Ancient Corinth

Half Day Morning

Starting from Athens we drive westwards along the scenic coast, until we reach the Corinth Canal with its breathtaking views (short stop).

The Corinth Canal is a junction of international sea transport and serves ships coming from the western Mediterranean and Adriatic en route to eastern Mediterranean and black sea ports and vice-versa.

The Corinth Canal intersects the Isthmus of Corinth and has a length of 6.343m.

The minimum width of the canal at sea level is 24.6m and bottom width of 21m at 8m depth. Shortly thereafter we reach the ancient town of Corinth (visit) where St. Paul lived and preached for two years.

The site of Ancient Corinth was first inhabited in the Neolithic period (5000-3000 B.C.).

The peak period of the town, though, started in the 8th century B.C. and lasted until its destruction by the Roman general Mummius in 146 B.C. Representative of its wealth is the Doric temple of Apollo which was built in 550 B.C.

The city was reinhabited in 44 B.C. and gradually developed again. In 51/52 A.D.

The center of the Roman city was organized to the south of the temple of Apollo and included shops, small shrines, fountains, baths and other public buildings.

The invasion of the Herulians in A.D. 267, initiated the decline of the city though it remained inhabited for many centuries through successive invasions and destructions, until it was liberated from the Turks in 1822.

After pass from the ancient port of Kechreai where St. Paul disembarked – return to Athens in time for lunch.