This new, thoroughly updated fifth 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. It provides more detailed coverage than any other rival guide, making it indispensable for independent and group travellers visiting a fascinating area slightly smaller than Wales. It also incorporates focused mini-guides to the Greek capital of Athens and the world-famous site of Delphi. The Peloponnese contains a huge diversity of cultural landscapes, from sleepy, white-washed villages to Byzantine churches, medieval fortresses and ancient archaeological sites such as Olympia and Mycenae. In addition to a long Mediterranean coast lined with classic white sandy beaches, the peninsula incorporates towering mountains for hiking and skiing, olive groves which produce the finest fruit, and hillsides covered in flowers. Bradt's Greece: The Peloponnese provides in-depth coverage of well-known sites, including one of Europe's most spectacular train journeys and the tower houses of the famed Mani. Such information is complemented by descriptions of lesser-known attractions often ignored by other books. Those visiting outside high season can revel in the delights of the wildflowers of spring, the joys of the olive harvest in late autumn and skiing opportunities during the winter. Birds and marine life are also a huge attraction at any season. The guide also focuses on the colourful life of the traditional paneyiri (festivals) and those who still embrace the Greek spirit of philoxenia (hospitality). The guide is packed with information on independent tours and activities, secluded villages and sophisticated towns, agritourism spots, camping under the stars, rustic tavernas and locally grown produce - all reflecting the reality that the Peloponnese, more than any other part of Greece, exemplifies the ideals of 'slow travel'. New elements for this edition include refreshed hotel and restaurant listings, and details of new or upgraded museums such as the Epigraphic Museum (in Argos) and archaeological museums in Argos, Sparta and on the site of Ancient Messene. Originally written by Andrew Bostock, a former resident of the Peloponnese, this fifth edition has been updated by travel writer and Greece expert Mike Gerrard. AUTHORS: 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 returning 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 parts, and writing about it for magazines and newspapers. The first edition of his Bradt guide Greece: The Peloponnese with Athens, Delphi and Kythira was published in 2010. He died in early 2021. Mike Gerrard has been visiting Greece since he was 18, a fascination with the country that led to him becoming a travel writer. The winner of many writing awards, he has written about Greece for newspapers, magazines, and websites worldwide, and publishes the Greece Travel Secrets website and newsletter. He's worked as a waiter in a taverna on Zakynthos, hiked the Samaria Gorge and visited the Monk's Republic of Mount Athos, amongst other Greek adventures. He has also written dozens of guidebooks, including guides to Corfu, Crete, Athens, the Greek Islands and the Greek mainland.
