About the Book
This fully updated and extended edition of the only in-depth guide available to the Peloponnese reflects the latest changes, notably a continuing trend towards independent travel in the region. Despite Greece's difficulties, tourism here has increased year on year, notably in the Peloponnese where the extended season now includes spring wildflowers and the autumn olive harvest, all covered in this guide. New accommodation and restaurant reviews are featured, along with a new mini-guide to the ancient sites of Athens and Delphi. Also new for this edition is coverage of the island of Kythira, one of Greece's best-kept secrets, plus more information on regional wines and family travel. The Peloponnese is the beating heart of Greece: from the evocative ruins of Olympia to the towering Taygetos mountains, from crystal-clear seas and pristine beaches to stone villages steeped in tradition; with clear advice and honest opinions the Bradt Guide to the Peloponnese shows you it all.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
PART ONE GENERAL INFORMATION
Chapter 1 Background Information
Geography and climate, Natural history, Mythology, History, Recent politics, Economy, People,
Language, Religion, Education, Culture
Chapter 2 Practical Information
When to visit, Highlights and suggested itineraries, Tour operators, Red tape, Embassies, Getting
there and away, Health, Safety, Travellers with a disability, Travelling with children, Gay and lesbian
travellers, What to take, Money and budgeting, Getting around, Maps, Accommodation, Eating and drinking, Public holidays, Shopping, Arts and entertainment, Museums and archaeological sites, Photography, Media and communications, Buying a property, Cultural etiquette, Travelling positively
PART TWO THE GUIDE
Chapter 3 Corinth and the Argolid
Corinth, Nemea, Mycenae, Argos, Nafplio, Epidavros, The southeast, The southwest
Chapter 4 Laconia
Sparta and Mystra, Geraki , West of Monemvasia, Monemvasia, South of Monemvasia, North of
Monemvasia, Up the coast: Geraki to Astros, Over the top: Mount Parnonas, Kythira
Chapter 5 The Mani
History, Into the Exo Mani, Kardamyli, Stoupa, Into the mountains, South from Stoupa, Itylo Bay, Areopoli , Deep into the Mani, South to Gerolimenas, Gerolimenas, Down to Cape Tenaro, Cape Tenaro, Up the east coast, Gythio and around
Chapter 6 Messinia
Kalamata, Ancient Messene, South to Koroni, Koroni , Finikound, Methoni , Pylos and Gialova, Northern Messinia
Chapter 7 Arcadia
Tripoli, Megalopoli, Karitena, Andritsena, Th e Lousios Gorge, Vytina and around, Olympia, The west coast
Chapter 8 The North
Ancient Elis, The west coast, Patra, The north coast, Kalavryta, Mount Killini
Chapter 9 Beyond the Peloponnese: Athens and Delphi
Athens, Delphi
Appendix 1 Language
Appendix 2 Further Information
Index
About the Author :
Andrew Bostock started travelling in the Peloponnese twenty eight years ago as a fifteen year old backpacker and has been returning yearly ever since. After studying English at Oxford he worked as a Tour Leader in the area teaching Greek children. After many visits, Andrew and his partner Louise moved to the Mani in late 2005, and their daughter was born there the next year. During this time Andrew worked for several local tourist agencies as a guide, taking tourist around Mystras, on boat trips to the Diros caves and on walks around mountain villages. He also became Assistant Editor for Inside the Mani magazine, given to thousands of visitors to the Peloponnese each year. He has had articles about the Peloponnese published in the Observer, Conde Nast Traveller, TNT, and Olive amongst others, as well as writing an online series of guides to Greece for The Guardian.
