Photo highlights from our trip to the Peloponnese and Hydra

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Aiolos taverna in Nafplio served the best Greek salad of our trip — a hearty portion of tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, red onions, olives and capers topped with a thick slab of smooth, creamy feta

 

A beach at Arcaia Epidaurus in the Argolida region of the Peloponnese 

 

We spent four relaxing days and nights in Tolo, a picturesque beach resort area near Nafplio

 

Mountains provide a scenic sunset backdrop for a fishing boat anchored in Nafplio bay

 

We got to see the 123-year-old Corinth Canal during our drive from Athens International Airport to Nafplio.  The cliffs flanking the canal rise to a vertigo-inducing 63-meter height.

 

Part of the scenic coastline between Nafplio and Karathona beach, which we walked numerous times

 

Buildings and ruins at the Mystras archaeological site near Sparta

 

The beautiful palm tree promenade on the Nafplio waterfront

 

Tall plane trees shade taverna terraces in Kosmas, a village on the upper slopes of Mount Parnon

 

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Agios Nikolaos church is perched on a steep rocky slope above the sea, a short walk from Karathona beach near Nafplio

 

Karathona bay near Nafplio

 

Expansive sea, island and mountain views from a footpath between Hydra Town and Vlychos beach on Hydra

 

Seafront hotels at the beach resort of Tolo

 

Mountains tower behind Leonidio, a village in Arcadia

 

A sailboat passes the walled fortress town of Monemvasia

 

Clouds sweep across the peaks of the Taygetos mountains near Sparta

 

A dramatic sunset view from the Kamini area of Hydra

 

Houses on a hillside above the coast in Spetses Town on Spetses island, which we passed on a tour boat ride from Tolo to Hydra

 

The Palamidi Castle straddles a mountain peak next to Nafplio

 

A view of the Old Town area of Nafplio from the long staircase leading to the Palamidi Castle

 

Bougainvillea creates a colourful canopy above a lane in the Old Town of Nafplio

 

Connected to the mainland by a causeway, Monemvasia is often called the “Gibraltar of Greece”

 

Shop and restaurants along the main street of Monemvasia

 

One small section of the extensive waterfront at Nafplio

 

 

Larissa Castle occupies a mountain peak at Argos, a city 12 kilometers from Nafplio

 

Looking down steps in a lane in the upper part of Nafplio’s Old Town area

 

The blue and white Agia Kyriaki church at Tolo

 

A small harbour at Karathona beach near Nafplio

 

Thousands of olive trees surround the archaeological site of Ancient Sparta, located just a short walk from the central business district of Sparta

 

The Grimani Bastion was built from 1702 to 1706 to protect the Acronauplia Castle that sits atop the hill behind Nafplio’s Old Town

 

Restoration and repair work is underway on the Bourtzi Castle in Nafplio Bay, arguably the most famous landmark at Nafplio

 

The harbour at Hydra Town on Hydra island

 

A panoramic view of the harbour at Hydra Town

 

A row of tall palm trees extends along the center boulevard on Konstantinou Palaiologou street in Sparta

 

A fishing boat crosses the bay at Tolo

 

Tourists explore the Mystras archaeological site near Sparta as stormclouds gather above the nearby Taygetos mountains

 

An evening view of the Bourtzi Castle from the waterfront at Nafplio

 

Approaching Kamini village and harbour on Hydra island

 

A rustic church in the Old Town area of Nafplio

 

Buildings in the fortress town of Monemvasia

 

The beautiful white Panagia Chrysafitissa church in Monemvasia

 

Mountains and verdant valleys near Tolo village and beach resort

 

The popular Spilia coastal swimming spot at Hydra Town

 

A vaulted entrance to the Grimani Bastion in Nafplio

 

The Palaces of the Despots at Mystras 

 

View to the Bourtzi Castle from the Arvanitia Promenade at Nafplio

 

The Arvanitia Promenade winds more than a kilometer along the coast from the Nafplio Old Town to Arvanitia beach

 

Arvanitia beach at Nafplio

 

The spectacular Great Theatre at Epidaurus

 

Some of the extensive ruins and excavations at the Epidaurus archaeological site

 

Mountains rise behind Gefira village at Monemvasia

 

Agioi Apostoli church on Koronisi island at Tolo

 

Dark stormclouds pass above Monemvasia and Gefira during an evening windstorm on June 7

 

It didn’t rain during the windstorm, but a rainbow appeared on the horizon when the stormclouds started to break up soon

 

We had great views of Hinitsa Bay and the Porto Heli area while riding an excursion boat from Tolo to Hydra.  This is the AKS Hinitsa Bay Hotel.

 

Hills and mountains behind the New Town area of Nafplio

 

The domed ceiling of a Byzantine church at Mystras

 

Just some of the many dozens of beehives we saw on a terraced hillside behind Karathona beach near Nafplio

 

A landscaped courtyard inside the Palamidi Castle at Nafplio

 

A Palamidi Castle view of the Acronauplia Peninsula and part of the Nafplio Old Town area

 

Sea view of Hydra Town on Hydra island

 

A church in Hydra Town

 

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The entrance to a cave church in the face of the steep cliffs above the Monemvasia castle town

 

We saw the Poseidonion Grand Hotel on Spetses when our boat passed the island en route to Hydra. The legendary hotel, which is one of the most famous in Greece, opened in 1914.

 

An orange tree in Nafplio. We saw scores of fruit-laden apricot, lemon and orange trees in Nafplio and throughout the Peloponnese.

 

Early morning sunshine sparkles on Tolo Bay

 

A view, from Hydra, of mountains along the Peloponnese coast