India, Jan. 27 -- Commonly referred to as the cradle of Western civilization, Greece is rich with archaeological treasures, from the marble columns of the Parthenon to the Oracle of Delphi. Many of these attractions are so popular, though, that the country recently adopted measures to thin out the high-season crowds. But one hidden gem remains largely overlooked by most travellers: the Corinth Canal.

A nautical marvel, the four-mile (6-kilometre) waterway is located about 50 miles (80 kilometres) west of Athens and slices through the Isthmus of Corinth, a narrow landmass separating the Peloponnese peninsula from the Greek mainland. The canal's construction initially began under Roman Emperor Nero in 67 CE but wasn't completed until 1893,...