Epidaurus

The road from Nafplio to Epidaurus (Epidavros) passes through vineyards and ages old olive groves with the mountains looming hazily in the distance, but for Mt. Arahneo, which rises directly above Epidaurus.
Arahneo -- that's just how Aeschylus called it in his tragedy, Agamemnon.
The breeze carries waves of sweet fragrances from the woods, resin and turpentine.

On a hillside, within the sanctuary, lies the theatre of Epidaurus (3rd c. BC), the most famous and best preserved of all the ancient theatres inGreece. 
Built of limestone, it can seat 12,000 spectators.
Every summer it comes alive. Attending a performance of ancient drama in this theatre is almost a mystical experience.

Never to be forgotten. A catharsis of the soul.
At Epidaurus the actors don't need to shout or speak loudly. 
The acoustics are so perfect that the merest whisper can be heard in the last row.

Never to be forgotten. A catharsis of the soul. At Epidaurus the actors don't need to shout or speak loudly.  The acoustics are so perfect that the merest whisper can be heard in the last row. The entrance to the sanctuary lies to the north of the theatre. Asklepios was worshipped here.  Though he was a god, Zeus struck him down with his thunderbolt because he wanted to destroy death. Among the ruins, one can see the foundations of the temple of Asklepios(Doric, 4th c. BC), the guest house, the tholos, the Abaton or sleeping porch, the temples of Artemis and Themis, the gymnasion, etc.

The entrance to the sanctuary lies to the north of the theatre. Asklepios was worshipped here. 
Though he was a god, Zeus struck him down with his thunderbolt because he wanted to destroy death.
Among the ruins, one can see the foundations of the temple of Asklepios (Doric, 4th c. BC), the guest house, the tholos, the Abaton or sleeping porch, the temples of Artemis and Themis, the gymnasion, etc.

The museum is near the entrance to the site and contains various artefacts plus a helpful model of what the sanctuary must have looked like.
The town of ancient Epidaurus occupied the same location as the present village of Palia Epidavros (Old Epidaurus), a seaside settlement wit a small harbour, nestled in a plain thick with olive and orange trees, rimmed with scenic beaches and several taverns. 
Seven kilometers further north, at the foot of Mt. Akros, the road arrives at Nea Epidavros (New Epidaurus), an inland village and then proceeds several kilometers on to the lonely monastery of Agnounda with its Byzantine frescoes.

West of Nea Epidavros, you come to Ligourio, a modern market town much frequented by tourists.
There are taverns everywhere you look, and coaches, cars and motorbikes.
Over the wind waft tempting smells of roasting lamb and kokoretsi.

Theatre buffs and lovers of archaeology from all corners of the globe gather here to eat and chat under a starry sky.
Carefree crickets are trilling in the trees.
This land is an endless song.
This is where out travelling through the Peloponnese, the old and the new one, ends.