Treasures of Greece and Italy

A Grand 20- Days- Our Mediterranean tour, a combination of a Greek cruise
a stay in Athens , the Greek heartland, and the Italian South and Sicily

Athens , Olympia , Delphi, Arachova, Mykonos, Rhodes, Kusadasi ( Ephesus), Patmos, Taormina. Syracuse , Sicily , Positano , Naples

Start in Athens Weekly every Saturday : Apr - Nov

Italians know a thing or two about enjoying the good life . . . and so will you on this suggested itinerary that takes in the best of Italy's southern resorts, and the city of Naples as well. You’ll explore Sicily and experience the best of its scenery, treasures, and pleasures, and indulge yourself at your spa-hotel in Positano. Then it’s on to conclude with the surprising and ebullient culinary and artistic pleasures of Naples, the capital of the Italian south.

Romance and Italy . . . they go together. Fabulous food, subdued music, charming villages, winding lanes, intimate hotels, a warm and enthusiastic reception wherever you go, sun and sand and dramatic seacoast . . . all that’s missing is the two of you! With all that Italy offers, we won’t hold you back with a written-in-stone itinerary. You’ll travel to the most enticing corners of the sunny south, where our local host will welcome you, tailor an itinerary to your preferences, and, if you wish, arrange for local excursions (or you can pre-arrange them with us).

Of course, we’ll see to all the essential details that will allow you to wander carefree, including hotel reservations, travel between towns, and breakfast to start your day. For a honeymoon, an anniversary, a special occasion, or for no reason at all except to enjoy special company in a special place in a special way . . . it’s Romantic Italy.

La Dolce Vita in Italy

Day 1 Athens Saturday - Weekly - April - Oct ( D)
Our local rep will meet you at Athens Airport and assist with your transfer to your hotel. Dinner is included at the hotel.

Day 2 Athens (BLD) Sunday
Half-day private city sightseeing tour will introduce you to the most important sites, including the House of Parliament, Hadrian’s Arch, Acropolis with its outstanding monuments and museum. Remainder of day at leisure. Lunch is included at a charming local restaurant. Afternoon walking tour of the Plaka. Dinner is included at the hotel.

DAY 3 - Monday - MYCENAE, EPIDAURUS - NAUPLIA (BD)
We set forth from Athens to tour classical Greece, passing Corinth and its steep-walled canal as we go. We stop at Mycenae, to visit among other things , the famous tomb of Agamemnon.
Mycenae : the center of ancient Mycenaean civilization (2800-1100 BC); the legendary home of the Atreides, is situated upon a small hill-top on the lower slopes of Euboea Mountain, between two of its peaks, on the road leading from the Argolic Gulf to the north (Corinth, Athens, etc.).
The site was inhabited since Neolithic times (about 4000 BC) but reached its peak during the Late Bronze Age (1350-1200 BC), giving its name to a civilization which spread throughout the Greek world.

During that period, the acropolis was surrounded by massive "cyclopean" walls, which were built in three stages (ca.1350, 1250 and 1225 BC) except on its SE flank where a steep ravine provided natural defense.
A palace was built on the summit of the hill while towards the Argolic plain lay the wall - painted "Cult Center", the main gate or "Lion Gate" and "Grave Circle A" which contained the treasures now displayed at the National Archaeological Museum of Athens. On the NE side, a tunnel leading to a subterranean fountain was built in "cyclopean" masonry in around 1225 B.C.
More tombs, "Grave Circle B", and large tholoi as well as houses were discovered outside the walls. Mycenae was occupied without interruption until 468 B.C. when it was conquered by the city of Argos and its population banished. It was reoccupied in the 3rd century B.C. for a relatively short period. It had been abandoned for some time when Pausanias visited the site during the 2nd century A.D.

On to Epidaurus, site of the temple of Asclepius. On to Nauplion ( short stop ) .
We drive through the central Peloponnese , pass by Tripolis and Megalopolis on our way to Olympia, where we spend the night .

DAY 4 - Tuesday - OLYMPIA (BD)
Tour this ancient site of the Olympic games. We visit the great Temple of Zeus, one of the Wonders of the Ancient World, and tour the museum. We drive through Rion, Antirion and Nafpaktos and along the Corinthian coast on our way to Delphi,where we overnight.

