Biblical Corinth: St. Paul and His Letters to the Corinthians
Walk the ancient roads that shaped the early Church, from the Corinth Canal to the Bema where Paul stood trial.
This full-day journey traces the Apostle Paul Corinth pilgrimage route from Athens into the heart of the Peloponnese, combining genuine religious heritage with some of the most compelling ancient ruins in Greece. It is accessible to travelers of all backgrounds, whether arriving as pilgrims or as lovers of classical history.
The route begins at the Corinth Canal, a 19th-century engineering marvel cutting through limestone walls that Ancient Greeks once dreamed of breaching. From there, the itinerary moves through the village of Kechries, site of the ancient port of Kenchreai where Paul made a Nazirite vow described in the Acts of the Apostles, before arriving at the main archaeological zone of Ancient Corinth.
At Ancient Corinth, the 6th-century BC Temple of Apollo still dominates the skyline while the Forum, the Lechaion Road, and the Fountain of Peirene offer a layered portrait of Greek and Roman urban life. The tour closes with a view of Acrocorinth, the fortified acropolis that commanded the entire isthmus for centuries.
Tour Highlights
Stand above the Corinth Canal and look down at the 79-metre limestone walls that separate the Peloponnese from the Greek mainland.
Visit the Temple of Apollo, one of the oldest Doric temples in Greece, built around 550 BC and still standing in Ancient Corinth.
See the Bema, the Roman rostrum in the Forum where Paul was brought before proconsul Gallio, an event recorded in Acts 18.
Stop at Kechries, the site of the ancient port of Kenchreai where Paul fulfilled a religious vow before sailing to Syria.
Explore the Archaeological Museum of Ancient Corinth and its collection drawn from decades of excavations on the site.
Walk along the Lechaion Road, the ancient marble-paved avenue that connected Corinth to its northern port on the Gulf of Corinth.
Take in the profile of Acrocorinth, the monolithic fortress rock that served as the last line of defense across the southern Greek peninsula.
Itinerary
Departing Athens, the first stop is the Corinth Canal bridge where you look down 79 metres to the water below. The canal, completed in 1893, is 6.4 km long and only 21.4 metres wide at its base, rendering it too narrow for most modern cargo vessels. Nearby you can also identify traces of the ancient Diolkos, the paved trackway used from around 600 BC to haul ships overland across the isthmus.
The village of Kechries occupies the site of the ancient port of Kenchreai, mentioned by name in Acts 18:18 and Romans 16 in connection with Paul's second missionary journey. It was here that Paul shaved his head to fulfill a vow before departing for Syria with Priscilla and Aquila, and where Phoebe served the local Christian assembly.
The main zone of Ancient Corinth contains the Temple of Apollo, the Agora, the Lechaion Road, the Fountain of Peirene, and the Odeon, among other structures. Once home to 90,000 inhabitants in 400 BC, the city was destroyed by Rome in 146 BC and refounded as a Roman colony in 44 BC before becoming the provincial capital of Greece.
Within the Roman Forum stands the Bema, a large elevated rostrum identified by tradition as the place where Paul was brought before proconsul Gallio, who declined to rule on what he regarded as an internal Jewish religious dispute. The Bema was later converted into a Christian church during the Byzantine period, reflecting Paul's enduring association with the site.
Constructed between 1931 and 1932, the on-site museum houses finds recovered from the surrounding excavations and provides essential context for the monuments seen during the walk. The collection spans the prehistoric, archaic, classical, Hellenistic, and Roman periods.
The tour concludes with a view of Acrocorinth, the towering acropolis rock that rises above the ancient city and secured a reliable water supply even during siege. Its fortifications were used continuously from antiquity through the Ottoman period, making it one of the most stratified defensive sites in the eastern Mediterranean.
What Is Included
Included
- Professional licensed guide throughout the tour
- Transportation from Athens and back by comfortable vehicle
- Stop at the Corinth Canal viewpoint
- Visit to Kechries (ancient Kenchreai)
- Guided tour of the Ancient Corinth archaeological site
- Entry to the Archaeological Museum of Ancient Corinth
Not Included
- Entrance fees to archaeological sites (payable locally)
- Meals and beverages
- Personal travel insurance
- Gratuities for guide and driver
Important Information
Reserve Your Place on This Tour
Spaces are limited on each departure. Secure your spot on this historically and spiritually significant journey from Athens to Ancient Corinth and the sites connected to Apostle Paul.
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