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Aerial panoramic view of Varkiza taken while testing a modification to the KAP rig.

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The Vikos gorge is the most magnificent and best known gorge in Greece. It lies in the North Pindus Mountains in the historic area of Epirus, 30 odd kilometers north of Ioannina and 24 miles from the Albanian border. The area, called the Zagori, has 44 villages called the Zagorohoria. It is part of the Vikos-Aoos National Park and many wild species have found a safe heaven in these protected surroundings. There noumerous hiking paths and the gorge is a favorite of local and visiting hikers.

The Vikos Gorge is listed as the deepest gorge in the world by the Guinness Book of Records among others. With walls of up to 1 km in height, the 12 km gorge on the Voidomatis River is trully spectacular.

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The bridge connects the towns of Rio on Peloponnese and Antirio on the western mainland. It was inaugurated on August 7, 2004. one week before the opening of the 2004 Athens Olympics. With a length of 2252m, it is one of the world's longest suspension bridges. Its width is 28 meters and it has two vehicle lanes per direction, an emergency lane and a pedestrian walkway. It is widely considered to be an engineering masterpiece due to several innovating tachnological solutions applied to span the difficult site.

Its official name is the Charilaos Trikoupis Bridge. Charilaos Trikoupis was a 19th century Greek prime minister, and suggested the idea of building a bridge between Rio and Antirrio; however, the endeavour was too expensive at the time.

Prior to the building of the bridge the two coasts were linked by ferry service which still continues today. Many drivers still prefer the ferry because it is 60% cheaper (4.50€ vs 10.50€) and only takes about 10 minutes to complete the crossing.

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	The Lion Gate			Inside the Cistern
	Grave Circle A			Sally Port
	The Cult Center			The North Gate
	The North Slope			Tomb of Clytemnestra (Ext)
	The Palace			Tomb of Clytemnestra (Int)
	Eastern Terraces			Treasury of Atreus (Ext)
	The Cistern			Treasury of Atreus (Int)

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Interactive map of Mycenae

The fortification walls at Mycenae are best preserved along the northern side where they are up to 7.5 metres thick stand nearly 12 metres high in places. They were constructed for the most part of huge, irregularly shape stone blocks of the sort described as "Cyclopean" by later Greeks. There were two principal entrances, the Lion Gate at the west end and the Postern Gate on the north side. There is also a sally port at the eastern end which was used to sneak in and out of the citadel during a siege.

The Lion Gate was built c. 1250 BC, during the second phase of occupation when the ramparts were extended to include Grave Circle A. It was approached by a ramp that ran below steep walls on its north-eastern side and led to an Outer Court (15 x 7.5 metres) designed to reduce the numbers of any assaulting force. Since gateways were the weakest part of the defences, this consideration was of extreme importance. The situation was made even more lethal for the attackers by the presence of a huge projecting bastion on the south-western side. This enabled the defenders to pour fire into their unshielded right sides.

The gate itself was built out of massive megalithic blocks. The lintel measures 4.5 x 2 x 0.8 metres; the jambs are 3 x 1.74 x 0.54 metres; and the threshold (which cracked under its own weight in antiquity) is 4.56 x 2.31 x 0.88 metres. The blocks frame an opening 3.1 metres high and 2.95 metres wide at the threshold (it tapers slightly) which was closed by wooden double-doors decorated by bronze ornaments. Above the lintel, the superstructure of the wall was corbelled to leave a 'relieving triangle' which was covered by a slab whose weight rested only on the lower corners. The slab was carved with a relief depicting a pair of lions flanking a column (perhaps a symbol for the palace itself) with their forepaws rested on a pair of altars which supported the column. The heads (now missing) were of a different material and fastened to the bodies by dowels. They faced outwards towards anyone approaching the gate. Perhaps the composition was the dynastic coat-of-arms.
Related links:
Mycenae Fortifications
The entrance to the Citadel of Mycenae