8 days Classical Tour with Meteora from Thessaloniki

Friday: Thessaloniki

Arrival at Thessaloniki airport, transfer to hotel. Dinner and overnight stay.

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 at a local restaurant for free lunch.
After free lunch return to Athens by coach. 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. Arrive in Athens in time for dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Sunday: Athens – Guided city tour ,Cape Sounio( optional )

In the morning meet your guide for the Athens city tour. The tour allows in an engaging tour of the center to see the Sydagma (Constitution) Square, the Parliament, the Monument to the Unknown Soldier, the National Library and along the street named after Herodes Atticus: the Euzons, the Presidential Palace, the Panathinaiko Stadium and in the direction of the Acropolis: Hadrian’s Arch, the Temple of Jupiter. Following visit to the Acropolis with the masterpieces of the Golden Age of Athens and the National Archaeological Museum. Free time for lunch ( free lunch ). Optional excursion to Cape Sounio. The tour continues in the afternoon driving along the coastal road and crossing the beautiful beaches of Glifada, Vouliagmeni and Varkiza , we will reach the southernmost area of Αttica: Cape Sounio, where the Temple of Poseidon is located, boasting one of the most spectacular views of the Aegean Sea. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Note: The exact order of the morning itinerary will be announced by the guide

Monday : Athens, Corinth Canal , Epidaurus , Nafplio, Mycenae, Olympia

Depart in the morning for the Corinth Canal (short photo stop). Followed by visit to Epidaurus Theater, a theater with perfect acoustics. At the end of the visit departure for the city of Nafplio, famous for the Palamides Fortress (short photo stop) and on to Mycenae and visit to the Tomb of Agamemnon and the Archaeological Site. Time for lunch in Mycenae ( free lunch ). After lunch departure for Olympia, cradle of the Olympic Games. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Tuesday : Olympia , Arachova

In the morning visit to the Archaeological Site with the Sanctuary of Zeus Olympio, the ‘ancient stadium and the Archaeological Museum . At the end of the visit departure for Arachova passing over the wonderful bridge that crosses the Corinthian Bay and connects Rio and Antirio and passing through the picturesque town of Nafpactos (Lepanto) . Stop and free time for lunch ( free lunch ) along the way . In the evening arrive at the picturesque village of Arachova, built there on the slope of Mount Parnassos and known for its handicrafts of carpets and colorful quilts. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Wednesday : Delphi , Thermopile , Meteora

Morning arrival in Delphi, visit the Archaeological Site with the Treasury of the Athenians, Temple of Apollo and Museum. Afterwards time for lunch in Delphi ( free lunch) . After lunch departure for Meteors and brief stop along the way at Thermopylae and Leonidas’ Monument. Arrival in Kalambaka small town that spreads out below the amazing Meteora complex. Dinner and overnight stay in Kalambaka.

Thursday: Meteora – Vergina – Thessaloniki

After breakfast at the hotel visit Meteors. 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 monastery is concluded, we proceed to the town of Kalambaka for 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. It is also 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 we depart for the city of Thessaloniki. Dinner and overnight stay in hotel.

Note:
For the visit to the Meteora it is necessary to wear a skirt for women and long pants for men.

Friday: Thessaloniki

After breakfast at the hotel transfer to the airport for departure.
Nota: L’itenario del Tour e l’ordine delle visite e dei giorni possono subire delle variazioni in caso di Feste Nazionali e Religiose per consentire l’ingresso a tutti i musei e siti previsti senza variare il risultato finale del Tour.