Lerna

Argolis


This small site is worth a stop for its intriguing House of the Tiles, one of the most important Greek remains from the 3rd millennium BC. It's very well preserved, conserving the base of staircases as well as plaster on the brick structure. Clay seals found here attest to a system of control over goods. Other remains include walls and a tower from earlier in the Helladic period, as well as later Mycenaean tombs. It's 7km west of Nafplio along the coast.

Lerna is also famous in mythology as the lair of the Hydra, which was slain by Hercules as one of his labours.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Argolis attractions

1. Bourtzi

4.19 MILES

Odyssey Cruises runs boat excursions to this island fortress. Built in 1473, it lies about 600m west of the town's port and has served variously as a…

2. Archaeological Museum

4.41 MILES

Inside a splendid Venetian building, this museum traces the social development of Argolis, from the hunter-gatherers of the Franchthi Cave to the…

3. Akronafplia Fortress

4.42 MILES

Rising above the old part of town, the Akronafplia fortress is the oldest of Nafplio’s three castles. The lower sections of the walls date back to the…

4. Church of Agios Spyridon

4.5 MILES

This small 18th-century church was the site of an assassination of great political significance. On 9 October 1831 Ioannis Kapodistrias, elected the first…

5. Komboloi Museum

4.5 MILES

Whether or not you wish to buy Greece's most popular souvenir item – komboloï (worry beads) – at the gift shop, it's worth popping into the incense…

6. Arvanitia Beach

4.52 MILES

This small pebble beach is just five minutes’ walk south of town, tucked beside the Akronafplia fortress, past the Land Gate. It's a nice place for a…

7. War Museum

4.55 MILES

In a handsome stone building, this collection of paintings, uniforms, sketches, assorted weaponry and photographs traces Greece’s role in various battles,…

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