Isthmus of Corinth, Natural land bridge near Corinth, Greece

This narrow stretch of land connects mainland Greece with the Peloponnese peninsula across a width of roughly six kilometers. The Corinth Canal now divides it into two shores linked by several spans crossing the waterway.

Periander, tyrant of Corinth in the 7th century BC, abandoned the first canal attempt and built the stone Diolkos ramp instead. Nero ordered 6,000 slaves to dig with spades in AD 67, but his successor Galba stopped the work. The canal was completed in 1893 after eleven years of construction.

The southern section of the isthmus contained the sanctuary where athletes gathered every two years to participate in the Isthmian Games competitions.

Both sides of the canal can be reached by road bridges that are also accessible on foot. Visiting at different times of day allows you to see the changing light on the water below.

The ancient stone trackway called the Diolkos, built by the tyrant Periander in the 7th century BC after he abandoned a canal, still runs beside the modern canal. Greek campaigners are pressing the government to protect this archaeological site, where ships were once dragged overland.