Travel report: Katakolo, an ideal safe harbor in Greece opens the way to exploration

Offering a safe harbor for cruise liners since way back in the mid-1940s, Katakolo, a picturesque seaside town in Western Ilia, today constitutes the second most visited cruise line port in Greece and the home-base for thousands of Ancient Olympia-bound tourists, according to the following travel report by the National Herald:

At the entrance of the port, the historic raisin warehouses have been renovated and converted into cafes and tavernas, these days storing more visitors as opposed to dried fruit!

Golden Sand Beneath Your Toes

The sandy beach of Katakolo in the Kyparissiakos Gulf is an ideal option for families. With plenty to do, visitors feel more than comfortable staying from dawn to dusk, taking in the romantic sunset to round out a pleasant sun-filled day. For more peace and quiet, neighboring Kato Kavouri entices visitors into its crystal blue waters. The dense, rich sands on Letrina Beach may obstruct the passage of vehicles, but that is a definite positive for all sunbathers and swimmers who flock to its golden sands and shores. Evocative of tropical beaches, Kiani Akti is the perfect destination for aquatic sports lovers. Another popular tourist beach, Kourouta, earned a prestigious Blue Flag (an award given to beaches that have the highest environmental and general quality standards) and is ideal for sailing. Additionally, the beach is a favorite of Loggerhead sea turtles who enjoy laying their eggs there. Nearby Palouki boasts an organized campsite for travelers looking to meet others who share the same passion for sleeping under the stars.

Jogging through History

The birthplace of the Olympic Games, Ancient Olympia, impresses everyone from the very first moment they lay eyes on it. Visitors can tour the imposing ancient buildings which housed places of worship, physical exercise facilities, or political congresses, and admire the statue of Hermes by Praxiteles in the museum of antiquities. The ingenuity of the ancient Greeks is on full display through the collection of inventions in the Museum of Ancient Greek Technology and Ancient Greek Musical Instruments and Toys in the central square of Katakolo.

Explosions of Tastes and Aromas

For the eclectic visitor who seeks tasty delights, Ilia proves itself an ideal destination. With a century-and-a-half of history, an expansive area of 160 thousand square meters, and more than 15 wine varieties anchored by agritourism activities, look no further than Mercouri Estate, the undoubted ambassador of taste in the region.

The production of exquisite local produce adds to the long list of assets of Katakolo and its surroundings possess; raisins, known as the regional `black gold' which have long contributed to the prosperity of the area, the olive oil, and olive varieties, dairy products, as well as the honey collected by beekeepers, offer visitors unprecedented gastronomical experiences.

Read more at thenationalherald.com

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