Travel With Ease In The Peloponnese

We all know that Greece is a hot-spot destination for travel these days. During the peak season, the country is full of tourists who hit the many islands and beaches, explore ancient sites, and enjoy incredible cuisine.

However, there’s a lesser-known side of Greece that is ripe with astonishing destinations, life-changing experiences, and gorgeous scenery – all perfect for both the on-and-off-season traveler – it’s time to escape to Western Greece, more specifically, the Peloponnese.

The Peloponnese is a place where myth meets history. This region has everything you could want – from mountains to forests to rivers, vineyards and caves. Of course, the Peloponnese is surrounded by beautiful coastlines, but with so much to do inland, why not explore?

I spoke with the prolific chef, author, entrepreneur, and TV personality Maria Loi, who shared her favorite places in the Peloponnese:

Monemvasia:

Visit Monemvasia, a gorgeous medieval castle tower town founded by the Byzantines in the 6^th century, with stone built right by a big rock in the sea. Though the town offers gorgeous coastline views, beaches are not the draw. The Kastro (castle) is divided into two parts – the upper and lower town, both of which offer excellent restaurants and scenic paths. Full of historic ruins and Byzantine churches, the Venetians used to call Monemvasia the “Gibraltar of the East.”

On her new PBS TV show, “The Life of Loi,” debuting December 31, Chef Loi takes viewers all over Greece with her and then back to New York. When visiting Monemvasia, she makes an authentic peasant pasta dish on the roof of the restaurant To Kanoni. She then connects with three generations of women from the same family to bake Ladenia, a gorgeous high-hydration olive oil bread (similar to Italy’s focaccia). You can revel at the magic and splendor of this beautiful town and learn cherished recipes at the same time.

While you’re in Monemvasia, there’s no shortage of wonderful places to dine – To Kanoni is a can’t miss and known for its curated wine list featuring the local winery Tsimbidis and regional delicacies.

Kalavryta:

Skiing in Greece? Yes, it really can be done. The mountain town of Kalavryta in the Peloponnese is nestled by Mount Chelmos, known for some of the best skiing in the region, as well as stunning views and scenic trails that are ideal for hiking in the spring and fall.

Historic sights include the Palace of Paleologina, constructed in the 15th century, and Monastery of Mega Spileo, built on the steep side of a mountain.

Like many towns in Greece, Kalavryta has its own culinary traditions: artisan-crafted cheeses, honey, and rose-petal spoon desserts. There are no shortage of restaurants and tavernas here, each dedicated to serving the best seasonal cuisine available.

This picturesque town is dotted with stone cottages, charming cafes and tavernas, meandering alleyways and winding paths. Chef Loi describes like a “scene from a fairytale.”

Nemea:

If you’re an oenophile (or just enjoy wine), visit Nemea, the wine making region with history to boot. In fact, according to Greek mythology, this is where Hercules completed his first quest – conquering the Nemea lion that terrorized locals.

Full of ancient archeological sites, Nemea itself is one of the most important as the location where the ancient races of Nemea were held every two years (the alterna-Olympics) beginning in 573 BC. What’s interesting is that Nemea was not actually a city but a designated location to host the games- back then, it had no permanent residents.

Unlike ancient Nemea, Ancient Fliounta was a great city, with over 15,000 residents, and a lively winemaking culture, which flourishes to this day. Ancient Fliounta is now considered part of modern Nemea and the location of Zacharias Winery, known for its thirteen grape varietals, including indigenous species to Greece such as Agiorgitiko, Assyrtiko, Moschofilero, Roditis, and Mavrodaphne.

Nemea is actually known as the land of the Agiorgitiko (St George) grape – the parent varietal of Cabernet Sauvignon – which has been cultivated for over 3,000 years. The area is lush and fertile, with rolling hills and scenic views- wine country like none other in the world.

No matter where you choose to visit in the Peloponnese, one thing is clear – Greece has so much more to offer than the islands and the seas – explore the mainland to uncover these incredible, not-so-hidden gems that are ripe for discovery.