A Mythical Journey: Stories That Shaped Modern Greece

At the local restaurant, enjoy a festive Welcome Dinner. Unless otherwise noted, dinners on this program are typically a three-course set menu. Please note that water is included in the program cost at all meals.

At leisure.

In the hotel dining room, our breakfast buffet offers a daily selection of breads, cheeses, cold-cuts, yogurt, fruit, cereals, juice, milk, coffee, tea and water.

Field trip Agora and Hephaestus temple. Discover Plaka and Monastiraki. This morning after breakfast we will start to learn about Greek civilization and ancient Athens discovering Agora and the Hephaestus temple on our first walking field trip. Agora, meaning market, was a central public space in Greek cities. Visiting Athen’s agora, we will start our learning on basic of architectural setting of an ancient Greek city, we will learn what the public space was in ancient Greek society. The best-known Agora in Greece is Athen’s agora, the center of political, cultural, spiritual, artistic and athletic life of Athens. Agora is situated on the Northern slope of the Acropolis. Apart from being the place where democracy has been born or stage for many known Greek philosophers, it was also very special sacred place. We will learn about temple of Hephaestus that still stands there, as also the importance, significance and the architectural lay outs of Greek temples in general. After visiting ancient agora, we will enter different, modern world of today’s market and social place known as Plaka and Monastiraki. We will stroll around to get the filling of today’s Athen’s spirit. Your Group Leader will take you around and show you the palaces you can visit and enjoy during you late afternoon free time.

Lunch in local restaurant in Athens.

After lunch we will head walking to the Acropolis Museum as an introduction for tomorrows Acropolis visit.. This museum holds the exquisite finds from the archeological site of the Acropolis, and lies over ruins of Roman and early Byzantine Athens. Your Group Leader will provide commentary on some of the most of notable pieces of the museum, before providing you with some time to explore the exhibitions on your own. After our visit, we will return to the hotel, where you will have some time to freshen up and relax in your rooms. We will then gather once again before dinner, where we will take part in a lecture by a university professor from Athens.

On your own. This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to independently explore local fare. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions and give directions.

At leisure.

In the hotel dining room.

Field trip Acropolis. After breakfast we will check out from the hotel. We will than start our walking field trip exploring the most signature site of Athens – the Acropolis. Led by your Group Leader, climb the rocky summit to explore some of the most iconic monuments of ancient Athens. The Acropolis’ focal point is the Parthenon, built in honor of the city’s patroness Athena and completed in 432 B.C. Learn how ancient peoples transformed this site into a manifestation of Greek advancement in culture and the arts, and how this legacy lingers to the present. After our visit, we will descend from the Acropolis site and head for lunch before we board the motorcoach and leave Athens.

Light lunch in local restaurant.

After lunch we will drive to Nafplion. On our way we will have a brief photo stop on the bridge over Corinth Canal. The isthmus of Corinth was in the territory of the ancient city-state of. Corinth. Corinthians tried to cut a canal but it was an impossible with task with the ancient technology. The canal was finally cut in the 19th century and connects the Ionian with the Aegean seas. We will continue our journey to Argolis through the valley of Nemea and the territory of ancient city-state of Argos. Arriving at Nafplio, we check in at our hotel and then go for an orientation walk around the beautiful town of Nafplio. Today Nafplio is the capital of the region of Argolis, a charming town with monuments from the Venetian and Ottoman periods. Nafplio was the first capital of Greece and before Athens was chosen as the new capital with the arrival of the first king of Greece.

At a hotel restaurant.

At leisure.

In the hotel dining room.

We after breakfast we will board the motorcoach for Epidaurus. Epidaurus was one of the greatest sanctuaries of Asclepios, the god of medicine. People from all around the Mediterranean visited the sanctuary for healing. We will explore the ruins of the sanctuary; we will admire the temple of Asclepios, the Dormitory, the Tholo, the stadium as well as baths, gymnasium and hotels and understand this sanctuary evolved into one of the greatest healing centers of antiquity. We will also visit the best preserved theatre of Classical times, designed by the famous architect Polykleitos the Young. The theatre is in such good condition that is still used for theatre performances during the Epidaurus festival in the summer months.

Lunch on own in Nafplion.

Afternoon Historical walk through the old town of Nafplion. We will explore on foot the old part of Nafplion and see the Venetian Arsenal, Ottoman mosques and Venetian fortifications. Meet with a local chef at his workshop and prepare with him your dinner for tonight, including wine of course.

Dinner we will enjoy the dinner we have prepared with our chef.

At leisure.

In the hotel dining room.

Morning Depart for Mycenae. Field trip of the Acropolis of Mycenae and the beehive Tomb of Agamemnon. Mycenae was the kingdom of king Agamemnon, the mythical king who united the Achaean kings and Trojan war as we know from the epic poem of the Iliad bz the famous poet Homer. Heinrich Schliemmann discovered the legendary citadel in 1876, one of the greatest discoveries of world archaeology. During our fieldtrip we will admire the famous Lion Gate, the principal gate of the citadel, and the Grave circle A where Schliemmann discovered the famous tombs of the royal family of Mycenae. We will continue our day boarding the motorcoach and drive to an awarded Winery of the Nemea region known as the “Greek Bordeaux”. Visit the winery, learn about the whole process of the wine making and conclude by tasting some excellent local wines followed by snacks.

Light lunch in local winery.

Return to Nafplion in the early afternoon. Before dinner we will have a lecture in the hotel. Your Group Leader will be happy to suggest what more to explore in Nafplion on your own during your free time.

On your own.

At leisure.

In the hotel dining room.

