History

In 4.000 B.C., Corinthia, governed essentially from Corinth, entered its "golden age" in the time of Periander (627-585 B.B.). It finally fell to the Romans in 146 B.C., when they conquered the whole of Greece. In the Byzantine era it once again enjoyed commercial prosperity. Under Turkish rule, thanks to its geographical position and the strategically important Acrocorinth, it played an active part in the events of the struggles.

The cities and their history:

Corinth (the modern city): Capital of the Prefecture (population 28.903), with well laid-out streets in its oldest part. It is an important center for commerce, industry, exports, and communications. It serves as a bridge to eastern, northern and western Greece. It was founded in 1858 by people who had settled in the ancient city, having fled there after their village was destroyed by earthquakes. It has an ecclesiastical and folklore museum. Among the most noteworthy buildings are the Cathedral of the Apostle Paul, the courthouse and the town hall.

Ancient Corinth: (pop. 2.115). Built at the foot of the famous Acrocorinthos hill (altitude 575 meters),which served as its mighty ,,acropolis" or citadel in times of mythology, and is within sight of the Acropolis of Athens. This ancient city not only led the way for Athens and the wider territory of Greece, but also for the entire Mediterranean world. It was innovative in science and letters (Corinthian alphabet, Arion's dithyramb), and particularly in the arts - sculpture, painting, pottery, ceramics, shipbuilding (ancient trireme, 754 B.C., Aminocles) - and also in commerce.

The renowned Corinthian capital, which still adorns public buildings around the world, had its origins here (Callimachus, 5th century B.C.). The long and extremely interesting history of this city includes the time of St Paul (50 A.D.), who visited the city twice and founded the Church of Corinth. Today we can see the artificial (earthbanked) port (Lecheo), which is the first construction of its kind in history, as well as many antiquities and the Corinth museum with its noteworthy exhibits.

Loutraki: (total population of Loutraki and Perachora: 11.031) is famous for its curative and bottled waters, and for its delightful seafront.

Kiato: (pop.9.172) is a large manufacturing center and the main center for exports. It lies in a plain amidst the abundant green of fruit trees. South of the town (5km) lies Sykiona with its museum and ancient theatre.

Nemea: (pop. 4.045) is an agricultural and economic center, famous for its fine wines. It has a museum with interesting exhibits. Revival of the ancient Greek games known as the Panhellenic Games began here in 1994.

Xylokastro: (pop. 6.052) is famous for its pine trees (native pine wood etc.) on its beautiful coastline. It is a starting point for excursions to the mountainous area of Corinthia (refuge for climbers, Ziria ski center)- The newly established Municipalities should also be mentioned:

Velo-Nerantza: (pop.3.769) which lies in the middle of the fertile Corinthia plain and is an important center for agriculture and for summer holiday- makers (Nerantza beach),

Agii Theodori: (pop. 5.156), which is a beautiful summer holiday center, near Athens, with important industrial development to which it owes its considerable economic vigor.

Other areas are famous for their natural beauty or their history, e.g. Isthmia, renowned for its glorious cultural history and its Panhellenic games (Isthmian Games), Stymfalia, Feneos, (Goura, Kastania, Evrostini, Trikata, Derveni, Chiliomodi, Sofiko, Perachora e.t.c.

Christian monuments: Corinthia abounds in places of Christian worship, both old and new, churches, or monasteries, Christian tombs, hermitages or retreats of saints or holy men, renowned for their architecture, their history, or their association with miracles. Examples are the hermitage (yc of the holy Patapios (Loutraki), the Faneromeni monastery, and the monastery of Ag.Georgios Feneos.