Camera Zizanio - The Province of Ilia

European Meeting of Audiovisual Creation - Camera Zizanio

The Province of Ilia

In its history throughout the centuries, ILIA has always been a special part of Greece. It seems to have been created and formed through the special grace of nature and history.

In the llia province there is a unique coexistence of infinite coastlines, mountain ranges lost in the depths of legends, traditional mountain settlements, and thermal baths, as well as numerous archaeological sites -with Ancient Olympia, Ancient Ilida, the Temple of Epicurios Apollo and the Hlemoutsi fortress.

In the province's capital, PYRGOS, one can admire superb neoclassical architecture, such as the city's Civic Market and the Apollo Theatre -both masterpieces designed by the German architect, Ernst Ziller.

The second largest town in the province, AMALIADA, offers visitors an abundance of excellent beaches.

In ANDRITSAINA, an important mountain town in the province, one has the opportunity to visit the unique Nikolopoulios Library. The life's work of Agathofron Nikolopoulos, the library contains important and rare books, as well as manuscripts by Greek and foreign authors, including Jean Jacques Rousseau.

Near Andritsaina, in VASSES, there is a Temple of Epicourios Apollo. This unique temple is very well preserved, due to a specially constructed canopy.

It is a historical fact that the site of Ancient Olympia -the most important archaeological site in Greece- was a religious centre of Panhellenic worship since the 9th century B.C. The first official Olympiad took place there in 776 B.C. It is said that the Greeks had chosen the country's most beautiful region to hold the Olympic Games. This is obvious to the present-day visitor, for a trip to the region is not just a pilgrimage, but a unique opportunity to appreciate a picturesque, serene and sunny landscape.

In Ancient Olympia's archaeological site one can visit:

	The ruins of the Temple of Zeus (460 B.C.) the largest temple in continental Greece, once housing a chryselephantine statue of Zeus, a masterpiece sculpted by Pheidias, considered to be one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
	The Gymnasium (2nd century B.C.), used as a recreation ground
	The Palaestra (3rd century B.C.) used for wrestling bouts and the pangratio event
	The Prytaneion (5th century B. C)
	The Philippeion (4th century B.C.) built by the Macedonians and containing the chryselephantine statues of Philip of Macedon, Alexander the Great and Philip's family.
	The Heraion (650 B.C.), the oldest edifice -a Doric temple- where the magnificent statue of Hermes, crafted by Praxiteles, was found. The Pelopion
	The Nymphaion (150 B.C.)
	The Altar of Hera, where the Olympic Flame is lit.
	The Metroon, (4th century B.C.), a temple dedicated to the mother of the gods.
	The Crypt (3rd century B.C.)
	The Stadium, with a capacity of 45.000 spectators and a field 192m in length
	The Bouleuterion.
	Pheidias' workshop.

On display in the Museum of Ancient Olympia are works of unique artistic and historic value. The most important of these is the Hermes of Praxiteles, crafted in 340 B.C. and found in the Heraion. The sculptures from the pediments and the metopes of the Temple of Zeus, and the Nike of Paionios (420 B.C.) are also of great archaeological significance.

About - The Province of Ilia - Goals & Principles