PORTS OF CALL

Venice, Italy

Bari, Italy

Katakolon, Greece

Santorini, Greece

Mykonos, Greece

Rhodes, Greece

Dubrovnik, Croatia

Katakolon/Olympia, Greece

Olympia, the spiritual center of the ancient Greek world, was known in antiquity for the oracle and the sanctuary of Apollo. A visit to the Acropolis is a "must" for any visitor of Athens to see its glorious monuments which were constructed 2500 years ago, including the temples to the gods, the gymnasium and stadium. Visit the site of the Olympic games. Or go to the beach for a day of rest and swim in the crystal blue waters of the Ionian Sea.

Average Temperature in September is low 80’s for highs and mid 60’s for lows.

Below is a short overview of Katakolon/Olympia, Greece.  For more detailed information click on the link below which includes the history of Olympia, maps and some of the sites you may want to visit.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympia,_Greece

General Information

Katakolon is a quiet seaside Greek town, rather island-like, by the side of the Ionian Sea on the Peloponnese peninsula. The town first became a port in 1857 to handle the export of Corinth’s small raisins, actually currants. These days the port is mainly used for cruise passengers to disembark and travel a short way to see the ruins at Olympia.  From the small port of Katakolon, it's a short 30-minute drive to Olympia, where ancient Greeks came to celebrate the games.

Olympia represents one the most important mythological places in traditional Greece where ancient Greeks honored the god Zeus with athletic contest called the Olympics. The Olympic Games originated here in 776 BC, repeating every four years. In the beginning the Games were composed of few disciplines, deriving from military arts characterized by loyalty and courage and lasted just one day.  Later the celebration of the Olympic Games lasted for a few weeks The ceremony was strict. Women, except for Hera priestesses were not allowed, upon punishment of death. All competitors had to be Greek. The winners were awarded by public triumph, they were included in a golden register engraved in stone and a life size statue was erected.  After over 1200 years of continued history, the Olympic Games were stopped in 393 AD and started again in Athens in 1896. Olympia was discovered in 1776, but Zeus' temple one of the most important excavations is recent.

Places to Visit

City of Olympia - where you'll find the remarkable ruins of many significant buildings, including the gymnasium, the guesthouse, a workshop and the stadium itself.  At the ruins of the sanctuary at Olympia, visitors can see the temples of Zeus and Hera, the floor of the original stadium and the Council House where athletes took the Olympic oath. The stadium is very impressive, with an audience capacity of up to 40,000. All archaeological finds are preserved in the Museum.  The museum has a unique collection of Greek sculpture, ancient pieces of armor and bronze figurines found during the excavations.

Mercouri Estate is known not only for its wines of supreme quality but also for its magnificent location. This is the area where the Refosco grape was first planted after being imported from Italy. In 1930, the Mercouris built a modern winery and distillery, updated again in 1990 with the latest technology. You are invited to experience the beauty and charm of the vineyards, to see the old and new winery, and also to have a taste of the locally produced wines. Check the website. http://www.katakolon-greece.com/greece-mercury-winery.html

In Katakolon, be sure to visit the local galleries and shops on the main street for traditional Greek crafts and works by local artists.  Relax under the umbrellas or awnings of the local cafés. You'll find fresh seafood and local favorites on the menus - and everything tastes better with a beautiful view of the deep blue Mediterranean.

Local Currency  

As part of the European Union, Greece's official currency is the Euro (EUR). Credit cards and traveler's checks are also widely accepted.  
Costa will be offering group excursions.  For those interested more information is available.

Costa offers group excursions. For those interested click on the link below and enter Eastern Mediterranean as destination, Greece as country and then Katakolon/Olympia as port of call.

Excursions Finder