Home of the most intrepid warriors of ancient times,

trained since childhood for military excellence and loyalty to the state.

In the Greek-Persian wars, they defended Greece by land, while Athenians did it by sea.

Today it is the capital of Laconia, a major producer of olives and citric fruits,

at the margins of Eurotas river, and the finish line of the ultramarathon Spartathlon.

The anual international competition celebrates the run of Pheidippides,

the ancient Athenian runner who was sent to Sparta before the battle of Marathon,

to ask for help, the true story behind the marathon race.

Athletes who finish it, in front of the statue of Leonidas, are given an olive branch crown

and drink water from the Eurotas river in an ancient vase, in honor to the past.