Located at less than 70 miles from Athens, Nemea is a place full of secrets worth exploring and a delightful one-day excursion for Athenians and tourists alike.

 Famous as the site of Hercules’ lion labour, Nemea boasts an ancient history that is depicted in its many monuments, among which lies a true archaeological gem: the Temple of Zeus.

Built circa 330 BC, the temple played a significant role in the Nemean Games and was the epicenter of the Zeus sanctuary.

Three architectural orders (the Doric, the Corinthian and the Ionic) were employed for this masterpiece of the late classical period. The archaeological site, which is open to visitors all year round, hosts the Temple, the Stadium and remains of the sanctuary.A stroll around Nemea’s historic land is not complete without a visit to one or more of its numerous wineries. The area’s vinicultural tradition goes back to Homer, who called it Ampelóessa, meaning "full of vines."

Today, Nemea is Greece’s largest vine territory with more than 5,000 acres, most of which produce the local agiorgitiko variety.Dubbed "Blood of Hercules", agiorgitiko is famous for its dark ruby colour, complex aroma and food-friendly quality, and some of the best can be found in Nemea’s charming wineries.


Most of them offer tours around their premises and tasting of their awarded wines, including vintage cellar wines, an ideal culmination for a day excursion. And if the wine proves too good and a return to the highway too trying, some of the wineries offer a true wine lover’s dream: guest houses right in the middle of the vineyards.