Costa Navarino

Journey north along the coast to the extensive ruins marking the site of the ancient Olympic games founded in the 8th century B.C.. Wander among athletic training areas, a stadium and temples dedicated to Hera and Zeus, the father to 12 Olympic gods. The on-site Archaeological Museum of Olympia houses some of Greece’s most significant antiquities, including a statue of Hermes attributed to the sculptor Praxiteles.

Zip out on the crystal clear waters to the deserted Sapienza island, renowned for shipwrecks and deep sea diving. Hike along rugged, seas-gazing trails shared with wild sheep of this wetland habitat rich with birds. Stop off at quiet beaches and climb the stone steps of the Spitha lighthouse on the island’s southern tip for never-ending Mediterranean views.

Follow an arched stone bridge across an ancient moat to the entrance of a 13th-century castle framed by Corinthian columns. Built by the Venetians and revamped by the Ottomans in the 16th-century, this castle complex spread across a rocky point is one of the largest in the Mediterranean. Explore the battlements of this fortified stronghold and the ruins of aristocratic residences. Turkish baths lead to the Byzantine church of St. Sophia, and an octagon-shaped tower of granite keeps watch at the very edge of a radiant cape.

Channel the spirit of influential Greek thinkers on a guided Navarino Collections philosophy walk. Begin with a leisurely stroll through a thick stand of 100-year-old olive trees in the idyllic Messinian countryside, as the professor offers an introduction to Greek philosophy from Plato to Aristotle. Discuss theory and pressing modern-day issues through the lens of the thinking and writings of Greek philosophers.

Considered by many as the world’s premiere olive, the deep purple Kalamata is harvested by hand each from groves that blanket the arid fields of the southern Peloponnese. Named after the port town of Kalamata, the antioxidant-rich full-bodied fruits are used by locals to make excellent olive oil, fragrant soaps and soothing lotions, all which make for perfect keepsakes. Visit an olive grove in the fall to watch—or join—the harvest.