Loutra Oraias Elenis
Greece’s Corinthia is home to the village of Loutra Elenis. Approximately 10 kilometers southeast of Corinth, it is located on the Saronic Gulf coast. It is a component of the Saronikos municipal unit and the Galataki community. It is located between Corinth and Epidaurus on Greek National Route 70.
The village is coastal and has two beaches. However, the area grows in elevation a few meters beyond the sea due to the presence of a mountain. The olive tree estates gradually give way to country houses, shops, and taverns. Nowadays, the coastal area has hotels, taverns, and cafes.
Orea Eleni Natural Thermal Spring
Relaxing small beach in the spring. The tiny pebble beach has cozy little coves that are ideal for a little seclusion. There’s just enough of the ancient bath left to take a step back in time, making the spring a source of inspiration.
It’s a tiny space that’s surrounded by rocks and can be a little difficult to get into. Swimming in the warm salt water is quite relaxing, but it gets much more refreshing when the chilly spring water suddenly combines with the salt water. The water is glisteningly clear.
Isthmus of Corinth
The main attraction of the city is now the Corinth Canal, which is located four kilometers east of the present-day Corinth. It took more than 80m deep excavation, between 1882 and 1893 to build the 6.3-kilometer-long, 23-meter-wide canal, which can hold ships weighing up to 10,000 tons.
The bridge that crosses the canal to access the road offers the best view of it. On the other hand, the underwater bridge at the northwest end is one of its most intriguing features. It can be submerged below the surface, at which point sailing boats and smaller ships can pass through. For larger ships, it is too narrow, though.
Ancient Corinth
Ancient Corinth holds significance as a significant archaeological site, where numerous remarkable discoveries have been unearthed. Formerly a dominant city in the Classical era, it fell under Roman control in 146 BCE.
It was within these ancient walls that St. Paul delivered his teachings to the Corinthian populace in 51-52 CE, an encounter that would influence his writing of the First Corinthians and Second Corinthians, two widely cited books of the New Testament. Presently, amidst ongoing archaeological endeavors, visitors can behold the remnants of diverse structures such as temples, a forum, baths, and a basilica.
Acrocorinth
Acrocorinth, located 3.5 kilometers south of Ancient Corinth, stands as an imposing fortified hilltop rising to 575 meters. Access to its summit is facilitated by a road that winds its way up to a point near the lowest gate on the western side. Over the ages, Acrocorinth has been fortified and its defenses reinforced during various historical periods including the Byzantine, Frankish, Turkish, and Venetian eras, resulting in its walls extending nearly two kilometers in circumference.
Inside the fortress, a pathway guides visitors to the highest point where the former Temple of Aphrodite once stood, later repurposed as a mosque by the Ottoman Turks in the 16th century. From this vantage point, one can enjoy splendid vistas of the Isthmus and the Peloponnesian hills.
Loutraki
Perched above the Gulf of Corinth, about six kilometers northeast of Corinth, Loutráki emerges as a favored coastal retreat, offering an ideal setting for leisurely strolls, particularly if you seek therapeutic warmth. The town boasts natural thermal springs at the Loutraki Spa, inviting visitors to indulge in soaking sessions and partake in the reputed healing properties of the water, recommended for ailments like urinary tract disorders, kidney stones, gallstones, and gout.
Once a bustling old town, Loutraki endured devastation from an earthquake in 1928, leading to its contemporary landscape dominated by concrete hotels constructed during the latter half of the 20th century.
Temple of Apollo
The primary landmark in Ancient Corinth, the grand Doric Temple of Apollo, sits atop a gentle rise, commanding attention across the archaeological site. Constructed around 540 BCE, the temple stands on the grounds of an earlier seventh-century-BCE structure.
Presently, only seven colossal limestone columns stand, though originally there were six along both the front and rear facades, and fifteen flanking each side. In the first century CE, the Romans relocated the temple’s main entrance to the west (previously positioned on the east), and they erected stoas (covered walkways with columns) on either side of the temple.