Get a real experience of Christianity on this 12 day journey around Greece!
Itinerary:
Day 1: THESSALONIKI, ALEXANDROUPOLIS
Flight from your point of origin to Thessaloniki, transfer from the airport to the hotel in Alexandroupolis. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 2: MAKRI, ALEXANDROUPOLIS
After breakfast we visit the monastery of Panagia of Evros in Makri, one of the most beautiful woman-only monasteries in Greece. We have a guided tour of the monastery and its areas of work. Here we are told about the life and work of the nuns. After the tour that we receive from the nuns, we have a trip to Alexandroupolis and a city tour with a visit to the Mitropolis church and the church – museum. Depending on the program of the priest of the Mitropolis, we see if we get a chance to meet with him over coffee and cake.
Day 3: FERRES, SOUFLI
Breakfast. Trip to Ferres and the Church of Panagia Kosmosotira, a building from the 11th century.We continue to the Monastery of Kornofalias. After lunch we visit a Soufli sericulture and we are informed about their products, because they are unique in Greece. In the afternoon we head back to the hotel. Here our dinner is accompanied with live Greek music.
Day 4: KOMOTINI, PORTO LAGOS, XANTHI, KAVALA
Breakfast and then roadtrip to Komotini. The interesting thing about this city is the coexistence of two different cultures for centuries. The Christians and the Muslims.We visit the Monastery of Porto Lagos, which also belongs to the monasteries of Mount Athos. After lunch, we visit the city of Xanthi, a very traditional architecturally designed city. Continue to Kavala. Dinner and overnight stay in Kavala.
Day 5: LYDIA, PHILIPPI, KAVALA
After breakfast we visit Lydia, the place where the Apostle Paul baptized the first Christian woman on European soil. From there, we drive to Philippi, to the first church of Apostle Paul on European soil, we see the Roman Agora, Theater, basilicas, and the city of Kavala. Continue to Thessaloniki, dinner and overnight stay in Thessaloniki.
Day 6: PELLA, VERGINA, THESSALONIKI
After breakfast we drive to Pella, the former residence of Phillip II of Macedon and his son Alexander the Great. We pass through the excavation area with streets, houses and mosaics. We continue to Vergina, the first capital of Macedonia at the time of Philip II. We have a guided tour of the toumb of Philip II. Return to Thessaloniki, dinner, overnight.
Day 7: MT ATHOS
After breakfast we drive to Ouranopolis, passing Arnea and Gomati. At Ouranopolis we will board a boat, and have a trip along Mount Athos and see numerous monasteries. In the afternoon we return to Thessaloniki and to our hotel for dinner.
Day 8: METEORA
Today we continue to Meteora. We have a tour of the famous, built on high sandstone rocks Meteora. Suspended between heaven and earth monasteries that were built in the 14th century. We visit 2 monasteries and have guided tours, and are explained about the significance of the Byzantine Orthodox monasticism in Greece and Eastern Europe. We drive to Delphi, and have an overnight stay in Delphi.
Day 9: DELPHI, OLYMPIA
Visit the city of Delphi. The town owes its fame to the oracle. We see among other things the Temple of Apollo, the Treasury of the Athenians, the theater, the stadium and the museum with the famous bronze charioteer. We continue the journey via Patras to Olympia. We visit the archaeological site of Olympia with the remains of the once mighty Temple of Zeus, the Temple of Hera, the workshop of the famous sculptor Phidias and the sports facilities (Olympic Stadium). Dinner and overnight stay in Olympia.
Day 10: EPIDAURUS, MYCENAE
We drive to Epidaurus, to the shrine and Treatment Centre of Asclepius. Famous for its acoustics, open-air theater and museum. We continue the journey to the castle hill of Mycenae, which Heinrich Schliemann excavated at the end of the 19th century. We see the Lion Gate, the Royal Tombs, the Palace, the Museum of newly emerged and the Treasury of Atreus. Overnight stay in Athens.
Day 11: ATHENS, ACROPOLIS
Early in the morning we drive over the Omonia and Syntagma Square, past the Panathenaic Stadium (photo stop), the Royal Palace, Temple of Zeus, and the Acropolis. Visit the Propyleen, the Erechtheum, temple of Nike and the Parthenon. Then drive on the University Road, past Schliemann’s house, the Academy, the University and the National Library of the National Archaeological Museum with the world’s richest collection of ancient art (visit). Return to the hotel. Free time in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight stay in Athens.
Day 12: Return flight from Athens.
