15 Best Sights in The Peloponnese, Greece

Of all the sights in ancient Olympia, some say the modern archaeological museum gets the gold medal. Housed in a handsome glass and marble pavilion at the edge of the ancient site, the magnificent collections include the sculptures from the Temple of Zeus and Hermes Carrying the Infant Dionysus, sculpted by the great Praxiteles, which was discovered in the Temple of Hera in the place noted by Pausanias. The central gallery of the museum holds one of the greatest sculptural achievements of classical antiquity: the pedimental sculptures and metopes from the Temple of Zeus, depicting Hercules's Twelve Labors. The Hermes was buried under the fallen clay of the temple's upper walls and is one of the best-preserved classical statues. Also on display is the famous Nike of Paionios. Other treasures include notable terra-cottas of Zeus and Ganymede; the head of the cult statue of Hera; sculptures of the family and imperial patrons of Herodes Atticus; and bronzes found at the site, including votive figurines, cauldrons, and armor. Of great historical interest are a helmet dedicated by Miltiades, the Athenian general who defeated the Persians at Marathon, and a cup owned by the sculptor Pheidias, which was found in his workshop on the Olympia grounds.

Stunning galleries are laden with Mycenaean-through-Roman-period finds, including tools, cups, and jewelry reflecting everyday life in the Peloponnese. More than 15 mosaics from Roman villas around Patras have been reassembled, and many items are from the ancient Roman odeon in town. A large collection of burial items includes several reconstructed tombs. It's a good 40-minute walk from the town center; take the train to Panachaika and walk from there to avoid a sweaty arrival.

This museum is set within what was once the site of the old Kalavrita Primary School, which was used as a concentration camp during World War II. Around 500 men and women from across the Peloponnese were imprisoned here between 1941 and 1943 by Axis forces. But its darkest day came on December 13, 1943, when the German army enacted "Operation Kalavryta," part of a brutal bid to quell the Greek Resistance that operated across the region. They separated the men, women, and children of the village, locking the latter up in the school for 24 hours before setting fire to it, having already marched the men (and boys over the age of 13) to a nearby field where they were executed. In the panic, many escaped from the burning school, but 693 died that day. The museum is an unflinching look at this period, with accounts by some of the survivors truly harrowing.

This collection displays costumes, handicrafts, and household furnishings, albeit without a huge amount of context. Many of the exhibits are precious heirlooms that have been donated by Peloponnesian families, and several exhibits are painstaking re-creations of 19th-century Nafplion homes. Top hats from the 1950s and contemporary fashion sandals are among the items that bring the overview into a later modern era. There is also some surprisingly good background on the post-revolution era, particularly on local figure Kalliopi Papalexopoulou, a woman who was a key voice in Nafplion's refusal to accept the rule of the much-disliked King Otto and played a leading role in his eventual deposing in 1862, after warships had been sent to the city to quell local discontent. The gift shop on the ground floor has some fascinating books and a good selection of high-quality jewelry and handicrafts, such as weavings, kilims, and collector's items such as roka (spindles) and wooden koboloi (worry beads).

This small, well-organized collection is shown to advantage in the city's rebuilt 18th-century market hall. On display are local stone tools and proto-Geometric and Geometric pottery in a display that runs through every ancient site in Messinia (big and small), offering background on each. It's a particularly good primer for exploring the area.

Housed within the former barracks of Greece's first president, Ioannis Kapodistrias—itself built atop the remains of a Venetian covered market—this museum looks at medieval life from the 4th century onward across six rooms. It is particularly good at dissecting the decline of the ancient world from the 6th century on, as empires contracted, villages fortified, and the dark ages settled in, backing up its histories with some interesting examples such as the mysterious story of the 50 skeletons found in the caves of Andritsa.

Manuscripts, a 35,000-volume library, and other artifacts here are from surrounding churches, monasteries, and the School of Greek Letters that flourished in Dimitsana in the 19th century. The school educated Germanos, a bishop of Patras, and other young men who went on to become Greek scholars and church leaders.

A fascinating breakdown of the history, cultural life, and realities of being in the ancient world's grandest sporting event awaits visitors to this excellent museum. For example, those competing were not only tested on their sporting prowess but their ethics and character, while women were banned from both competing and even attending the stadium, on pain of "being cast down from Mount Typaion." Artwork and sculptures from the era bring to life the sweat of the athletes. There is also a focus on the other ancient Games, shedding light on the history of sporting festivals in Nemea, Isthmia, and Delphi.

Olives are thick on the ground in these parts, so it's only fitting that Sparta is home to a quirky and appealing collection of apparatus and culture related to the staple of Greek economy since ancient times, housed in a stunning renovation of the city's first electricity works.

Most of the great treasures of Mycenae have been removed to the National Archaeological Museum in Athens, but you'll see copies of death masks and other great artifacts in the small but well-done museum at the site. Cult offerings and other original finds are also on view. Of most interest is the model of the ancient city, helping put the ruins in context, and reconstructions of several rooms of the palace.

The thick walls of this red-stone building, built in 1713 to serve as a naval storehouse for the Venetian fleet, ensure the coolest interior in town. It's more than just shelter, however. The museum houses artifacts from nearby sites Mycenae, Tiryns, Asine, and Dendra. The findings from the Mycenaean tombs are especially rich and include wonderful masks and a remarkable bronze suit of armor from the 15th century BC.

A water mill, tannery, and gunpowder mill on the river Lousios below town provide displays and demonstrations that reveal why water power was the force behind the region's economy until the first part of the 20th century. Mills like the one here operated up and down the river and helped supply the forces who successfully fought the Turks during the War of Independence in 1821.

This eclectic collection reflects Laconia's turbulent history and is worth an hour to see Neolithic pottery; jewels and tools excavated from the Alepotrypa cave; Mycenaean tomb finds; bright 4th- and 5th-century Roman mosaics; and objects from Sparta. Most characteristic of the relatively few pieces of Spartan art that have survived are the bas-reliefs filled with images of deities and heroes; note the one depicting a seated couple bearing gifts who are framed by a snake (540 BC).

For a militaristic view of the Greek revolution of 1821, this museum unravels life under occupation and the many battles fought across the Argolid region that it took to liberate Greece from the rule of the Ottomans. Relics, uniforms, art, weapons and the usual military paraphernalia make up the bulk of the displays. Its scope runs all the way up to World War II, though its focus on cold, hard battles and facts leaves little room for nuance. Pair with a visit to the National Gallery for a more rounded view.

Tripoli has a proud revolutionary history, and the War Museum is a good place to see it firsthand. Besides the many, many guns and swords here, there are fine examples of early revolutionary life, from the dashing uniforms to the sporan-like pouches used by early-19th-century fighters to stash bullets and the lard required to load them. There is even an original copper death mask of the revolutionary general Theodoros Kolokotronis. Perhaps most interesting, though, is a photo of the female fighter Peristera Kraka, the "Mulan of Greece," who became the leader of a group of guerillas who fought the Turks after her brother was killed. Visitors are shown around by museum staff.