Peloponeso

Peloponeso, the Italian name for Peloponnesos, is a large peninsula in southern Greece that forms the southern portion of the Hellenic mainland. It is connected to the mainland by the Isthmus of Corinth and is bounded by the Ionian Sea to the west, the Aegean to the east, and the Mediterranean to the south. The interior is largely mountainous, with ranges such as Taygetos and Parnon, and contains fertile plains in Laconia, Argolis, Messenia, Achaea, and Elis.

Named after the mythological king Pelops, the region has been inhabited since the Neolithic era. In antiquity it housed powerful city-states, notably Sparta in Laconia and Argos in Argolis, and was the center of the Mycenaean civilization with sites like Mycenae and Tiryns. It also hosted major religious and athletic centers, including Olympia and Epidaurus.

During classical and Hellenistic times the Peloponnese played a decisive role in Greek history, culminating in the Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta (431–404 BCE). In the ensuing centuries it passed under Roman, Byzantine, Frankish, and Ottoman rule before joining the modern Greek state in the 19th century.

Key sites include Olympia, Epidaurus, Mycenae, Tiryns, and Mystras (UNESCO). Coastal towns such as Nafplio, Monemvasia, Kalamata, and Patras attract visitors for history, architecture, and beaches.

Economically, the Peloponnese relies on agriculture—olive oil, wine, citrus—alongside tourism and shipping. It contains several regional units and major ports at Patras and Kalamata. The Corinth Canal is a notable waterway that connects the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf.