Greece might encourage you to stay still and it is definitely a perfect holiday destination for those who are looking to relax and unwind in a picture-perfect setting. However, once you have found a vacation rental in Greece, we would encourage you to look past her perfect beaches, pretty seaside towns, ancient ruins, and welcoming tavernas for a moment and go and discover the towering mountains, otherworldly rock formations, monasteries and convents keeping ancient traditions alive, incredible thermal springs, lunar landscapes, lush woods, valleys full of butterflies, the UNESCO-awarded monumental Metéora rock formations topped by monasteries, underwater lakes, and other incredible surprises that await all across the country. There is much more to Greece than many people are aware of and so much of it is spectacular, breath-taking and surprising. If you have a penchant for adventure, Greece is actually a perfect travel destination.
One such astonishing sight to go discover while exploring Greece and if you have found a vacation rental in the Peloponnese, in particular, is the Corinth Canal. Connecting the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf in the Aegean Sea, the canal passes through the narrow Isthmus of Corinth, separating the Peloponnese from the Greek mainland. First conceived of in antiquity, this vast and crazy-looking canal was difficult to complete due to the complexities involved in creating a passage through such a large amount of rock. When it was properly begun in 1881, the financial cost of carving out the canal and the difficulties in actually doing it meant that it was not completed until 1893. Even since then, it has had to be periodically closed due to landslides caused by its steep walls. It has never been used as much as had been hoped as it is too narrow for many vessels but is quite the sight to behold and a true example of the majesty that can result from human folly and a passion for invention.
Photo credit: Dingoes67 / CC BY-SA 4.0