Hellenic
Treasures
Enchanting
Greece 9 days . Tour starts weekly in Athens, APR-OCT
CLASSICAL GREECE! Athens, Nauplia , Olympia , Delphi: See where
our own Western civilization began, and how modern Greece lives today
!
Compare with the 7 Day
Edition . Add
Crete & Santorini
. Add
Spain and Andalusia
,
or Rome
Ten days with Meteora
DAY
1 - Friday, Sunday , Tuesday in Athens
WELCOME TO ATHENS!
Our staff escorts you from the airport to your hotel, with time left
to start exploring Athens.
DAY 2 - Saturday , Athens (cB)
On your first morning in Athens we show you the top sights: the Acropolis
and its museum, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, Hadrian's Arch,
the Theater of Dionysus.
The Acropolis hill, so called the "Sacred Rock" of Athens,
is the most important site of the city. During
Perikles' Golden Age, ancient Greek civilization
was represented in an ideal way on the hill and some of the architectural
masterpieces of the period were erected on its ground.
The first habitation remains on the Acropolis date from the Neolithic
period. Over the centuries, the rocky hill was continuously used either
as a cult place or as a residential area or both. The inscriptions on
the numerous and precious offerings to the sanctuary of Athena (marble
korai, bronze and clay statuettes and vases)
indicate that the cult of the city's patron goddess was established
as early as the Archaic period (650-480 B.C.).
During the Classical period (450-330 B.C.) three important temples were
erected on the ruins of earlier ones: the Parthenon, the Erechtheion, and the Temple of Nike, dedicated to Athena Parthenos,
Athena Polias, and Athena-Apteros Nike,
respectively. The Propylaea, the monumental
entrance to the sacred area was also constructed in the same period.
The monuments on the Acropolis reflect the successive phases of the
city's history. Some of them were converted into Christian churches,
houses of the Franks and later on, of the Turks. After the liberation
of Athens from the Turks, the protection, restoration and conservation
of the monuments was one of the first tasks of the newly-founded Greek
state. This major effort is continued until today, with the large-scale
restoration and supporting of the monuments, which started in the 1970's
and is still in progress.
The first excavations on the hill were conducted between 1835 and 1837.
More systematic work was carried out in 1885-1890 by Panagiotis
Kavvadias.
In
the afternoon, plunge into the city as you like ( on your own ) for
sightseeing and shopping.
DAY
3 - Sunday - ATHENS to Delphi
or Cape Sounion depending on the Day (BL)
Delphi:
We drive through Rion, Antirion and Nafpakatos and along the Corinthian
coast on our way to Delphi, site of the famed oracle, at the foot of
Mount Parnassus. Delphi was simply the center of the Greek ancient world.
Visit the Treasury of the Athenians, the Temple of Apollo, the Castalia
Spring and the Museum. Return to Athens late afternoon.
Cape
Sounion ( Afternoon- Group Tour) :
Drive
along the coastal road, past the wonderful beaches of Glyfada, Vouliagmeni
and Varkiza to the most Southern point of Attica, CAPE SOUNION, where
the white marble pillars of the temple Posseidon stand. On the way you
have a splendid view of the Saronic Gulf and the little islands......
After visiting the Temple of Psseidon, you have time to walk at leisure
on the rocky promontory of Sounion.
DAY
4 - Monday - MYCENAE, EPIDAURUS & NAUPLIA (BD)
Leave Athens along the Saronic Gulf coastal road to the Corinth Canal,
which connects the Aegean Sea with the Ionian Sea. Drive on to Mycenae,
the Homeric City of the Atreides, "rich in gold" of the ancient poets.
(Visit the Lion's Gate, the Cyclopean Walls and the Royal Tombs), 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.
Drive
through the fertile plain of Argolis to Nafplion, a picturesque
town nestled at the foot of the Palamidi Fortress. After lunch, leave
for Epidavros to visit the theater (4th Century B.C.), famous
for its astonishing acoustics. On to Olympia where we spend the Night.
DAY
5 - Tuesday - OLYMPIA (BD)
Tour Olympia, 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, site of the famed oracle, at
the foot of Mount Parnassus. On
to Delphi and overnight.
DAY
6- Wednesday - DELPHI Kalambaka (BD)
We tour the ruins of Delphi and its oracle, sacred to Apollo and Dionysus.
In the afternoon, we drive via the lovely Kalambaka.
DAY
7 - Thursday - Meteora & ATHENS (B)
We tour Meteora , then
on to Athens.
DAY
8 - Friday Athens Markets or BYZANTINE
Churches (cBL)
Ride the new Athens Subway alongside the locals today ( always escorted
with your English speaking Guide) ! We take pride in affording you this
experience, entirely by public transportation, with orientation by our
English-speaking representative. You'll get to tour Athens fascinating
vegetable & fruit markets by subway and/ or taxi. Enjoy lunch at
a charming local restaurant before we head back to the hotel . Markets
days/dates are subject to change, we may have to change your program
in Athens to accommodate such changes.
Or
if you prefer you may choose instead to tour one of the following tours:
BYZANTINE CHURCHES
Russian Orthodox Church at Filellinon & Amalias
Athens cathedral (Mitropolis) at Mitropoleos
Kapnikarea at Ermou
Saint Theodore at Klafthmonos
They then visited the Jewelry museum (LALAOUNIS) before breaking for
lunch.
They used the metro 3 times (because they wanted to).
HISTORICAL INTEREST- Museum Tour :
BENAKI MUSEUM - (closed on Tuesdays)
Covering the history of Greece from Paleolithic (pre-historic, 60000
B.C.) till present. Can easily spend over 4 hours in there. There is
also a cafeteria for breaks.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL INTEREST
Temple of Olympian Zeus / Dionissos Theatre/ Ancient Agora/ Roman Agora
Guests who have been on the organized tour (the day before) can use
the same entrance ticket to all the archaeological sites mentioned above.
Above are only suggestions , you may discuss with the guide and modify
(add/subtract) according to what you are most interested in. The guide
will advise you on what is feasible to cover in a half-day. Or add another
half day : additional $$$ apply
DAY
9 - Saturday - ATHENS/ DEPARTURE (B)
Our staff escorts you to the airport for your flight home. Compare
with the Triangle of Ancient Lands : Egypt Greece Israel
Rate
per person in US $
| Weekly
: Apr-Oct |
Deluxe |
First
Class |
| In
Triple occupancy |
$1557.00 |
$1410.00 |
| In
Double occupancy |
$1627.00 |
$1460.00 |
| In
Single occupancy |
$2270.00
|
$2090.00 |
Please
note that Deluxe / First / Tourist class applies to hotels in Athens.
Outside of Athens : Nauplia , Delphi ,Olympia : Hotels used are Tourist
Class
Tour starts weekly in Athens, APR-OCT
Rates
include:
-
All transfers in Greece.
- Hotel
accommodation with tax, & continental breakfast daily.
- Seat
in a coach-group tours, with guided sightseeing as per itinerary Including
all entrance fees.
- Meals
as indicated, pre set menu: BLD = : Breakfast Lunch Dinner.
- Lonely
Planet Travel Guide book.
- Guide
& Metro tickets on Day 8
Not
included:
Sample
hotels in Athens : Please note that outside of Athens it will
be always 4 stars modest First class hotels:
Deluxe: Divani Palace Acropolis. First : Electra Palace. Stanley
|
