The Sanctum of Asklepios: Asklipiio Epidavros
In the picturesque valley with a magical environment, where there were natural and healing sources, the sanctum of Asklepios was built in ancient times. It developed, over the years, to become the famous therapeutic center where many of the patients came from everywhere to the god “Deliverer”, as they called him. Symbols of the Asklepios were the snake, the stick and the pot of therapeutic fluid.
In the valley, at first, appeared a prehistoric settlement. The king of Epidavros “Malo” built then the first sanctuary in honor of Apollo of Maleata. According to the local tradition, Asklepios was son of Apollo and Koronidos, daughter of the Thessaly king, Flegia. Askelpios was born at the Tithio rock, where his mother left him because she feared the anger of her father Flegia. So she left the child and a goat found and suckled the baby and the dog from the flock notified the shepherd, who found the infant. Then the first mountain was named Tithio in honor of the goat and the next mountain named “Kinos” in honor of the dog that found him.
The influence and the brilliancy of Asklepios as the most important therapeutic god, brought huge economic power to the sanctuary during the 4th and 3rd century b.c, and the large group of buildings in the area materialized. Under the cover of these monumental buildings, the whole worship took place.
The Acropolis of Bassas
At the hillock of Bassas there developed, first, a settlement of the Greek Middle Ages. Around the area were found tombs with remarkable objects. Because of the natural fortification, it survived during Mycenaean times. It is surrounded with blocks of stones, but only those at the south site have been saved. Some people guess that it was the capital of some small kingdom. Significant is the fact that there are still tracks from the corrugations that were on the carriage roads, impressed where the wheels of the carriages went deep.
Vothila Gorge
In New Epidavros there is one of the most beautiful gorges of all Argolida, Vothila Gorge as it is called, a green paradise surrounded from two rocky mountains.
The Castle of New Epidavros
The natural fortification offered security from invasions by pirates and from neighboring enemy hordes and later on from military units. In the Byzantine age supporting work was undergone on the castle to improve the wall construction. Afterwards, in circa 1205 AD, the Franks had control of the area. Then between 1463 and 1467 AD, the castle fell into the hands of Enetous. In the castle there were three churches, one to saint Theodosiou, one to The Madonna, and one to saint Ioannis of Theologou but only the last survives to this
