Visit the greatest archeological and religious sites Crete has to offer on this 9 day trip!
Itinerary:
Day 1: Heraklion
Departure from your point of origin to Heraklion. Check-in at Heraklion, distribution of rooms and dinner.
Day 2: Cathedral, Venetian walls
After breakfast we visit the Sunday service in the Cathedral Church of Heraklion. After the service we meet with the local priests to talk about ecumenism over a coffee and cake. Finally, we have a sightseeing tour in Heraklion with transition to the Venetian walls to the grave of the great Greek poet Nikos Kazantzakis (“Zorba the Greek”). Rest of day is free until dinner.
Day 3: Knossos, Archanes, Palianis
Today we will visit the Kingdom of the Minoans. We have an excursion to Knossos, the largest, partially reconstructed Minoan palace. We continue to Archanes: The Minoan villa of Vathypetro and to the small but interesting museum. After lunch we will visit the monastery Palianis. Then back to the hotel and dinner.
Day 4: Phaistos, Matala, Gortyn
Excursion to the spectacular scenic Messara to the ruins of the Minoan palace of Phaistos. We move on to the fishing village of Matala. En route we visit the small churches of Agios Paulos, and Agios Ioannis. On the return visit of Gortyn, where on the Odeon there is engraved the famous Doric Rights Code (around 500 BC.) And the major ruins of Titus Basilica. Return to the hotel and dinner.
Day 5: Anogia, Planetarium, Axos, Sfedoni
After breakfast we drive to the mountain and the village Psiloreitis Anogia. Anogia is a traditional Cretan village. We go further up the hill Psiloreitis and visit the local planetarium. We continue to Axos, where we visit the Byzantine church, and from there we proceed to the cave Sfendoni. We then return to the hotel and have dinner.
Day 6: Malia, Kera, Psychro Cave
We drive to Malia to the excavations of the third largest Minoan palace in Crete. From there we go to Kera. We have a tour of the monastery church of Panagia Kardiotisa. We continue to geologically interesting, fertile Lassithi Plateau. Here we have an opportunity for upward mobility for Psychro Cave, the mythical birthplace of Zeus. On the way back we visit two other frescoed churches: In Andhou the church of Agios Antonios and Potamies the Panagia Gouveniotisa. We have dinner after returning to the hotel.
Day 7: Heraklion, Gournia, Anatoli
On this day we will visit the Museum of Icons at the Church of Agia Aikaterini in Heraklion. We visit a Minoan settlement after a trip to Gournia, located at the narrowest point of Crete. After a break at the Libyan sea cruise on a particularly picturesque mountain route through beautiful landscapes, we continue to Anatoli after Kalamafka with simultaneous views of the Aegean and Libyan Sea. Then return to the hotel and dinner.
Day 8: Lato, Agios Nikolaos
After breakfast we will start our last trip to Lato, a settlement of the Doric Greek immigrants with extensive views of the gulf Mirambello. We then go to the church of Panagia Kera in Kritsa with rich frescoes, the most remarkable in Crete. We continue to Agios Nikolaos and visit the redesigned and very interesting archaeological museum. We then return to the hotel and have dinner.
Day 9: Return home
Transfer to the airport of Heraklion Return via Athens
