Peloponnese

ancient Greece · geography · peninsula

A peninsula in Greece. The Peloponnese is a large piece of land that sticks out into the Mediterranean Sea in southern Greece. It's connected to the rest of Greece by a thin strip of land called the Isthmus of Corinth.

Home to ancient cities. This region was where legendary ancient Greek cities like Sparta and Corinth were built, making it one of the most important places in Greek history.

Surrounded by water. The Peloponnese is almost an island because the Ionian Sea and the Aegean Sea surround it on three sides, with only that thin land bridge connecting it to the north.

Called Morea for centuries. From the Middle Ages until the 1800s, people called this peninsula the Morea, a name that locals still sometimes use today even though it's officially called the Peloponnese now.

Two gulfs nearby. The Gulf of Corinth and the Saronic Gulf are separated by the Isthmus of Corinth, making this area important for ancient ships traveling between different parts of Greece.