Byzantine history and classical Greece come together on this amazing journey!

Itinerary:

Day 1: THESSALONIKI, AGIA SOPHIA, AGIOS DIMITRIOS
Arrival in Thessaloniki. Welcome by our tour guide and after that we have a guided tour of the city. Thessaloniki is a vibrant, lively city. Among the most important attractions of Thessaloniki are Kamara (the Arch of Galerius), the Rotonda (Church of St. George) with mosaics of the church of Agia Sophia, the Church of Acheiropiitos (named for an image that was not made by hand), the church of Agios Dimitrios (cathedral) etc. the characteristic monument in the city is the White Tower, part of the city wall on the Byzantine era castles and towers, which has a twin brother in the Trygoniou Square. A “must see” for every visitor is the rich archaeological museum. Transfer to hotel. Dinner and rest.

Day 2: MOUNTAIN ATHOS
Mount Athos. Mountains on one side and the sea on the other side are the external part of a lifestyle isolated from the world and completely dedicated to the afterlife. Ride boat along the coast of Mount Athos peninsula overlooking the spectacular location of the closed society of monks (surcharge). Return to Thessaloniki. Dinner and rest.

Day 3: METEORA
Early In the morning we drive from Thessaloniki to the monasteries of Meteora. In the eerie silence on a gray rocks high above the eagle nests, is the community of Meteora. Small Chapels and abandoned hermitages to hover between heaven and earth. Therefore called Meteora, the “floating”. This name was then transferred to the rocks. Overall there is six monasteries: Monastery of Barlaam, Monastery of the Metamorfosi, Monastery St. Stephen, Monastery of St. Nikolaos, Roussanou Monastery, Monastery of the Holy Trinity. Then journey to Kalambaka to our hotel. Dinner and rest.

Day 4: DELPHI, ITEA
After breakfast we drive from Meteora to Delphi, the most famous oracle of ancient Greece in honor of Apollo, god of music and art. At Delphi we will visit the archaeological site and the museum where you can admire, among other things, the famous statue of the Charioteer. Time for a guided tour, a small break at Delphi. In the afternoon we continue to Itea to our hotel. Dinner and rest.

Day 5: OLYMPIA, SPARTA
The next morning we go from Itea through Galaxidi and Antirio – Rio to Olympia, birthplace of the Olympic Games, which the effect on the current visitors is as awe inspiring as it was in ancient times. This prestigious national shrine is located in an unusual romantic landscape at the foot of a pine Saturn. Guided tour of the archaeological site of Ancient Olympia and the museum. After the tour we continue to the hotel in Sparta. Dinner and rest.

Day 6: MYSTRA, TOLO
The next day we go to Mystra. A visit to Mystras is a trip to the Byzantine past of Greece: Before us lies, 5 km from Sparta, this ruined city with its churches and palaces, houses and castle as an outdoor museum. On the north side of the city wall will see the Monastery of Pantanassa from the 15th century, with murals in brilliant colors and a church. We continue to Tolo. Dinner and rest.

Day 7: MYCENAE, EPIDAURUS, CORINTH, ATHENS
In the morning we go to Mycenae. We visit the well-preserved cyclopean walls, the royal tombs and the great Lion Gate, the oldest record of a monumental sculpture in Europe. Here the archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann began (in 1874) with his excavations and discovered the royal tombs of Atreus and the vast treasures. Passing next to vineyards and old gnarled olive trees we arrive at Epidaurus, the place of worship of and treatment of Asklepios. We visit the museum and theater, famous for its acoustics. Many summer festivals take place here (Epidaurus Festival). We continue our trip to Ancient Corinth. Guided tour of the ancient sites, the Agora, the Temple and Museum. We continue for the Corinth Canal (global reputation and built at the turn of the last century as artificial joint between the Saronic Gulf and the Gulf of Corinth) break 15 minutes for photos. We continue to our hotel. We have time to rest and prepare for our evening program. Early in the evening we will visit Piraeus. Then we will go to the famous old town of Athens, Plaka -in foot of the Acropolis – there, we will enjoy dinner in a tavern and a rich program with our folklore performances, dances, folk music etc. Around midnight in return hotel – rest.

Day 8: ATHENS. ACROPOLIS
In the morning we have a guided tour of Athens with a visit of the famous Acropolis, the characteristic monument of the city and the National Museum. We continue and tour in modern and ancient city of Athens (Temple of Zeus, University, National Library, Royal Palace, the Panathenaicos stadium). Time for shopping in the old town of Athens, Plaka. After an afternoon excursion to Cape Sounion – the southernmost tip of Attica peninsula and prominent headland in the Aegean. Perhaps we have time to admire a sunset in the temple of Poseidon, which is one of the most unforgettable memories in your trip to Greece. Return to the Hotel.

Day 9: SARONIC ISLANDS
After boarding a ferry from Piraeus to go the first and largest of the Saronic Islands, Aegina. In a dense wooded hill is one of the best preserved temples of antiquity, dedicated to the goddess Athena Aphaia. The second Saronic island is the green island of Poros with the lively harbor area. The third island, Hydra is a rocky island with its picturesque harbor and homes – a summer residence for many artists – one of the most beautiful islands of the Aegean. Then we return to the port of Piraeus and to Athens to the hotel.

Day 10: RETURN HOME
After breakfast transfer to the airport of Athens. Flight home.