Starting from the “GRAND ELIS RESORT” in Savalia, Ilia, our tour began with two of the most important destinations of Western Greece, Ilia and Achaia.
In the western part of the Peloponnese, in an oasis of peace and serenity by the sea, in the area of Savalia, overlooking the island of Zakynthos and next to an 85,000 sq.m. pine forest, lies the Grand Elis Hotel Spa Resort, an idyllic five-star luxury hotel for dream holidays in the Peloponnese. A place where the vitality and beauty of nature spark the imagination and awaken the senses.
The brand-new eco-friendly complex, where the blue of the sea and the green of the nearby forest and its gardens dominate, offers luxurious accommodation in line with the highest standards of hospitality.
With 82 luxury rooms and suites, across three buildings, the Grand Elis Hotel Spa Resort guarantees the optimal holiday experience. Natural light and the magnificent views of the sea, the lush gardens and the large pool, the exceptional architecture and modern amenities together create the ideal setting for moments of relaxation and rejuvenation.
Guests can unwind on comfortable luxury loungers by the pool, enjoying the sun and refreshing cocktails for a revitalizing experience. Alternatively, they can enjoy the hotel’s private beach with its renowned golden sand and the crystal-clear waters of the Ionian Sea, for an equally exciting experience from the early morning hours until sunset.
More at: https://www.grandelishotel.gr/
Welcome dinner at the “GRAND ELIS RESORT”.The Gastronomic Identity of Grand Elis is directly linked to local – thematic gastronomy and the products that highlight it.
At Grand Elis you will not simply discover the richness of Greek cuisine, but embark on an unforgettable culinary journey “from the fields of our land to your plate.”
Every dish carries the taste of the local. Wonderful dishes, prepared with exceptional care, invite you to discover the quality of the local products of Ilia’s fertile and abundant land. From local olives cultivated by small producers and the olive oil, to seasonal fruits and vegetables, meat and seafood, and fresh greens.
Tour of the Achaia Clauss winery, the oldest winery in Greece
This is a historic winery, founded in 1891. Today its products are produced in state-of-the-art facilities, a few kilometers away from its original site. A true oasis, it passes on its beauty, tradition, and history through time, to the thousands of its visitors and to those who love and care for the preservation of its unique identity.
Achaia Clauss is a page from our region’s history that stubbornly refuses to grow old, retaining all the freshness and aroma of the adventures that unfolded since 1854, when the rebellious young bohemian Gustav Clauss challenged the customs and social status of his time, gradually creating Greece’s oldest Wine Ambassador to the world, leaving indelible marks on the history of winemaking. In 2018 it founded a Wine Club.
Visit to the Archaeological Museum of Patras
The Archaeological Museum of Patras is located at the northern entrance of the city and housed in a building constructed in 2008, designed by architect Theofanis Bobotis. It covers a total area of 5,955 sq.m. and includes three large halls for the permanent exhibition, one hall for temporary exhibitions, modern reception and visitor service areas, an auditorium, refreshment facilities, conservation laboratories, storage rooms, and an outdoor area that also serves as a parking lot for visitors’ vehicles.
The museum’s permanent exhibition features finds dating from the 4th millennium BC to the 4th century AD, originating from the city of Patras as well as from areas of southern and western Achaia.
Lunch in the Kourouta area, Axilleion Mare Restaurant
In the heart of Kourouta is located the seaside tavern “Axilleion Mare Restaurant.” The locals call it “Dino,” a nickname that has accompanied its owner for many years.
At “Axilleion Mare Restaurant” you will find delicious pot roast and the best homemade meatballs, a variety of traditional cooked dishes, and above all, fresh fish.
Kalavryta Ski Center_ Visit to the Helmos Festival 2024
https://festival.kalavritaski.gr/programma/#scedule
The first festival of outdoor activities and music that marks the start of summer, held in the heart of the Helmos-Vouraikos National Park and UNESCO Global Geopark, at the Kalavryta Ski Center.
An event that redefines the horizons of Greek festivals, broadens the scope of mountain sports and recreation centers, and gives the wider public the opportunity to discover the mountains of Greece in an exciting way, filling the participants’ bags with unique moments and powerful emotions.
The Kalavryta Ski Center is the first ski resort to host an event of this scale, providing both economic relief and new perspectives for a municipal enterprise that has been steadily developing in recent years.
One of the primary aims of the event is the harmonization of humans with the natural environment. To achieve this, a series of outdoor activities and parallel events are organized for both children and adults. The vision of the organizers is for Helmos to become “a mountain for everyone,” a home for thousands of campers who have the opportunity to stay in specially designated camping areas, and for three days the foothills of Helmos to become their home.
All this with the sole purpose of showcasing while also protecting the wider area of Helmos, which is part of the Helmos-Vouraikos National Park and UNESCO Global Geopark.
Visit to the Holy Monastery of Mega Spilaio
The most extraordinary religious pilgrimage of Orthodoxy in the Peloponnese is the Holy Monastery of Mega Spilaio, which inspires awe as it stands against a steep rock face at an altitude of 940 m. It took its name from the vertical rocky complex of Helmos on which it was built. Today, eight stories high, it rises “clinging” to the rock, impressing even the most indifferent visitor.
The katholikon of the Monastery, carved into the rock, is a cross-in-square church with two narthexes. The main church has frescoes from 1653, remarkable marble inlays on the floor, a carved wooden iconostasis, and more.
The Deputy Regional Governor of Tourism Development of the Region of Western Greece, Mr. Panagiotis Sakellaropoulos, referring to the unique beauties of the destination, stated among other things:
I am truly excited and happy about the organization of this trip, which took place as part of the annual tourism promotion activities of the Region of Western Greece 2024, as it gave us the opportunity to guide our distinguished journalist guests through beautiful places of the Olympic Land.
Our goal was to introduce them to points of interest in our wonderful land, so that our visitors would become partakers of the experience, be sensitized to our places, and pass on their impressions to their readership, television audience, and digital followers.
Within this framework, our esteemed guests toured the historic Achaia Clauss winery, admired the unique exhibits of the Archaeological Museum of Patras with its contemporary architectural aesthetic, and visited the state-of-the-art Kalavryta Ski Center and the Holy Monastery of Mega Spilaio.
This initiative is, for us, a highly effective tool that directly enhances the attraction of more visitors from Greece and abroad, so that others too may enjoy the unique experiences and knowledge gained by our guests during this short visit to the Olympic Land of our hearts!
