ancient ruins
Ancient Olympia
The birthplace of the Olympic Games, this sacred sanctuary in the Peloponnese contains the ruins of athletic facilities, temples, and the workshop of Phidias.
17 km · about 20 min drive
West Greece, Greece · Europe
Pýrgos is worth a stop: 10 minutes from Varvásaina, 17km from Ancient Olympia.
Pýrgos is a town located in West Greece, Greece. With a population of 22,399, it is an important destination in Europe.
On a road trip, Pýrgos sits in Greece, where you drive on the right. It's in the Europe/Athens time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Pýrgos to your route.
Letrini or Letrinoi (Ancient Greek: Λέτρινοι) or Letrina (Λετρίνα) was a town of Pisatis in ancient Elis, situated near the sea, upon the Sacred Way leading from Elis to Olympia, at the distance of 180 stadia from Elis, and 120 from Olympia.
According to Greek mythology, it was said to have been founded by Letreus, aRead more
son of Pelops. There was a tradition that said that the bones of Pelops - necessary, according to the oracle, for the Achaeans to conquer Troy - were at Letrini.
Together with several of the other dependent townships of Elis, it joined Spartan king Agis II, when he invaded the territories of Elis; and the Eleians were obliged to surrender their supremacy over Letrini by the peace which they concluded with the Spartans in 400 BCE. Later, the townsmen of Letrini formed part of the Spartan army that fought at the Battle of Nemea in 394 BCE. Xenophon speaks of Letrini, Amphidoli, and Marganeis as Triphylian places, although they were on the right bank of the Alpheius; and if there is no corruption in the text, the word Triphylian must be used in a loose sense to signify the dependent townships of Elis. The Λετριναῖαι γύαι are mentioned by Lycophron. In the time of Pausanias nothing remained of Letrini except a few houses and a temple of Artemis Alpheiaea; the epithet Alpheiaea was due to a tradition that the river god Alpheus fell in love with Artemis and tried to seduce her in the vicinity of Letrini. It remains doubtful whether this temple is the same as that mentioned by Strabo as located near the mouth of the Alpheius.
Letrini may be placed at the village and monastery of Agios Ioannis (St John), between Pyrgos and the port of Katakolo, where, according to William Martin Leake, among many fragments of antiquity, a part of a large statue was found in the early 19th century. Some modern scholars accept the identification, while others treat it as tentative.
Compare prices across Booking.com, Airbnb, Expedia, and more. Select your dates to see availability.
Pick your must-haves once: provider links open pre-filtered. Each filter lists which sites it applies to.
Compare before you book!
Prices can vary significantly between platforms. We recommend checking at least 2-3 sites to find the best deal for your stay in Pýrgos.
Discover famous landmarks, scenic roads, and more near Pýrgos.
Pýrgos offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.
Plan your road trip to Pýrgos with Plan Your Road Trips! Add Pýrgos as a destination, and we'll help you find the best route and discover more amazing places along the way.
Pýrgos is located in West Greece, Greece, Europe. The coordinates are 37.6751 latitude, 21.4410 longitude.
Pýrgos has a population of approximately 22,399 people, making it a town in Greece.
Add to your itinerary
Start planning your road trip with Pýrgos as a destination. Create a custom route and discover more amazing places along the way.
Start Road TripDiscover destinations like Tinder
Swipe through stunning destinations near Pýrgos. Save your favourites and add them to your trip.
Essential numbers in Greece
Tourist police (English-speaking): 171.
Full driving guide for Greece2 notable places within an hour's drive.
ancient ruins
The birthplace of the Olympic Games, this sacred sanctuary in the Peloponnese contains the ruins of athletic facilities, temples, and the workshop of Phidias.
17 km · about 20 min drive
landmark
An amphitheatre of stone mansions stacked above the Lousios Gorge in mountain Arcadia, once a gunpowder workshop for the 1821 revolution. Its open-air water-power museum still runs mills, tanneries and powder wheels.
53 km · about 60 min drive
April to October
Other places to explore near Pýrgos.
Create your perfect itinerary with our calendar-based planner. Add stops, discover attractions along the way, and share your trip with friends.
Start Planning