Have you ever visited Acropolis in Athens? The Acrocorinth is the rock overseeing the ancient city of Corinth, in other words, it is the Acropolis of Ancient Corinth. It might lack the large temples of the Acropolis, but the fortress and the view from the top are much more impressive. This Acropolis of Ancient Corinth is a must-see if you are in the neighborhood, as it offers a great view out over the landscape, the Gulf of Corinth as well as the Saronic Gulf.
What You Need to Know About Acrocorinth
Acrocorinth was an important stronghold for a very long time and it had several masters during its years. The Byzantines, the Venetians and the Ottomans all had an impact on the fortress. As a matter of fact, it was continuously occupied from archaic times to the early 19th century.
There are three circuit walls with towers securing the fortress, parts of which are still standing. There are also remains of buildings from the different periods of occupation.
Visiting Acrocorinth
The entrance to Acrocorinth is located quite a long way up the hill from the village of Ancient Corinth. The best option is to drive up there, either by yourself or by bus or taxi. Walking might be possible if you like a challenge. However, please consider the warm weather before embarking on such a trip.
For your visit, make sure to bring proper footwear as well as plenty of drinking water.
Check the homepage for the Greek Ministry for Culture and Sports for information about entrance fees and opening hours.
Visiting Acrocorinth with a Toddler
Visiting Acrocorinth with a toddler is something we would not recommend. It doesn’t really matter if your child is able to walk by himself/herself or not. The site is not built for having a stroller with you and we are sure that you would decide to leave it at the entrance once you see the hill. Considering the number of cliffs and steep climbs it is probably quite dangerous for your child to run around at the site. Carrying the child can also be challenging for some, keep in mind that it is a long climb to the top and the pathway is not in its best condition. Be careful about your own footing if you decide to carry your child, even at the lower part of the site where there is a proper road, the rocks are really slippery to walk on.
We’d also like to mention that there are very few places where you can hide from the sun.
Interesting post. One minor quibble – ancient Corinth was razed to the ground by Romans under the command of Lucius Mummius in 146 BCE and the site remained uninhabited until Julius Caesar refounded the city a century later – thus its period of habitation is not actually uninterrupted.
Thank you, Thomas. We know that Ancient Corinth has been razed to the ground multiple times. Most recently by an earthquake in the 19th century. To our understanding that hasn’t meant that Acrocorinth and its fortress has been abandoned. We will, however, try to find out more about it. 🙂
I have got to go there, that looks breathtaking perhaps in more ways than one!
It was indeed, I can really recommend a visit. 🙂