Kyparissia holidays

Holidays to Kyparissia give you a little bit of everything, from historic architecture to sand-and-shingle beaches.

A Homerian holiday destination

Make sure you don’t hit the search button too early when Googling this place. Miss off the ‘a’ on Kyparissia, and all the results will be about a remote village on the complete opposite side of the Greek mainland, where the likes of Prince Charles and George W Bush have holidayed. This small town in Peloponnese, meanwhile, is more popular with history buffs than royals and presidents. That’s thanks to the fact it’s just an hour’s drive away from Ancient Olympia, and has its own historic origins to write home about. Pick up a copy of Homer’s epic poem The Iliad, and you’ll find it described as one of the cities involved in the Trojan War. Or, leave your reading glasses in their case and see the age-old sights for yourself.

Hit the old town

Kyparissia’s split into two halves. There’s the modern, lower town – Kato Poli – that’s scattered with cafes and restaurants, and the old town. Also known as Ano Poli, this cobblestoned area is made up of narrow, winding streets that pave the way to the Medieval castle, which legend says was built by mythological giants. From a distance, its time-worn bricks might look like a crumbly chunk of shortbread, but we promise it’s sturdy enough to climb. Holiday-goers often hike their way up to the top for panoramic views of the Ionian Sea, before refuelling at one of the local eateries. Menu staples are hot and hearty – think slow-cooked goat stew and herby smoked sausages.

Tanning and turtle spotting

When you’ve racked up enough steps for the day, trade pavement pounding for sandy toed strolls along one of the nearby beaches. Ai-Lagoudis is the main one, and its caramel-coloured shoreline and see-the-bottom water has earned it Blue Flag status. Plus, there’s no shortage of bars, so you can go for sunset cocktails after a day of working on your tan. For something a little more secluded, Kartelas Beach is a real beauty. This one’s a protected number, where tiny loggerhead sea turtles – also known as Caretta-Caretta turtles – hatch in the late summer months.