Temple of Apollo Epicurius at Bassae of Phigaleia

What travelers say:

The Temple of Apollo Epicurus in Basai, located deep in the Arcadia peaks, at an altitude of 1130 meters, is definitely the most difficult place to find on this trip. It is about two hours drive from Olympia and the whole mountain road. The temple, which remains to this day, was designed and built by Ictinos, the architect of the fifth century BC. The cause was a plague outbreak in 420 BC, and local residents built the temple named after Apollo as a memorial to thank the doctor who saved their lives, Epicurus. For thousands of years, the temple was forgotten because of its remote location, and it has been preserved so well. In 1765, a French architect rediscovered it. Excavations began in 1836. Today, some French people are renovating the temple, which was listed on the World Heritage List in 1986, even earlier than the Acropolis. A giant canopy has been built outside the temple today. Although not as spectacular as it was, it is the best protection for this 2,500-year-old giant building.