Dear friends,

With this publication we wish to bring Epidavros closer to you, a renowned sanctuary which is surrounded by the blue color of the sea and is situated amid olive trees, pines and orange trees. Celebrated and evolved in antiquity, Epidavros watched as visitors from all over flocked to its harbor and its soil in search of hospitality and medical treatment in the holy sanctuary of Asklepios. Renowned and still full of vitality today, it watches people coming from the four corners of the world to find a welcome and a "cure" amongst the twin lures of Culture and Art, which come to life every summer in its two ancient theaters, the Great with the famous Greek drama and comedies and the Small Theatre of Ancient Epidavros with its music festivals.

However, Epidavros does not merely stand for ancient history, drama and culture. It is also a resort offering recreational holidays and an agricultural region. Agri-tourism reaches its peak during the agricultural summer bazaar, every July from Friday to Sunday, where you can find all the agricultural products from the land of Epidavros.
The hospitable people and the municipality of Epidavros, will be near you on your journey through history, culture and recreation.

Mayor of the city of Epidavros
Nick Georgas

 

Archaeological Sites

Apart from Christian churches, there are other ancient monuments to be visited:

1) The Ancient Theater of Epidavros constitutes one of the most significant and beautiful archaeological sites in Greece, situated at 12 km off Ancient Epidavros. Nearby are found the Temple of Maleata-Apollo and the Sanctuary of Asclepius, which having remained open for more than 1000 years are resonant with history. The Epidaurian theater seats 14.000 people approximately. It was built by Polyclitus the younger, an architect and sculptor from the city of Argos, and is renowned for its extraordianry acoustics. Excavations at the site that eventually revealed the theater commenced in 1881.

2) Small Ancient Theater of Epidavros: It was constructed in the 4th century BC in honor of the god Dionysus. The theater remained submerged at a depth of 6 m until excavations were initiated in 1971. Today, it hosts annual music festivals in July.

3) Mycenaean tholos tombs in Ancient Epidavros: They were discovered at the site of Agioi Theodori.

4) Acropolis of Vassa (new Epidavros): During the Middle Helladic Period (2000 -1000 BC) a settlement was laid out on the hill of Vassa, which due to its natural fortification survived into the Mycenaean Period. Tombs containing many funeral gifts were discovered at this site.

5) Pyramidal Structure: In the area of Cambia, at the foot of Mt Koloni, stands an odd building made of megaliths. It is regarded as one of the pyramidal structures found in Greece.

6) The Castro (meaning castle) of New Epidavros: A modern settlement, probably established subsequent to the one of Vassas, which was fortified in Byzantine times. In 1205, it fell into the hands of the Venetians who used it as their castle.

 

Ancient temples & Churches

All this beauty, enhanced by the revival of ancient drama is a pole of attraction for every visitor. Every summer artists and political leaders disembark at the port of Ancient Epidavros to attend theatrical performances and to indulge afterwards in the delicacies of local tavernas.

If all the illustrious visitors of Epidavros were to leave their footprints in slabs of cement, as Hollywood celebrities do, it is certain that the distance from the port to the theatre would not suffice for such a purpose.

The festival of Epidavros begun in 1954 with three performances of Eyripides’ Hippolytus. Since then, all extant tragedies, comedies and satirical plays have been staged. Although theatrical performances are regarded to be a means of entertainment, ancient drama can only be taught and presented in selected places, near sanctuaries.

Cult temples abounded in the area: the temples of Dionyssus, Artemis, Aphrodite, Hera, Maleata-Apollo, and of course the Temple of Asclepius where a cult statue in gold and ivory sculpted by Thrasymedes of Paros was erected. Above the throne of Asclepius, the sculptor depicted the achievements of Perseus and Vellerefontis, two of the greatest heroes of Argos. The same temple bears two of the very few inscribed descriptions pertaining to ancient Greek paintings created by Pafsias. One of them depicted Eros and the other one Methi (meaning drunkenness) drinking wine from a glass.

 

In the course of time the ancient Greek religion, the worship of the Olympian gods, gave way to Christianity. Many churches and monasteries were erected. Among them, the following are worth visiting:

1) Monastery of Agnoutos: The oldest monastery found in Epidavros, built in the 11 century, lying 2 km off New Epidavros eastwards of the border area Argolis-Corinthus. It has a fortress-like construction, with two small towers, battlements, arsenals and high surrounding walls. The monastery’s architecture is magnificent, similar to the one of St Sophia in Constantinople. The church is dedicated to the Assumption, and its dome is 17 m high. The walls are covered with unique icons. On the right side of the monastery, a path leads to the chapel of St Ioannis which also has to exhibit beautiful iconographical material.

2) Monastery of Kalamiou: This beautiful monastery is located 22 km off Ancient Epidavros, after Koliaki and Adami, and commands a spectacular view over the area.

3) Monastery of Pamegiston Taxiarchon: It was constructed in the mid-15th century in New Epidavros, in the vicinity of Dimena, and contributed greatly to the struggle against the Venetian and Ottoman rule.

4) Ascetirium of Polemarchas: It was built in the mid-15th century by a monk-priest from the Monastery of Agnoutos, halfway between Ancient and New Epidavros. Due to pirate raids, however, the monastery was abandoned. Nowadays, only its remnants hint at the beauty of its architecture.

 

Agricultural Print

How could Epidavros not be famous for its dairy products when in mythogiacal account a she-goat nourished the abandoned newly born Asclepius, thus, saving him from death? Epidavros has been famous since pre-Homeric times. In particular, Phlegyas the greatest warchief of his time came to Epidavros supposedly to visit the place; in essence, his true motive was to reconnoitre the area for a marauding expedition. On this trip he was accompanied by his daughter Coronis who was carrying the child of god Apollo. She managed to conceal the pregnancy from her father and after giving birth to a son she abandoned the infant at the foot of Mt Tithio. The infant was discovered by a she-goat who suckled him, while a sheepdog protected him. The shepherd Aresthanas who noticed that a goat was missing and that his dog was straying from the flock every so often, eventually found the infant.

The cheese that Aresthanas made at that time was probably of the same quality as the one produced nowadays by local inhabitants. The latter boast a cheese-making tradition that stretches far back into time. The same applies for the local bread which has been prized for its taste and quality.

 

The above products together with other fresh local produce, such as olive oil, honey, fruit, fresh fish gave rise to the bazaar of Epidavros, a festival that was instituted in 1998 by the «Friends of Music» in cooperation with the Municipality of Epidavros. The event is organized every summer in the framework of the July Music Festival. The quayside of Ancient Epidavros is transformed into a colorful open market and local producers are afforded the opportunity to supply the public with the fresh products of the Epidaurian land.
The exhibition continuous its successful progress with the collaboration of Municipality of Epidavros, Greek Festival SA, Agritourism SA and the Cultural Society of Ancient Epidavros.

 

Tourism

Moreover, the available modern facilities (hotels, rooms to let, campsites, restaurants, coffee-shops, banks and shops) coupled with the area’s beautiful environment, its numerous tourist sites and azure waters draw great numbers of tourists.

Sites such as Yialassi, Panagistsa, Polemarcha, Kalamaki, Vayonia and the Cave of Aliotou with their azure waters and pine-lined sands cater to those who wish to indulge in water games and swimming under the hot sun.