DAY 5- Wednesday - DELPHI (BD)
Tour Delphi, site of the famed oracle, at the foot of Mount Parnassus. During the Mycenaean period, the female deity of Earth was worshipped in the small settlement of Delphi. The development of the sanctuary and oracle though, began in the 8th century B.C. with the establishment of the cult of Apollo. Under the protection and administration of the Amphictyony, the sanctuary continued to be autonomous after the First Sacred War and, as a result, increased its panhellenic religious and political influence. The Pythian Games were re-organized, the sanctuary was enlarged and it was enriched with nice buildings, statues, and other offerings. In the 3rd century B.C. it came under the domination of the Aetolians and later, in 191 B.C., was conquered by the Romans. During the Roman occupation the site was sometimes plundered but was also favoured by some of the emperors. With the spread of Christianity, the sanctuary lost its religious meaning and was permanently closed down with a decree of emperor Theodosius the Great.

We tour the ruins of Delphi and its oracle, sacred to Apollo and Dionysus. In the afternoon, we drive via the lovely Kalambaka a small town situated at the foot of the astonishing complex of Meteora , we spend the night at Kalambaka .

DAY 6 - Thursday - ATHENS (BD)
We tour Meteora , perched at the top of huge rocks which seems to be suspended in mid-air , stand ageless Monasteries, where you can see exquisite specimens of Byzantine art , Meteora is from the biggest and most important group of monasteries in Greece after those in Mount Athos. We can locate the first traces of their history from 11th c. when the first hermits settled there. The rock monasteries have been characterized by Unesco as a unique phenomenon of cultural heritage and they form one of the most important stations of cultural map of Greece. On to Athens via Trikala , Lamia , Thermopylae , visit the Leonidas Monument , and Kammena Vourla. Arrive Athens in the evening, where comfortable bed and dinner await you at your hotel. . 

Day 7 - Athens, Cruise*- Mykonos (BLD) Friday
Transfer to Piraeus for the embarkation on your 3 day cruise. Arrival at the jet-set island of Mykonos at 6:00 PM. You will have the evening to stroll the narrow streets to the sculpture- like church of Paraportiani, or along the waterfront to the famous windmills, perhaps stopping at a picturesque café for an ouzo. The ship departs at 11:00 PM.

Day 8 -Kusadasi (Turkey), Patmos (BLD) Saturday
Arrive 7:00 AM. at Kusadasi, the popular Turkish port and gateway to the ancient city of Ephesus. Optional tour of Ephesus. Midday departure. In late afternoon, arrival at the Greek isle of Patmos. Here you can visit the Monastery of St. John where the book of Revelations was written.

DAY 9 - HERAKLION (CRETE) , SANTORINI (B) - Sunday
We drop anchor in the port of Heraklion at 7 a.m. You can explore on your own, or take an optional excursion to the 5000-year-old Minoan Palace at Knossos and the archaeological museum. We sail late morning for Santorini, where the lost civilization of Atlantis flourished. You'll have until 9 PM to explore on your own or join the ship's own optional tour.

Day 10– Piraeus /ATHENS/SICILY (B) Monday
Morning arrival in Piraeus. Transfer to the airport , ticket is included between Athens and Sicily .You'll arrive at the airport of Palermo/Sicily, where our representative will be on hand to greet you and escort you to your lodgings in a private vehicle. Our recommendation is that you head for historic Taormina, along the eastern coast, and settle in at your hotel ( for the five-star we recommend : Grand Hotel Timeo and Villa Flora) . You'll find a warm welcome, and over drinks, you can discuss your options and plan the rest of your stay with our local representative.

DAYS 11 AND 12 - TAORMINA (B)
Lose yourself in Taormina, a town of terraces cascading down to the sea. Each level is a village in itself! There's Taormina Centro, the hilltop with walking streets and commanding views out to sea, and a classic Greek amphitheater. There's seaside Mare, a historic Belle Epoque resort. And there are all the winding lanes paved with cobblestones in between, and stylish shops, and piazzas with outdoor cafés. Visit them all, at your own pace.

DAYS 13 , 14 , AND 15 – SYRACUSE (B)
Continue south along the eastern coast of Sicily. You’ll probably want to stop in Catania to stroll through the active morning fish market, and view the baroque Elephant Fountain in the square of the Cathedral. We recommend that you settle in for the next few days in historic Syracuse, at the wonderful Hotel des Etrangers et Miramare right in the center of town along the historic seafront. Spend the next few days exploring. Delve into ancient history at the striking Paolo Orsi Archeological Museum, and wander the terraces of the Greek Theater. Explore the neighborhoods of Syracuse. You'll discover surprises along the winding lanes of medieval Ortygia, from shops laden with tempting hams and cheeses and crusty breads, to local wines, to stylish clothing and leather goods.

