Ancient Olympia, much like Delphi, hits you with the weight of history the moment you step inside. Its astonishing to think that the ancient games ran for 1169 years – think of what happened in those years 776BC to 393AD!; that the Ancient World stopped for those days to allow free travel to attend; its legacy now with the modern version and how events like the discuss and running track events sit firmly in our world-psyche; and that it represented the the valley of the gods, home to one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World – the statue of Zeus. A truly globally significant site.
The ruins themselves are also just generally pretty atmospheric and beautifully set in the quiet valley to walk around, with enough standing columns, temples and foundations to fire the imagination. Add in a cute nearby town for lunch or a wander, and you’ve got a genuinely fascinating day that connects ancient history with the world we live in now. 3.5hours from Athens, but totally Worth it.
