The Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus in Greece is a remarkable testament to ancient Greek artistic prowess and classical architecture. Built in the 4th century BCE, this meticulously designed amphitheater features exceptional acoustics, allowing even faint whispers to be heard from the highest seats. It was primarily used for Greek tragedies and comedies, highlighting the cultural significance of theater in ancient times.
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Here I am walking up the ramp of the temple and at 46 seconds you hear a rustle; me disturbing a snake in pine needles. Given my history with snakes I just assumed I was about to ironically die at Epidaurus and thought it was fittingly ridiculous. But at :47 you see a pinwheel engraved into the marble floor, a graffiti motif I saw repeatedly at Eleusis. There I was told it was a game played by Ancient Greek children, but I have some doubts about that and will try to find more about them. If you know, please tell us. So one thing you have to know about Epidaurus is the smell is so heady I thought I’d swoon. There are lots of pines here and the forest floor is covered with decaying pine needles and rich acidic soil. Then there are wild oranges growing nearby and of course olive trees too. And the perimeter of the healing dormitory is surrounded by apple trees and I spotted a few pomegranate trees too. Fig trees are everywhere too. So the air is so sweetly scented with the balsam pine resin, pine needles, sweet oranges, various other fruit trees, and just healthy clean forest air. It was mildly warm yesterday so the aroma was intense and I could see pine resin just oozing from some of the trees. I couldn’t stop thinking about it the whole ride to Vitsa and it’s something I’ll never forget. This place is magical and I understand why the Greeks and Romans loved it so very much.
Help me choose: Meteora/Metsovo/Ioannina or Mycenae/Nafplio/Epidavros? Thank you!
Those are seriously good options! I believe you would love either destination, so I will just give you what each place is ideal for.
Meteora - Metsovo - Ioannina
This is an itinerary that is ideal for nature lovers and people who love urban and provincial areas with strong traditional character in gorgeous natural settings.
Pros:
Meteora is hands down the best natural wonder of Greece.
It is also one of the two most important destinations for Christian Orthodox and post-Byzantine heritage monuments.
Metsovo is a town built in a high altitude, surrounded by beautiful mountains.
It has a strong traditional mountain Vlach Greek character and great cuisine.
Ioannina is the 6th largest city in Greece. It is vibrant, it is a university city, however it retains its own traditional character.
Ioannina is a lake city (which also features a must-visit inhabited lake island) built close to a lot of natural beauty and is the starting point for a lot of nature-oriented destinations, including two national woodland parks.
Ioannina is very significant for Ottoman Greek and Modern Greek history and has a lot of museums and cultural places to visit. Metsovo does too.
Ideal for a lush green spring or a cool summer.
Cons:
No access to the sea.
Farther from Athens than the other itinerary plan.
Probability of adverse weather if visited in cold months.
Tip: For Ancient Greek culture buffs, the archaeological site of Dodona is about 22km from Ioannina.
Mycenae - Nafplio - Epidaurus
This itinerary is ideal for history buffs of all kinds.
Pros:
Mycenae is the best destination for the Mycenaean civilization.
Epidaurus has the best preserved ancient Greek theatre in Modern Greek territory and is in general one of the best destinations regarding Classical Greece. The theatre is functioning. (If you go at the right time during summer, you can watch a theatrical play there as well.)
Nafplio is the first capital of the Modern Greek state, it is coastal and has many points of interest regarding Modern Greek history.
Nafplio is also a good place to explore Venetian / Latin presence in Greece in the late Byzantine and post-Byzantine era.
Nafplio is much smaller than Ioannina but it is one of the prettiest cities in Greece. Both these cities are beautiful though.
Driving distances here are smaller as all destinations are in the same one administrative region (Argolis) and they are closer to Athens.
It might not have the wow factor of the other itinerary nature-wise, but that doesn't mean it does not have beautiful natural surroundings, and coastal ones too.
Ideal for early spring and a mild winter.
Cons:
If history and museum visiting get old for you after a point, the other itinerary might be better.