DAY 16 – FROM SICILY TO POSITANO (B)
Your host will call for you after breakfast and escort you by private conveyance to the airport of Catania, where you’ll board your flight for Naples, the heart of the Italian south. Here you’ll be met by your Neapolitan host, who will escort you the short distance to the intimate resort of Positano. ( for the five-star we suggest that you stay in a sea-view room at Le Sirenuse, an intimate five-star hotel situated right in the center of town.)

DAY 17 – POSITANO (B)
It's with good reason that Positano is known as the Pearl of the Amalfi coast. You’ll never tire of the play of sunlight on its ochre buildings stretching up the hills, the winding lanes and stone staircases that connect its several quarters, the parade of fishing and sailboats into and out of the gentle waters of the bay, the shopping, the fine restaurants and unpretentious cafés, the mountains and pastures in the background, the opportunities to swim and sail, or just keep to yourselves in the lap of luxury at your most refined hotel, with its sun-drenched rooms and spa.

DAY 18 – POSITANO, NAPLES (B)
Your local host will call for you after breakfast, and escort you on the short journey into the busy city of Naples. You'll settle into your hotel , ( for the five-star we suggest : an executive room at the Santa Lucia, a heritage hotel overlooking the Gulf of Naples.)

DAY 19 – NAPLES (B)
Spend a few days exploring Naples, a city of art, tradition, extraordinary cuisine, and history. Volcanic Mount Vesuvius towers above, and you won’t want to miss the excavated city of Pompeii, frozen in time. The grand Cathedral, the opera house, the gorgeous Girolamini church with its two baroque façades will attract your attention, as will the hundreds of restaurants and cafés, and fine boutiques. Your local host will help you select from the extraordinary treasures and pleasures available for exploration, and to make tour arrangements as required.

Day 20 – DEPARTURE (B)
Your local host will call for you after breakfast, and see you to your departure point, either the railway station or the Naples airport. Of course, should you decide to linger, he will be glad to make additional arrangements.

Bon Voyage

Tour includes:

• Hotel accommodation Athens, including tax, service charges & continental breakfast. Hotel service charges and taxes .Sample hotels in Athens : Deluxe: Divani Palace Acropolis. Superior First : Electra Palace. First Class : Stanley
  .
• Hotel accommodation in Italy with tax , and continental breakfast daily
  
  
• Air fare Athens Sicily and Naples in economy class.

• 4 days classical tour to : Mycenae, Epidaurus, Nauplion, Olympia, and Delphi (4 star hotels).
  

• Greek Cruise from Mykonos to Greek Islands & Turkey, including all meals, as per itinerary .

• Transfers in Greece & Italy

• Travel between cities in Italy : always air-conditioned vehicle / coach

• Breakfast daily at the hotel.
  Plus one lunch ( pre-set menu) in Athens, with coffee and bottled water l

• Port Taxes .
  
• Private half day tour in Athens with a private guide , private air-conditioned vehicle and private chauffeur.

Combine Egypt and Greece

Not included:

• International airfare from / to your home country .
• Shore excursion
• Trip interruption and cancellation insurance
• Gratuities.
• Personal expenses, beverages, and meals not specifically listed

Add a spa Package to your stay in Greece
Add a Spa stay at the Regina Isabella Hotel on the island of Ischia, in Italy

• Combine with Egypt :
  A Foray into the Nile Kingdom : Legends of the Greek Isles and the Nile
  Santorini Edition: A Grand 18 day Mediterranean Honeymoon Wishes Tour :
  Greek cruise, a Stay in Santorini and a Nile Cruise.

What other guests say about our services in Greece
Adrian and Melina Honeymoon in Greece and Egypt

-------- Original Message --------
From: "Adrian"
Sent: Monday, September 24, 2007 2:04 PM
To: omar@travelinstyle.com>, > Subject: We're Back!

We just wanted to let you know we made it back home after our weeklong detour through Italy. Athens was fantastic. The tours were very good, and short of heading out to the islands, I can't think of a single thing we would have rather done while there.



Although we had an excellent time in Athens, Egypt was by far the highlight of our entire trip, including Italy. We just can't say enough about Ahmed, Isis, Ashraf, and all our drivers. We simply could not have done the trip without their help. Ahmed was very professional, courteous, and helpful, and always went out of his way to make sure we
were where we needed to be at the right time. Our Egyptologist guides, Isis and Ashraf, were both very knowledgeable and made our visit so much better with their endless supply of information. We wore out both days
long before they did. We will definitely try to come back to Egypt when we have more time to spend.



Thank you so much for arranging the trip, allowing us to customize what we needed to, and putting us in touch with such good people. And please find attached pictures of us enjoying a camel ride. :-)



Adrian & Melina