Greece: The Peloponnese: with Athens, Delphi and Kythira

by Andrew Bostock

Overview

This new edition of Bradt’s Greece: The Peloponnese with Athens, Delphi and Kythira remains the only dedicated guidebook to the southern part of the Greek mainland and provides more detailed coverage of the peninsula than any other rival book, making it an indispensable read for travelers to this small but fascinating part of Greece. It also incorporates a focussed mini-guide to the Greek capital of Athens and nearby world-famous site of Delphi and is particularly strong on off-the-beaten-track sites, background information, accommodation and other subjects of interest for both independent travelers and those traveling as part of a group. Originally written by Andrew Bostock, an expert on Greece and former resident of the Peloponnese, this fourth edition has been updated by Bradt’s most prolific and experienced guidebook writer Philip Briggs. Selective listings have been refreshed to reflect a growing trend towards eco-conscious boutique hotels. As with previous editions, in-depth coverage of well-known sites is supplemented by descriptions of lesser-known attractions and independent tours and activities, reflecting the reality that the Peloponnese, more than any other part of Greece, exemplifies the ideals of ‘slow travel’.With Bradt’s Greece: The Peloponnese, discover hidden villages, sophisticated towns and other top attractions, including one of Europe's most spectacular train journeys and the tower houses of the famed Mani. Explore hidden sites, including places not covered anywhere else. The guide is packed with information on agritourism spots, camping under the stars, rustic tavernas and locally grown produce.For those coming out of high season, revel in the delights of the wildflowers of spring, the joys of the olive harvest in late autumn and skiing opportunities during the winter. Bird life and marine life are also a huge attraction for visitors to the Peloponnese. The guide also focuses on the colourful life of the traditional ‘paneyiri’ and those who still embrace the Greek spirit of ‘philoxenia’.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781784776336
Publisher:	Bradt Publications UK
Publication date:	05/10/2019
Edition description:	Fourth edition
Pages:	288
Sales rank:	669,337
Product dimensions:	5.30(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Andrew Bostock first travelled to the Peloponnese as a 15-year-old backpacker and spent his first night sleeping under a bush in the car park, having watched a performance of Oedipus at Colunus at the great theatre of Epidavros. He kept coming back with various companions before moving there with his pregnant partner in 2005 – their daughter was born in Kalamata. Andrew spent the next five years guiding tours around the area, exploring its lesser-known bits and writing about it for magazines and newspapers. The first edition of his Bradt guide was published in 2010. The family return to Greece most years and dream about the olive groves, mountains and the sea when they are not there.This edition has been updated by Philip Briggs, one of the world’s most experienced and prolific guidebook writers. He has been associated with Bradt since 1991, since when has written or updated guides to more than 20 other destinations, many of them pioneering the way to places that were then practically uncharted by the travel publishing industry. Researching this new edition of Greece: the Peloponnese fulfilled a longstanding dream of exploring the historical sites of Greece and the likes of Delphi, Olympus and Mystra didn’t disappoint, especially as he was fortunate enough to visit in spring when wildflowers were abundant (and other tourists rather less so). Philip still spends at least four months on the road every year, usually accompanied by his wife, the travel photographer Ariadne Van Zandbergen, and spends the rest of the time battering away at a keyboard in the sleepy South African coastal village of Wilderness.

Table of Contents

Introduction
PART ONE GENERAL INFORMATIONChapter1 Background InformationGeography and climate, Natural history, Mythology, History, Recent politics, Administrative regions, Economy, People, Language, Religion, Education, CultureChapter2 Practical InformationWhen to visit, Highlights and suggested itineraries, Tour operators, Red tape, Embassies, Getting there and away, Health, Safety, Travellers with a disability, Travelling with children, Gay and lesbian travellers, What to take, Money and budgeting, Getting around, Maps, Accommodation, Eating and drinking, Public holidays, Shopping, Arts and entertainment, Photography, Media and communications, Buying a property, Cultural etiquette, Travelling positively
PART TWO THE GUIDEChapter3 Corinth and the ArgolidCorinth, Nemea, Mycenae, Argos, Nafplio, Tolo, Epidavros, The southeast, The southwestChapter4 ArcadiaTripoli, Levidi, Megalopoli, Karitena, Andritsena, The Lousios Gorge, Vytina and around, Mount Parnonas and the Arcadian coastChapter 5 LaconiaSparta and Mystra, Towards Monemvasia, Monemvasia, Vatika Peninsula, The coast north of Monemvasia, KythiraChapter 6 The ManiHistory, Gythio and around, Areopoli, Into the Deep Mani, North from Areopolito Stoupa, Stoupa, Kardamyli, The mountains above Stoupa and Kardamyli, Leaving the Exo ManiChapter7 Messinia Kalamata, Ancient Messene, South to Koroni, Koroni, Finikounda, Methoni, Pylos and Gialova, Northern MessiniaChapter 8 The NorthOlympia, Ancient Elis, The coast from Pyrgosto Patra, Patra, The north coast, Kalavryta, Mount KilliniChapter 9 Beyond the Peloponnese: Athens and DelphiAthens, Delphi
AppendicesLanguageFurther InformationIndex