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Athens – Epidaurus – Nafplio – Olympia – Arachova – Delphi – Kalambaka – Meteora – Thessaloniki – Anphipolis -Philippi – Kavala – Thessaloniki – Vergina – Thermopylae – Athens
Explore the most famous monuments of Greece, all seen at once on the same guided tour. By starting and ending in Athens, this tour brings participants in contact with history, architecture, nature and introduce them to the modern way of life in Greece. The latest new discoveries in Amphipolis consists two Sphinxes, a Lion, two beautiful Caryatids, a beautiful floor mosaic and the remains of five people. So far, the momument is called the greatest mystery of the ancient Greece. According to the speculations of many world known Archaeologists, the tomb belongs to someone connected to Alexander the Great.
Monday : Athens – Argolis – Nafplio – Olympia
Depart Athens for the Corinth Canal (short photo stop), followed by visit to the Ancient Theater of Epidaurus. Continuation to the city of Nafplio ( short photo stop ) and to Mycenae, visit to the Tomb of Agamemnon and the Archaeological Site. After lunch ( free lunch ) at a local restaurant in Mycenae departure for Olympia. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.
Tuesday : Olympia – Delphi – Arachova.
After breakfast visit to the Archaeological Site with the Sanctuary of Olympian Zeus, the Ancient Stadium and the Archaeological Museum. Afterwards departure for Arachova and driving over the splendid Rio Bridge crossing the Bay of Corinth and passing through beautiful towns such as Nafpaktos (Lepanto) to arrive in Arachova in the evening. Short stop for lunch ( free lunch ) along the way. Arachova lovely mountain town well known for its handicrafts of colorful carpets and quilts and its dairy products. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Wednesday : Arachova – Delphi – Kalambaka.
After breakfast visit to the Archaeological Site of Delphi with the Treasury of the Athenians, the Temple of Apollo and the Museum. Followed by lunch ( free lunch ) in a local restaurant, afterwards departure to the town of Kalambaka. Kalambaka small mountain town built in the valley of the amazing giant rocks of Meteors . Dinner and overnight stay in hotel.
Thursday : Kalambaka – Meteora – Vergina – Thessaloniki
After breakfast at the hotel visit Meteora. Visit Meteora, famous for ‘impressive image with well-maintained monasteries, containing priceless history and religious treasures, as well as exquisite specimens of Byzantine art, remaining between earth and sky atop huge rocks. Once the visit of the monasterι is concluded, we proceed to the town of Kalambaka for lunch ( free lunch ) and then continue to Vergina, a small town in the northern part of Greece near Veria, capital of the perfecture of Imathia. The town became internationally famous in 1977, when Greek archaeologist Manolis Andronikos unearthed what he said was the burial place of the kings of Macedonia, including the tomb of Philip II, father of Alexander the Great. These findings established the site as the ancient city of Aigai. Visiting the museum that opened in 1993, it was built in a way to protect the tombs, display the artifacts and show the mound as it was before the excavations. The two most important tombs were not stripped and contained the main treasures that can be seen in the museum. The tomb of Philip II, father of Alexander, was discovered in 1977 and is divided into two rooms. The main room included a marble sarcophagus, and inside was the larnax made of 24-karat gold and weighing 11 kilograms. Inside the gold larnax the bones of the dead were found and a gold crown of 313 oak leaves and 68 acorns, weighing 717 grams.
The facade of the tomb of Alexander IV of Macedon: In 1978 another burial site was discovered near Philippe’s tomb, belonging to Alexander IV of Macedon, son of Alexander the Great. It was slightly smaller than the previous one and also was not stripped. Your guide will take you inside the museum to see some of King Philippe’s most important possessions, including the King’s Shield and gold garnished breastplate. According to legend, the golden breastplate containing the king’s bones was washed with wine and wrapped in a purple cloth. In addition, it is possible to learn how it was unearthed before seeing the golden chest. Also on display are gold diadems of unparalleled art, lavish wall paintings and a golden crown of oak leaves.
After visiting the archaeological site of Vergina, depart for the city of Thessaloniki, early in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight stay.
Note:
A skirt for women and long pants for men are required for the Meteora visit.
Friday : Thessaloniki – Amfipoli – Philippi – Kavala – Thessaloniki
After breakfast depart for the city of Philippi driving along the “Egnatia” highway, a road built on the trace of the ancient Roman road ‘Via Egnatia’ . En route admire the two lakes of Koroni and Volvi and the village of Asprovalta, with a visit to the famous statue of the Lion of Amphipolis. Then on to the place where St. Lydia, the first Christian woman in Europe was baptized and the Archaeological Site of Philippi, good examples: the ‘Roman Forum’, and the remains of the two early Christian basilicas (the prison where St. Paul was imprisoned in 50 AD ), as well as the ancient Greek theater.
Following arrival in Kavala for a short tour of the city and its port. Lunch ( free lunch ) at a local restaurant. In the early evening return to Thessaloniki. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Saturday : Thessaloniki – Thermopylae – Athens
After breakfast at the hotel Meet with our guide and begin the tour with a sightseeing tour around the city. See the main sights of the city. Make a brief stop at the White Tower to take some photos. Then continue the tour by visiting Agios Demetrios Byzantine church which is the most important church in Thessaloniki for religious, historical and artistic reasons. The most famous and interesting part of the church, is the underground ancient “Crypt.” The crypt was rediscovered after the fire of 1917 and was finally restored as an exhibition/museum in 1988. According to Christian tradition, the saint was imprisoned here and died in 303 AD . You will also have the opportunity to visit the Archaeological Museum where artifacts from the Archaic, Classical, Hellenistic and Roman periods are displayed, mostly from the city of Thessaloniki, but also from the region of Macedonia in general. Following sota in a local restaurant for lunch.
After lunch ( free lunch ) return to Athens by bus. On the way to Athens brief stop at Thermopylae, site of the fierce battle between Persians and Greeks during the Persian invasion of 480-479 BC. The Greek force (300 warriors) was small but very determined and able to take a stand against the huge Persian army. Arrival in Athens .
Note: The itenary of the Tour and the order of visits and days may be subject to change in case of National and Religious Holidays to allow entry to all scheduled museums and sites without changing the final outcome of the Tour.