The Corinth Canal is one of the great sights of Greece. With luck, you might be there when a ship is being steered between the narrow, sheer walls, which stretch away in the distance to link the Gulf of Corinth with the Aegean Sea.

A few kilometres beyond the canal is modern Corinth which detains few visitors except as a convenient refuelling stop. It is mainly an agricultural service town, although it is interesting to note that it is a centre for the Greek currant industry.

Ancient Corinth comes to life as you walk around the well-preserved remains of its centre, dominated by the 5th century BC. Temple of Apollo. With its massive Doric columns, this was one of the buildings that the Romans left when they redeveloped the city as their provincial capital in 44 BC.