4.8.2011: A day´s trip to Olympia
Today we visit the archeological axcavations of Olympia, home of ancient Olympic games. We go to Zakynthos Town by bus, then have to take the ferry to the continent (Peloponnes). Afterwards, another 45 minutes bus journey takes us to the site.
The trip lasts for about 12 hours, so we are fetched from our hotel at 6:50 a.m.. At 7:30 we are already on the ferry boat and admire the still deep standing sun.
Zakynthos Town in morning light.
The church spire, in the style of an Italian "Campanile", showing that Venezians were occupying the island from the 14th to the 18th century.
180° - panoramic picture of Zakynthos town, as seen from the ferry boat. Click here or into the picture for a larger version.
Zakynthos Town was 90% destroyed in 1953 by an earth quake and a following big fire. It was reconstructed according to old plans.
This means that also the church and the campanile are not that old.
We have cast off; zooming in shows the town with the mountains of near the (opposite) west coast, about 20 km apart.
Another ferry boat.
After more than an hour´s passage time, we are approaching the harbour of Killini.
Near Killini the castle of Chlemoutsi, built between 1220 and 1223.
We now begin our guided round walk in the Museum. In a display cabinet a model of the site of Olympia.
All these marble stone statues awere found at the excavations: here are the gable statues of the Zeus temple.
The statue of Hermes, holding the little boy Dyonysos on his arm. As seen from the left side, he seems to smile, whereas seen from the right side, the physiognomy is nore severe.
Out at the excavations now: Das Gymnasion
Buildings of a later, roman period
The Temple of Hera, the oldest temple of the site.
The Temple of Zeus, hidden behind olive trees.
The Hera temple
The passage way to the stadion, where the competitions took place.
The Stadion with the race track.
Panoramic picture of the stadion of ancient Olympia. Click here or into the picture for a larger version.
The Zeus temple ...
... and seen from the opposite side.
On the way back on the ferry, view to the harbour of Killini
Chlemoutsi Castle
Zakynthos (here the Vasilikos peninsula) still far away.
as well as the island of Kefallonia
Approaching Zakynthos ...
The ferry boat taking the opposite direction
Kefallonia
Northern parts of Zakynthos
We will shortly arrive ...
Seeing the harbour already ...
... and our ferry boat is landing.
The Campanile, this time seen in evening light.
The harbour.
