2 day Meteora and Vergina from Thessaloniki

Wednesday: Thessaloniki-Kalambaka

Departure with transfer from city center hotel to Thessaloniki train station. Εmbark on train bound for Kalambaka with change at Paleofarsalos station. Arrival at Kalambaka train station and transfer to selected hotel. Free time at leisure. Dinner and overnight stay.

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 monasterι 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. Arrival at hotel.

Note:
A visit to the Meteora requires wearing a skirt for women and long pants for men.