After breakfast we board our motorcoach for our drive to the south western region of Peloponnese. We will visit the archaeological site of Ancient Messene, UNESCO World Heritage site. Ancient Messene was a city state founded by the Messenians after they were liberated from the Spartan domination with the help of the ancient Thebans. During our fieldtrip we will explore the agora of the ancient city, the temple of Asclepius, the council where the representatives of the city-state had regular meetings and we will also see the fortifications and the gates of the ancient city. The ruins are very well preserved and the landscape is untouched by human intervention. Visiting Ancient Messene will provide us with valuable insights of how an ancient city state was organized and functioned. After the visit we will drive to a local Olive Grove to learn all about the art of making the world famous Kalamata olive oil by a local producer. We will proceed to a modern olive oil pressing factory and learn about the process of olive oil production today. An olive oil sommelier will initiate us to olive oil tasting and share the secrets of recognizing a good olive oil.

A home made lunch at the old olive oil factory includes special dishes of the region of Kalamata.

After lunch we will continue our drive to Kalamata and check in to the hotel. We will have some time to unpack and rest before dinner.

At hotel restaurant.

At leisure.

In the hotel dining room.

After breakfast we will set off on foot to explore Kalamata town. In order to learn about the town and area we will walk Kalamata streets and also through the impressive farmers market, see the fresh local produce and meet the locals. The market is well known in the area and would see local producers selling their best products in the area; olive oil, olives, cheese, vegetables. After market experience we will make a brief stop at a local coffee shop and enjoy a traditionally made Greek coffee. After our break we will continue our walk through the historical city center to the Karelia Museum. The museum exhibits one of the most impressive collections of traditional costumes of the area.

Today we will enjoy a light lunch in town.

Free afternoon to explore Kalamata on your own. Before your dinner you will meet in the hotel for a lecture.

At a local restaurant.

At leisure.

In the hotel dining room.

This morning we will board the motorcoach for our drive to Western Messenia. We will head to Pylos a coastal town at the Ionian sea. Our first stop will be the famous Mycenean Palace of Nestor, one of the best preserved palaces of the late Bronze Age in Greece. We will explore the Megaron the residential quarters of the royal family of Pylos and the well known bee hive tombs which are located nearby. After the visit of the palace we will drive to the town of Pylos where we will have free time to stroll around the charming port town.

Lunch at a local restaurant.

After lunch we will drive to Methoni to visit one of the most impressive forts of the Venetian era. Methoni was located at a strategic location on the trade route between Venice and the Levant. For that reason the Venetians applied advanced military engineering and created one of the strongest strongholds in the Eastern Mediterranean. After the visit we will return to our hotel at Kalamata.

On your own.

At leisure.

In the hotel dining room.

After breakfast we will depart for Olympia. During our fieldtrip we will explore the famous sanctuary of Zeus, home of the ancient Olympic games. Since 776 BC, and for nearly a millennium the games were organized every four years. Messengers were sent all around the Greek world declaring the sacred truce so that their athletes could arrive safely at Olympia to compete in the stadium. We will admire the Temple of Zeus home of the statue of the god one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. We will explore the ancient ancient gymnasiums, baths, treasuries and the stadium where the athletes competed. We will then proceed to the archaeological museum of Olympia to see famous sculptures such as Hermes of Praxiteles and the sculptural decoration of the temple of Zeus. After our fieldtrip of Olympia, we will walk to nearby village where we will have free time for lunch or visit of other museums in the area on your own. Our Group Leader will be happy to give you suggestions for your free time.

Lunch on own in local Village and free time.

After our free time we board the motorcoach again for our drive to the central part of Greece. We will leave Peloponnese and cross the Corinthian gulf. On our way we will enjoy the scenic drive and pass through the historical city of Nafpaktos (location of the Venetian Lepanto) where the Papal states with other western powers defeated the Ottoman fleet in the famous naval battle in 1571. Upon arrival to our hotel in the mountainous town of Arachova on the Southern slopes of Mount Parnassus, we will check in and have dinner in our hotel.

At the hotel.

At leisure.

In the hotel dining room.

After breakfast we will board our motorcoach for a short drive to Delphi. As the god of adivination, Apollo had the gift of foreseeing the future. People arrived in what the ancient Greeks considered the center of the world to receive the valuable prophecies. The oracles were always ambiguous, prompting people to think as the thought process was very important for the ancient Greeks. We will walk along the ancient Sacred Way following the steps of the ancient pilgrims and admire the rich treasuries, the temples and the votive offerings. After the site we will visit the archaeological museum of Delhpi, home of famous exhibits like the Charioteer, the sculptures of the treasury of the Siphnians and the Athenians. After visiting the site and the museum we will walk to small town of Delphi to explore the charm of it during our free time. Your Group Leader will suggest options for lunch.

On your own.

After free time in Delphi, we will take a short ride back to Arachova to our hotel. Arachova has beautiful panoramic view over this mountainous area. The picturesque architecture of this small town situated at about 3182 ft makes it very attractive for a wall around during your free time this afternoon.

Dinner in local restaurant.

At leisure.

In the hotel dining room.

After breakfast we will board our motorcoach once again and had towards Athens. On our way we will make a brief stop near small town of Distomo to learn about 11th c. Byzantine Monastery of Hosios Loukas. The Monastery is very important monument of Byzantine architecture and since 1990 is on the UNESCO’s World Heritage list. The most impressive are the mosaics and frescoes that we will see. After visit we will stop on our route to Athens for lunch.

On your own en route.

After stop for lunch we will continue towards Athens. Upon arrival we will check into our hotel and have a free afternoon for packing and leisure. This evening we will enjoy our Farewell dinner with our fellow participants.

At the local restaurant.

At leisure.

In the hotel dining room.