Bounded on the north by Achaea, east by Arcadia, south by Messenia, and west by the Ionian Sea, The Land of Olympia is the major Panhellenic religious sanctuary of ancient and modern Greece, where the ancient Olympic Games originated
Over the course of the archaic and classical periods, the inhabitants of Elis were Perioeci—autonomous free non-citizens. Perioeci, unlike other Spartans, could travel freely between cities. Thus the polis of Elis was formed. Thus the spirit of this sacred place remains today. Olympia, the Elian land, owns the tradition of the first Olympic games since 776 BC and still imparts its light of freedom to the four corners of the earth every four years.
The Olympic flame of the modern-day Olympic Games is lit by reflection of sunlight in a parabolic mirror in front of the Temple of Hera and then transported by a torch to the place where the Games are held. The eternal sunlight is shone over the entire valley and mountainous regions. This sunlight is the cornerstone of existence, freedom and grandeur
The fertile land of the Region of Elis covers an area of 2.618 km² and 100 km of pristine shoreline. The Temple of Hera, the Temple of Zeus and the Temple of Apolo Epicurius stand as reminders of a glorious past and invites millions of tourists to relish the yield of the sacred vineyards.
