After yesterday’s peaceful day of sailing, today’s diverse schedule provided the opportunity to explore thousands of years of regional history. We headed inland in the morning, passing citrus groves and an occasional roadside stand heaped with figs, melons, and jars of honey. Our first destination was the great Bronze Age citadel of Mycenae, characterized by Homer as “rich in gold.” Home of the legendary King Agamemnon, a key figure in the Trojan War narrative, Mycenae was one of many small, independent kingdoms present in southern Greece after about 1600 BC. Our visit included a glimpse inside the stunning Treasury of Atreus, actually a tholos tomb, which remains nearly intact despite being more than 3,200 years old. Moving forward nearly a millennium, we traveled on to Epidaurus, testing the acoustics of one of the best preserved theaters of the ancient Greek world.
While some took advantage of a nearby beach for an early afternoon swim, many preferred to escape the midday heat with a relaxing break aboard Sea Cloud. We resumed our historical odyssey in the late afternoon with a visit to Palamidhi Fort at Nafplion. This massive fortification was built by the Venetians in the twilight years of their extensive maritime empire; soon after its construction in the early 18th century, however, the fort fell to the Ottoman Turks. From the fort’s highest points, we enjoyed a splendid view of Sea Cloud anchored below in the Argolic Gulf. Finally, this active day concluded with a leisurely stroll around the charming seaside town of Nafplion, a strategic center of trade since the late medieval period.
