Temple of Apollo Epicurius at Bassae of Phigaleia

The Temple of Apollo Epicurius at Bassae is a remarkable and lesser-known ancient site that offers a fascinating glimpse into Greece's rich architectural and cultural heritage. Nestled in the mountains of the Peloponnese, this UNESCO World Heritage site is a must-visit for history enthusiasts and those looking to explore beyond the more famous landmarks of Greece. The temple, designed by the renowned architect Iktinos (who also co-designed the Parthenon), is renowned for its unique blend of Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian architectural styles. As you approach the site, you are immediately struck by the temple’s imposing structure and the sense of history that pervades the area.

Visited in March of 2024 This was an off the beaten path Temple in the mountains of Peloponnese Greece. It was surprisingly cold at this elevation in mid March but enjoyable. There is a couple that is at the base of the site that sells the government tickets to get in. They are very nice with a "security" cat that follows you looking for love from the tourists...very friendly! The site is all under an enormous tarp tent that is cabled to the ground in concrete as it is in an active state of restoration that is a site to behold. They are lifting and replacing section of HUGE collumns and flooring. The engineer work is really a joy to behold as most people have never seen this sort of engineer work done before. We thought this was one of the most interesting and educational sites that we went to in Greece. Very well maintained! Not to be missed. The temple was dedicated to Apollo Epikourios ("Apollo the helper"). It sits at an elevation of 1,131 metres above sea level on the slopes of Kotylion Mountain. Its construction is placed between 450 BC and 400 BC; the plague its dedication related to was probably the plague of Athens of 430 BC. It was supposedly designed by Iktinos. architect at Athens of the Parthenon. Modern scholars such as A. W. Lawrence are doubtful about this, as though the Doric order used is "extremely similar" to that of the Parthenon, where they differ Bassae is "old-fashioned", yet it was probably built later. The ancient writer Pausanias praises the temple as eclipsing all others in the Peloponnesos except the Temple of Athena Alea at Tegea by the beauty of its stone and the harmony of its construction.

Remote location, which reduces the number of tourists. Although some complained about the tent, we didn't feel that it took away from the experience. Amazing piece of history!

The temple is exceptionally preserved and benefits from a huge reconstruction work. It's covered with a huge tent protecting it from the elements.

Getting to this site can be challenging on your own but it is worth the trip. It is an UNESCO heritage site and whilst it is being preserved a huge tent has been constructed to cover it. This in itself is an amazing if feat. There are archeologists working there constantly and it is fascinating to see the video explaining the site. Well worth the effort, an amazing place.

Of course, you should visit this temple if you are resting nearby and if you are interested in ancient architecture. Only if you want to personally view this temple. It is covered with a tent protecting it from destruction, since The temple was constructed entirely out of grey Arcadian limestone and all these years there has been reconstruction. admission is 6 euros.

The Temple of Epicurius Apollo built at the end of the 5th century BC (420-400) is the work of the architect of the Parthenon Iktinos and dedicated to the God Apollo.Entrance €=6, reduced ticket €=3. The Church is a pavilion, a six-star, Doric order. One of its many peculiar features is that on the long sides it has 15 columns (and not 13, as one would expect based on the normal for the time ratio, which wants the long sides to have twice the number of columns than the narrow ones plus one). Apart from the Doric style external colonnade, elements of the other two styles, the Ionic and the Corinthian, coexist in the architecture of the temple. The three styles of ancient Greek architecture were combined in such a masterful way that the Temple of Apollo Epicurius was considered one of the most important ancient temples. We hope that at some point the restoration and maintenance works of the Church will be completed because the image it has been presenting for several years degrades and does NOT highlight this excellent work.

Amazing. The best conserved site we saw in our trip. A feeling of seeing something truly special. The general area is also awe-inspiring. Surrounded by green mountains and just pure quiet. The trip up here is tiring but is something that I 100% recommend doing.