Argolis

The Argolis (Greek Argolida Αργολίδα, older even Argolis Αργολίς ( f sg ) ) is a landscape on the Greek Peloponnese peninsula. Even in ancient times the territory of the city of Argos had this name. The ancient Argolis was the center of the Mycenaean culture, whose archeological sites along with Epidauros belong to the Greek Hauptsehenwürdigkeiten. After the Greek revolution, Argolis was home to the town of Nafplio from 1829 to 1834 the Greek capital; later Nauplia has long been the administrative center of the prefecture of Argolida. Since 2011, the Argolis forms a Regional District ( gr Periferiaki Enotita ) of the Peloponnese region, sent nine deputies in the regional, but in addition has no political significance.

Geography

This is called the Argolis and the thumb of the Peloponnesian hand. It lies between the Saronic Gulf and the Gulf of Argolis in the northeastern Peloponnese. It consists of a core of the alluvium of the river Inachus, which is agriculturally important through the cultivation of cereals, olives, grapes and citrus. With him the Argolis is one of the most fertile areas of the Peloponnese. This plane is surrounded by mountains, which separate the Argolis west of Arcadia and north of Corinthia. To the east stretches the mountainous also Argolic Peninsula, to which on the east coast the ancient landscape Epidauria and to the south the landscape and community Ermionida belong, which are also part of the regional district. The islands of Spetses and Hydra actually Argolian and the landscape Trizinia are now part of the Attica region.

Structure

The prefecture of Argolis district is divided into the communities Argos - Mycenae, Epidavros, Nafplio and Ermionida.

History

In the Argolid is with Lerna one of the oldest settlements on the mainland of ancient Greece. Argos is considered the oldest continuously populated city in Europe. In the late Bronze Age originated in Mycenae, Midea and Tiryns large residences and fortifications. In antiquity, the Argolis was also famous for its horse breeding: Homer called it " Rosse nourishing " Already in the 8th century BC.

Traffic

The Argolis, is connected by the A 7, which traverses the north-west of the district to the Greek highway network. Important roads for car traffic are also the national roads 7 and 70 The only major port is the city of Nafplio. The next international airports are used the Kalamata ( about 125 km) airport and the airport in the capital Athens around 170 km away.

Tourism

One of the major tourist destinations of Argolis include three UNESCO World Heritage Sites, namely the excavations of Mycenae, Tiryns and Epidauros and Lerna and the Heraion of Argos. A classic seaside resort of Tolo is on the Gulf of Argolis, also visited the former fishing villages and Palea Epidavros Ermioni.