The best road cycling routes in Korinthia

The image shows a bust of Dimitrios Plapoutas (1786-1864), a hero of the Greek War of Independence. Dimitrios Plapoutas was a prominent general and freedom fighter during the Greek Revolution of 1821. He came from Gortynia in Arcadia and was a close ally of Theodoros Kolokotronis, one of the central figures of the independence struggle. He was known as an excellent dancer and a brave warrior. The original bust was erected in the 1970s.

The retractable bridge (West) on the Corinth Canal, also known as the Posidonia sinking bridge, is located at the western end of the canal. It is one of two unique bridges in the world on the canal that are not folded up or turned when ships approach, but are completely sunk into the water. To allow ships to pass through, the middle section of the bridge is hydraulically lowered to the bottom of the canal. As soon as the ship has passed, it reappears. It serves as a road bridge for cars (up to 3 tons) as well as a pedestrian path. Waiting times: When the bridge is lowered for ship traffic, it can be closed for about an hour. During this time, traffic often gets backed up.

The church of Agios Konstantinos and Eleni in Solomos is an excellent example of modern Greek Orthodox sacral architecture in the region. The striking bell tower with the large cross-shaped window serves as a landmark far and wide. Solomos lies directly at the foot of the Akrokorinth massif. The church is built from the typical light-colored natural stone of the area. The large cross in the tower is often illuminated and offers an impressive sight at night for travelers on the nearby highway.

The Pegasus statue is a central landmark of the city and is located on Eleftherios Venizelos Square (often also referred to as Pegasus Square), right by the harbor of New Corinth. Pegasus, the winged horse of Greek mythology, is the official symbol of the city of Corinth. In ancient times, Pegasus was associated with the city, as it is said that he was tamed at the Peirene spring in Ancient Corinth. The statue stands in the middle of a fountain installation on a large, white mosaic base. The square is a popular meeting point for locals and tourists, and cultural events such as concerts are often held here.

This statue is a modern bronze copy of the famous ancient artwork, the Poseidon of Cape Artemision. The statue depicts either the sea god Poseidon or the father of the gods Zeus. As the attribute in the raised right hand (a trident for Poseidon or a thunderbolt for Zeus) is missing, the exact identity remains controversial in archaeology. The original is a life-size bronze statue dating from around 460 BC. It was recovered in two parts from an ancient shipwreck off Cape Artemision in the north of the island of Euboea in 1926 and 1928. Today, the original is housed in the National Archaeological Museum in Athens. This copy is located on the beach of Poseidonia.

The Church of Saint Nicholas (Agios Nikolaos) in Isthmia is a Greek Orthodox church located near the eastern entrance to the canal. It serves as the religious center for the village of Isthmia, which is primarily known for the ancient Temple of Poseidon and the Isthmian Games held there.

At both ends of the canal (Posidonia in the west and Isthmia in the east) there are unique, submersible road bridges. When a ship approaches, the bridge does not pivot upwards or sideways, but is completely submerged in the water, until it lies about 11 meters deep on the canal floor. For tourists, it is a spectacle to watch the bridge resurface after the ship has passed and the water drains from the roadway.

The Corinth Canal separates the Peloponnese peninsula from mainland Greece. It connects the Saronic Gulf in the east with the Gulf of Corinth in the west. The canal is about 6.3 kilometers long and was dug almost 80 meters deep into the rock at its deepest point. At the water's surface, it is only about 24 meters wide, making it one of the narrowest canals in the world. It saves ships the roughly 400-kilometer detour around the Peloponnese. The idea for the canal already existed in antiquity (e.g., under Emperor Nero), but it was only realized between 1881 and 1893 using modern means such as dynamite.