Palaestra was located west of the sacred city of Altea, just outside the yard and very close to the river Kladeos. It was the training spot for fist, wrestling, and jumping athletes.
The building of Palaistra was erected during the 3rd century BC., while its architectural approach was characterized by the Doric style. The building had a square shape and its dimensions were 66.35x66.75. Its colonnade consists of 72 Doric columns while in its center included an open courtyard. The inner yard was paved with sand and was the training ground for the athletes.
How was the interior of Palaestra in Ancient Olympia?
Around the inner courtyard were the rooms of the athletes, most of which had Ionic columns and were used by the athletes before and after training. These included the rooms in which the athletes were anointed with oil, and they were pouring dust on their bodies, as well as the locker rooms, and the baths.
Inside some of the rooms there were long narrow benches that were used for teaching, while their doors of the structure opened to the outside.
Initially, the main entrance of Palaestra was heading to the south, and then it was relocated to the northwest. The latest excavations were held by a German archaeological team, and today the visitor can admire the 32 out of the 72 columns that have been restored.