The Ancient Stadium of Nemea

A archaeological site in the Municipality of Nemea.

• MunicipalityNemea

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A few minutes from the Temple of Nemean Zeus lies the stadium that hosted the Nemean Games, one of the four great Panhellenic festivals. It is one of very few ancient stadiums that let you genuinely feel what an athlete felt.

The athletes tunnel

The unique feature here is the vaulted tunnel, some 36 metres long, through which competitors entered the track in front of the crowd. Its walls still carry graffiti of names scratched by athletes 2,300 years ago — the most direct contact anyone can have with the people of the games.

What you will see

The track preserves its starting line with the grooves cut for the runners feet, the judges seats and the natural slope where spectators sat. Beside it stand the remains of the locker room and the bath house.

Practical notes

• At Ancient Nemea.
• See it together with the Temple of Zeus and the Archaeological Museum of Nemea — they form one visit.
• It pairs perfectly with a stop at a Nemea winery.