Boutique Voyage to Katakolon (Olympia), Greece

Voyage to the gateway to Olympia

Sure, we may dock at the colorful port of Katakolon, but let’s be honest. You’re going to want to be “on your marks, get set, and go” to Olympia! Located just a 40-minute drive away, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is a real winner. (Sorry, we couldn’t resist.)

To fully appreciate the scale and grandeur of the Olympia’s stadium, temples, and monuments you may need to flex something other than muscles: your imagination. Dating back to 776 BC, the site of the original Olympic games is now mostly in ruin.

Put your feet on the starting line of the 120-meter sprinting track in the original stadium while humming “Chariots of Fire”. Visit the gymnasium where athletes trained (often in the nude, slathered in olive oil), then pass by the prytaneum, where winning athletes were entertained and treated to a celebratory feast.

Whether you’re in top shape or are more of an armchair athlete, it’s hard not to get swept up in the glory of victory and the agony of defeat that is still palpable here.