Peloponnese

The Peloponnese, also called Peloponnesus or Morea, is a peninsula and geographic region in Southern Greece, and it is the southernmost part of the Balkans. It is linked to the rest of Greece by the Isthmus of Corinth, a narrow strip of land that separates the Gulf of Corinth from the Saronic Gulf.

For many years, from the late Middle Ages until the 1800s, people called this area the Morea, and some still use that name today in everyday speech.

The land of the Peloponnese is split among three parts of Greece. Most of it belongs to the Peloponnese region, with smaller pieces in Western Greece and Attica.

Geography

The Peloponnese is a peninsula at the southern tip of mainland Greece. It covers an area of 21,549.6 square kilometres and is connected to the mainland by the Isthmus of Corinth, where the Corinth Canal was built in 1893. The peninsula has mountains in its interior and also has flat areas in the west, south, and northeast. It features several smaller peninsulas and is surrounded by seas on three sides. The highest mountain is Mount Taygetus, standing tall at 2,407 metres.

The longest river is the Alfeios, followed by the Evrotas and the Pineios. The Peloponnese has many beautiful beaches that attract visitors. There are also islands near its coast, such as the Argo-Saronic Islands to the east and the Ionian islands to the west. The area has been divided into seven regions since ancient times, with Patras being the largest city.

The climate is mostly hot-summer Mediterranean, with the west side getting more rain than the drier east. Temperatures can get very warm, especially in the summer.

History

The Peloponnese has been home to people since very old times. Its name comes from an ancient myth about a hero named Pelops. During a time called the Bronze Age, big cities like Mycenae and Pylos were important places. Many stories from old Greek myths, like those about Heracles and Perseus, happen here.

Later, the Peloponnese became a key part of ancient Greece. Important cities such as Sparta, Corinth, and Argos were here. Big battles, including those in the Persian Wars, took place in this area. After Greece fell under Roman rule, the Peloponnese stayed important but became more peaceful.

During the Middle Ages, the area changed hands many times. After the Byzantine Empire split, the Peloponnese became part of the Byzantine world. Later, Frankish rulers took control and named the area the Morea. Byzantine rule returned, and then the area faced raids from nearby empires.

The Peloponnese played a big role when Greece fought for its independence. The war started here, and after many battles, the area became part of the new country of Greece. Over time, the region has seen both hard times and growth, especially after Greece joined the European Union. Sadly, in 2007, big fires caused a lot of damage and loss of life.

Regional units

The Peloponnese has several areas where people live. These areas are called regional units. Some of these units include Arcadia, Argolis, Corinthia, Laconia, Messenia, Achaea, Elis, and Islands. Each of these places has many inhabitants, and they all make up the beautiful region of the Peloponnese.

Cities

The main modern cities of the Peloponnese are:

• Patras – 170,896 inhabitants
• Kalamata – 62,409 inhabitants
• Corinth – 38,132 inhabitants
• Tripoli – 30,912 inhabitants
• Aigio – 26,523 inhabitants
• Pyrgos – 25,180 inhabitants
• Argos – 24,700 inhabitants
• Sparta – 19,854 inhabitants
• Nafplio – 18,910 inhabitants
• Amaliada - 18,303 inhabitants

Archaeological sites

The Peloponnese has many important places where people lived and built things long ago, from around 4000 BC to the Middle Ages. Some of the most famous spots are:

• Bassae (an old town with a special temple, the first place in Greece chosen as a UNESCO World Heritage Site)
• Corinth (an ancient city)
• Diros caves (caves used from 4000 to 3000 BC)
• Epidaurus (an old place for religion and healing)
• Koroni (a medieval seaside fortress with city walls)
• Kalamata Acropolis (a medieval fortress inside a modern city)
• Messene (an ancient city)
• Methoni (a medieval seaside fortress with city walls)
• Mystras (a medieval fortress-town near Sparta)
• Monemvasia (a medieval fortress-town)
• Mycenae (a fortress-town of an ancient civilization)
• Olympia (where the Ancient Olympic Games were held)
• Pylos (home to the Palace of Nestor and an old fortress)
• Pavlopetri (the world's oldest underwater city, from around 3500 BC)
• Sparta
• Tegea (an ancient religious centre)
• Tiryns (an ancient fortified settlement)

Cuisine

The Peloponnese has many tasty foods that people love to eat. Some special dishes include pasta called Gogges, lamb or goat meat named Giosa, and pork dishes like Gournopoula. You can also find pumpkin pie called Kolokythopita, and yummy desserts like Diples and Galatopita.

The area is also known for its wines. Some of these wines have special protection, meaning they are made in a certain way in that region. For example, Mantineia makes a white wine from Moschofilero grapes, Nemea is famous for its red wines from Agiorgitiko grapes, and Patras makes a strong red wine from Mavrodafni grapes.