Event: Greece

Samos - Eupalinos Tunnel

When:	Daily; not Mon
Where:	Samos
Costs:	€6; concessions €3
Opening Hours:	Tue-Sun 8am-3pm

A marvel of human engineering, the Eupalinos Tunnel in Samos has been hailed as the eighth wonder of the Ancient World. Stretching 1040 metres below the ground, the impressive aqueduct was dug through solid limestone in 550 BC. From both ends of Mount Kastro, teams equipped with just chisels and hammers dug their way to the centre, and miraculously met in the middle!

Under the tyrannical rule of Polycrates, the aqueduct was built to supply the ancient capital of Samos (Pythagorio) with fresh water. The brainchild of an engineer named Eupalinos, it is estimated that the tunnel took ten years to complete and that the diggers were prisoners from the neighbouring island of Lesbos.

Today, visitors can step inside the tunnel to admire this truly spectacular feat of engineering.