Corinthia is the first prefecture that is encountered by the visitor arriving from Attiki (Attica) and it offers a huge variety of choices for tourist sightseeing: fascinating massifs, beautiful sea-side locations and significant archaeological sites. The beaches in Corinthia and the Saronic Gulf have tourist facilities, and in most places the shimmering sea coexists with the pine and olive trees and the grape vines. The arable land in Corinthia is fertile and its residents are occupied with agriculture, stock-raising, poultry farming, light industry and tourism. The Corinthia raisin is renowned throughout the world.
Capital of the prefecture is Korinthos, a city with a deeply historical legacy. In antiquity Korinthos was one of the largest and most important cities in Greece. It played a significant part during the Peloponnesian War and after 200 B.C it became the capital of the Achaean Confederation. Under Julius Caesar it was elevated to the capital of the Achaia province. During the middle Ages it was associated with its impressive fortifications at Akrokorinthos (Acrocorinth). A powerful earthquake destroyed the city in 1858, which was rebuilt with good earthquake resistant specifications on a good town plan, 9 km to the north of the ancient city.
Nemea, well known from the Greek mythology as the place of a terrible lion, killed by Hercules, also belongs to the prefecture of Corinthia. Since 573 BC (or earlier), in this place the Nemean Games were founded in memory of the fact. The Competences were taking place at the sanctuary of Zeus. The region is mentioned by Homer as a winemaking area and today the appellation of Nemea is the most important red wine of southern Greece, with the famous Agiorgitiko which produces a wine of red deep color, complex aroma and long velvety palate.
