Corinthia

Corinthia - Peloponnese (Greece)

Corinthia (Korinthia) is one of the 7 prefectures of Peloponnese. It is located in the northwest part of the Peloponnese, a small part of it is located in Central Greece (Greek mainland, Loutraki town).

Corinthia borders to the west with the prefecture of Achaia, in the south with the Prefectures of Argolida and Arcadia, to the east with the prefecture of Attica. Αlso, a part of it borders to the Saronic Gulf and a part of it to the Corinthian Gulf.

The prefecture is mainly mountainous, the highest mountains are the mountains of Ziria (highest peak 2341 meters). The plains of the prefecture are mainly around the city of Corinth, near the Corinth Canal and near Loutraki, the rest of the island is mainly mountainous. The only lake on the Corinthian prefecture of Peloponnese is Stymfalis (Stymfalia), but there is one more lake , the lake of Vouliagmeni on the part of Corinth in Central Greece.

Corinthia belongs to the most fertile prefectures but also economically developed prefectures of Greece. The economy is based on agriculture, industry, crafts, the processing of agricultural products but also on the tourism industry.

Major agricultural areas are the narrow coastal belt, the valleys of the prefecture, the plains near Feneos, Stymfalia and Nemea. Livestock production is developed mainly in mountainous and hilly areas.

Tourism is well developed because of the Spas of Loutraki and Orea Eleni (Beautiful Helen), the beautiful coast of the Gulf of Corinth and the ancient sites of Corinth and Acrocorinth. Fantastic beaches are the beaches of Xylokastro and Tolo. In Corinthia are well developed Ski resorts near Xylokastro on top of the mountain Ziria.

Corinth Canal. The Corinth Canal in Greece is a canal that connects the Corinthian gulf with the Saronic Gulf. The canal is located east of the city of Corinth.

Since ancient times one was aware of the economic importance of a rapid transit between the Corinthian and the Saronic sea, but it only came to a real attempt to dig a canal under the Roman emperor Νero. The idea came from Julius Caesar and Caligula.

In 68 AD. he had dug thousands of slaves on both sides of the isthmus. When Nero committed suicide in the same year the works came to an end immediately. Herodes Atticus later tried to continue digging, but he eventually  gave it up.

Only in the nineteenth century, the plan was achieved, when the engineer Petros Protopapadakis  started the construction of the canal in 1880 and in 1893 it could be opened to shipping traffic.

Six bridges, five for cars and one for the railroad, connect the Peloponnese with the mainland of Greece, about 70 meters above the water. The channel has shortened the route between Piraeus and the Ionian Sea by about 350 kilometres. Yet the canal of Corinth is only suitable for medium-sized ships, because strong currents make it dangerous for small boats, while the shallow draft is a drawback for large ships.

Nemea is located on the border of the departments of Korinthia and Argolis in Greece, just over forty kilometres from the city of Corinth. Nemea is the name of a city, but also one of the most famous wine regions of Greece. Nemea is situated at 320 meters altitude near the hill Profitis Ilias. There are about 7,000 residents who live here.

 The city is divided into the old and the new town. The old town is located on the mountain and the new town below. The area has a rich history, proof of this are the archaeological sites in the region. The most important monument in the archaeological site of Nemea is the temple of Zeus, which was built in the fourth century BC (330 BC.). At the archaeological site of Nemea is a lot to see, including a stadium and a combat arena.

According to Greek mythology, the hero Hercules would have slain here the famous Lion of Nemea. The lion had an impenetrable skin and after Hercules had skinned it, he wore the skin of the lion for the rest of his life as armour. The head of the lion was his hood / helmet, the skin of the lion was his cloak.’

 In the stadium of Nemea were held games since the year 573 BC, every two years,  as they also were held in Olympia and Delphi.

Loutraki is situated just eighty kilometres from the capital of Greece Athens. The historic town - "Thermae" - today is called Loutraki. It is located on the north side of the Corinthian Gulf and passes to the foot of the Gerania Mountains with a beautiful beach of four kilometres. This is one of the reasons that this resort is popular among the Greeks themselves. The most important archaeological sites of Northern Greece are just a stone's throw away, including Corinth Canal, Epidaurus, Mycenae, Acropolis, Sounion, Olympia, Delphi and Mystras.

The mild Mediterranean climate of this region, the clear blue sea, the beautiful beaches, the breath-taking scenery formed by mountains and sea and the famous medicinal mineral and spring water make this region an ideal holiday destination. Loutraki, has long been known as the Greek Spa village and offers you all the opportunity to escape from the hectic and stressful modern life. The healing spring water is recommended, for curing kidney and gallstones. It is a symbol for a natural and healthy life.

Ancient Corinth (Old Corinth)

The Apollo Temple and the Temple of Octavia its magnificent ruins of ancient Corinth.
The Akrokrinth, the 575m. high mountain together with an impressive fortress is worth a look. The first walls date from antiquity, and the Byzantines, Franks, Venetians and Turks, they again expanded and strengthened.

Η Περιφερειακή Ενότητα Κορινθίας βρίσκεται στην βορειοανατολική Πελοπόννησο. Πρωτεύουσά της είναι η Κόρινθος και έχει πληθυσμό 138.144 κατοίκους, κατά την Απογραφή του 2021.