Landmark· Koilada (mainland)· Greece — Ionian, Saronic & Argolic
Franchthi Cave
37° 25.4′ N · 23° 7.9′ E
A great limestone cave across the bay from Koilada, inhabited for some 35,000 years — from the Upper Palaeolithic to about 3000 BC — and one of the key prehistoric sites of Europe.
Practical
Coordinates from Wikipedia. Lies on the opposite side of the bay from Koilada village; land by dinghy or reach it by road (open-air site, public access). Excavated by Indiana University from 1967. Finds include Melian obsidian from about 13,000 BC — early evidence of seafaring — Mesolithic burials, early domesticated plants and animals, and Neolithic pottery; the Neolithic settlement outside the cave ('Paralia') is now under the sea. Some finds are in the Nafplio Archaeological Museum.
Best for
A short dinghy trip to the deep past
Nearby
- Douglas Taverna (Koilada)0.5 NM away
- Koilada Harbour0.5 NM away
- Basimakopoulos Shipyard (Koilada)0.8 NM away
- Koilada Traditional Boatyards (Tarsanades)0.8 NM away
- Kranidi Health Centre3.2 NM away
- Korakonisia (Korakas) Islets4.9 NM away
- Ververonta Lagoon Water-Ski Centre5.1 NM away
- Ermioni Fuel (Mini-Tanker & Road Stations)5.3 NM away