9 DAYS CLASSICAL GREECE

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DAY 1: Athens (D)

Arrive at the airport of Athens, where our representative will welcome you and transfer you to your hotel for overnight.

DAY 2: Athens (B/D)

In the morning, follow your guide to world famous Acropolis to see the architectural miracles of the Golden Age of Pericles; the Propylea, the Erechtheum, and, above all, the Parthenon (temple of Athena, goddess of wisdom). Have a panoramic view of the city and observe the Agora (market-place) where many ancient philosophers gathered and conversed. Continue with a bus-tour in the center of Athens and admire the Old Marble Olympic Stadium, the University of Athens, the Academy, the Temple of Olympian God Zeus, the Square of Constitution with the House of Parliament and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and much more. The afternoon will be at your leisure and overnight will be at the hotel.

DAY 3: Athens / Corinth / Mycenae / Nafplion / Kalavryta (B/D)

Today you begin your four-day classical tour of southern Greece. You will start with a scenic drive to the legendary canal of Corinth, where you will have a short stop for pictures. You then drive on to the Homeric city of Mycenae to see the remains of the prehistoric acropolis, the Palace, the Grave Circles and the famous bee-hive Tombs. This was the kingdom of Atreus and his son Agamemnon, the leader of the Greeks during the campaign against Troy. Continue to Epidaurus which was known in antiquity as a healing center, the place where the god of medicine Asclepius was worshipped. Nowadays, thousands of people visit the area to admire its fantastic acoustics of the theatre that is located close to the sanctuary of Asclepius. Stop at the first Capital of Greece, Nafplion. Explore the city with the unique architecture before you board your bus and arrive at Kalavryta for dinner and overnight.

DAY 4: Kalavryta / Olympia (B/D)

After breakfast we board the coach and enjoy a scenic ride to Olympia. Upon our arrival we will visit the site admiring the splendors of this unique place, where the ancient Greek ideas of unity, truce and fair play flourished. See the impressive ruins of the temples of Hera and Zeus, the Leonidaion, the Workshop of the sculptor Phidias and of course, the famous Stadium where the running events of the Olympic Games were held. Also visit the Museum with its new display of amazing pieces of sculpture and pottery and the architectural remains of the ancient edifices. Don’t miss the pride of this museum, the “Hermes” of Praxiteles, one of the most wonderful ancient statues ever made. Check in at the hotel, dinner and overnight.

DAY 5: Olympia / Delphi (B/D)

After breakfast, we head north to Patras and drive over the new suspension bridge which connects the Peloponnese with the region of Continental Greece, in order to reach Delphi early in the evening, dinner and overnight will be in Delphi. In antiquity Delphi was known for the very popular and important oracle, the oracle of Apollo (the god of light and harmony), who spoke to the mortals through his priestess Pythia and was known for the oblique nature of his prophecies. Walk up the Sacred Way to see the Treasuries, the Theater and the Temple of Apollo, next to which was the exact spot that was believed to be the “navel” (omphalos) of the earth. Visit the museum of Delphi and marvel at the splendid collection of artifacts from the excavation, including the bronze “Charioteer” one of the best, preserved ancient works of metallurgy. We then continue to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

DAY 6: Delphi / Volos (B/D)

After breakfast, we will drive to the port city of Volos. Built at the innermost point of the Pagasetic Gulf and at the foot of Mount Pilio (Pelion, the land of the Centaurs) and close to the ancient city of Iolkos or Iolcus, was the homeland of mythological hero Jason, who boarded the ship Argo accompanied by the Argonauts and sailed in quest of the Golden Fleece to Colchis. To the west of Volos lie the Neolithic settlements of Dimini, with a ruined acropolis, walls, and two beehive tombs dating to between 4000–1200 BC, Sesklo, with the remains of the oldest acropolis in Greece (6000 BC), and also the foundations of a palace and mansion, among its most characteristic examples of Neolithic civilization. After visiting Dimini and Sesklo, return to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

DAY 7: Volos / Tsagarada/ Makrinitsa/Portaria/ Mountain Pelion (B/D)

After breakfast will start to climb up to explore the Mountain Pelion, the residence of Centaurs. First stop is the village of Tsagarada and the Fakistra Beach. On the beach, curved into the rock there is a “Kryfo Scholeio” or “Secret School” from the time of the War of Independence. Return to Tsagarada to see the oldest, stone, one-arch bridge and the oldest plane tree in Greece dated 1.000 years ago. Second stop is the village of Makrinitsa where we will visit the Museum of Folk Art and History of Pelion with over 1,500 objects related to the folk culture and everyday life of the region. Third stop before we return to Volos for dinner and overnight is the traditional village of Portaria where you will admire the local architecture.

DAY 8: Volos / Meteora Monasteries/ Kalambaka (B/D)

After breakfast, we drive towards to Kalambaka to visit one the amazing Byzantine monasteries of Meteora, perched on top of gigantic natural sandstone rock pillars of weird shapes. The whole area of Meteora is a unique phenomenon and it is considered by UNESCO part of our world’s heritage. We go to the city of Kalambaka for dinner and overnight.

DAY 8: Kalambaka/ Ioannina (B/D)

After breakfast we drive to the city of Ioannina. Upon arrival we will visit the city’s castle. The castle was the administrative heart of the Despotate of Epirus, and the Ottoman vilayet. The castle was in constant use until the late Ottoman period and the fortifications underwent several modifications throughout the centuries. The most extensive alterations where conducted during the rule of Ali Pasha and were completed in 1815. Several monuments such as the Byzantine baths, the Ottoman baths, the Ottoman library, and the Soufari Sarai are located within the castle’ s walls. There are two citadels in the castle. The south-eastern citadel, which bears the name Its Kale (“inner fortress”) is where the Fethiye Mosque, the tomb of Ali Pasha, and the Byzantine Museum are located. The north-eastern citadel is dominated by the Aslan Pasha mosque and contains a few other monuments dating from the Ottoman period. The old Jewish Synagogue of Ioannina is located within the walls of the castle and is one of the oldest and largest buildings of its type surviving in Greece. One of the most notable attractions of Ioannina is the inhabited island of Lake Pamvotis which is simply referred to as Island of Ioannina. The monastery of St. Panteleimon, where Ali Pasha spent his last days waiting for a pardon from the Sultan, is now a museum housing everyday artefacts and relics of his period. After the visit of the island, we return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

DAY 8: Ioannina / Igoumenitsa (B/D)

After breakfast and according to your ferry schedule, you will board your coach to take the ferry from Igoumenitsa to Italy.