamedly to the hundreds of thousands of tourists who pour
through on their way to Ancient Olympia. Despite this, the town is far from kitsch. Only
500m south of the well-kept leafy streets, over the Kladeos River, is Ancient Olympia.
Although the site's surrounds were tragically burnt in the 2007 bushfires, rendering it
devoid of trees, Ancient Olympia survived, thanks to the efforts of locals and firefighters;
it remains a luxuriantly green, beautiful and historically important site.
