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2 Days: Tour to Delphi and Meteora
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Day 1
We leave Athens in the morning and drive northwest to one of the most important sanctuaries of the ancient world.
Delphi is at a distance of 180 kilometers from Athens and after passing through cotton and wheat fields, the landscape gradually changes and we get the first impressions of mountainous Greece.
Having Mount Elicon, the home of Muses, on one side and Mount Parnassus on the other, first we arrive at the picturesque village of Arahova, a winter resort with traditional architecture situated at a height of 905 meters on the slopes of Mount Parnassus and then we continue to Delphi.
Like ancient travelers we come first to the sanctuary of Athena Pronaia in an olive grove below the road, where we see one of the most photographed monuments of Delphi, the famous Tholos, then to Castalia Spring and finally to the sacred site of Apollo.
Delphi was the perfect location for the sanctuary of the god of light, music and prophecies.
The oracle of Apollo attracted people from all over the Greek world and accumulated a vast wealth over the centuries. Walking along the sacred way you will see the Treasury of the Athenians, the temple and oracle of Apollo, the theatre, the stadium and the most breathtaking view that an ancient sanctuary could offer.
The visit of the local museum will complete your journey in time and will convince you that indeed for the ancient Greeks Delphi was the center of the world, the earth’s navel.
After the exciting visit of the site and the museum you can enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before going on to Meteora.
In the first part of the trip we see wonderful mountainous scenery and in the second part we drive through the fields of the Thessalian plain to Kalambaka, the town at the feet of the amazing rocks of Meteora.
We stay overnight in Kalambaka. -
Day 2
Early in the morning we begin the exploration of Meteora, a group of rocks on the border between the Pindos mountain range and the Thessalian plain, where solitude and broad horizons favoured a mystic way life and attracted hermits in the 11th century who lived in caves on the rocks between heaven and earth.
In the 14th century St Athanasios founded the first monastery on top of a precipitous rock, the Great Meteoron, soon others followed his example and eventually a monastic city was developed with twenty-four monasteries perched on top of the rocks.
Nowadays six monasteries still function and depending on the day of your visit you can choose which ones to explore, the Great Meteoron, the monastery of Varlaam, Roussanou, Holy Trinity, St Steven’s or St Nicholas Anapafsas.
You will have a unique experience and probably feel that you are between heaven and earth like the first founders of the monasteries.
After tasting delicious local food at a restaurant in Kalambaka we start our journey back to Athens driving through Thermopylae where 300 Spartans and their king Leonidas gave their lives to defend their homeland from the invading Persians in 480 BC.
Late in the afternoon we get back to Athens.
3 Days: Ancient Corinth, the Canal, Mycenae, Nafplion, Olympia, Delphi
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Day 1
Early in the morning we depart from Athens and head west to the Peloponnese.
We will drive along the coast of Attica to the Corinth Canal. We will stop at the canal which was cut through the isthmus and joined the Aegean and the Ionian Sea in 1893 to see this amazing achievement of 19th century engineering.
Then we will continue to the site of ancient Corinth, one of the most prosperous cities in the ancient world and a very rich Roman colony after 44 BC, lying below the imposing hill of Acrocorinth.
We will see the archaic temple of Apollo, the Roman forum, the bema of St Paul, the well preserved Lechaion Road and Peirene Fountain.
After that we will drive from Corinthia to another region of the Peloponnese, to the Argolid, where we will visit Mycenae the center of the prehistoric civilization described by Homer in the Iliad and the Odyssey and discovered by Heinrich Schliemann in the nineteenth century.
The acropolis of Mycenae surrounded by cyclopean walls, the famous Lion Gate, the grave circle with the royal tombs which were rich in gold, the ruins of the palace on top of the fortified hill will travel you back in time to the world of kings and heroes. The highlight of Mycenae is the Treasury of Atreus, the best preserved prehistoric monument in Europe.
Our next stop will be in Nafplion, the first capital of Greece, a charming town on the Argolic Gulf, dominated by the citadel of Acronauplia and the Venetian fortress of Palamedes.
The waterfront is lined by cafes and restaurants where you have lunch with a great view of Bourtzi, the islet with the Venetian castle, in the middle of the gulf.
Our drive continues through central Peloponnese to Olympia, where we will have dinner and stay overnight. -
Day 2
In the morning we will explore ancient Olympia, a sacred place dedicated to Zeus.
Olympia was the sanctuary to which people from all over the Greek world went every four years.
A sacred truce allowed athletes and spectators to travel safely to Olympia to celebrate the games in honor of Zeus.
The beauty and tranquility of the sacred grove of Olympia will take your breath away.
The temple of Zeus, the temple of Hera, the Nymphaion, the stadium, the gymnasium, the paleastra, the workshop of Pheidias are some of the ruins you will see in ancient Olympia.
The archaeological museum with its gems, such as the sculptures of the temple of Zeus, the statue of Hermes of Praxiteles and the Nike of Paionios will complete the visit of Olympia.
After a restful lunch break in the village of Olympia, we will drive towards Patras and we will pass from the Peloponnese to mainland Greece over the spectacular bridge of Rion-Antirion.
Following the scenic road along the coast of the Ionian Sea we will arrive in Delphi, where we will have dinner and stay overnight. -
Day 3
The day will be dedicated to the exploration of the magnificent site of Delphi, situated on the slopes of Mount Parnassus, the perfect location for the sanctuary of the god of light, music and prophecies.
The oracle of Apollo attracted people from all over the Greek world and accumulated a vast wealth over the centuries. Walking along the sacred way you will see the Treasury of the Athenians, the temple and oracle of Apollo, the theatre, the stadium and the most breathtaking view that an ancient sanctuary could offer.
In ancient times the waters of Castalia Spring purified those who consulted Apollo. Castalia Spring on the road is still visible, while below the road in an olive grove is the sanctuary of Athena Pronaia where the most photographed monument of Delphi stands, the Tholos.
The visit of the local museum will complete your journey in time and will convince you that indeed for the ancient Greeks, Delphi was the center of the world, the earth’s navel.
Early in the afternoon driving through the traditional village of Arachova, situated at a height of 905 meters, we make our way back to Athens.
4 Days: Ancient Corinth, The Canal, Mycenae, Nafplion, Olympia, Delphi, the Monasteries of Meteora and Thermopylae
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Day 1
Early in the morning we depart from Athens and head west to the Peloponnese.
We will drive along the coast of Attica to the Corinth Canal. We will stop at the canal which was cut through the isthmus and joined the Aegean and the Ionian Sea in 1893 to see this amazing achievement of 19th century engineering.
Then we will continue to the site of ancient Corinth, one of the most prosperous cities in the ancient world and a very rich Roman colony after 44 BC, lying below the imposing hill of Acrocorinth.
We will see the archaic temple of Apollo, the Roman forum, the bema of St Paul, the well preserved Lechaion Road and Peirene Fountain.
After that we will drive from Corinthia to another region of the Peloponnese, to the Argolid, where we will visit Mycenae the center of the prehistoric civilization described by Homer in the Iliad and the Odyssey and discovered by Heinrich Schliemann in the nineteenth century.
The acropolis of Mycenae surrounded by cyclopean walls, the famous Lion Gate, the grave circle with the royal tombs which were rich in gold, the ruins of the palace on top of the fortified hill will travel you back in time to the world of kings and heroes. The highlight of Mycenae is the Treasury of Atreus, the best preserved prehistoric monument in Europe.
Our next stop will be in Nafplion, the first capital of Greece, a charming town on the Argolic Gulf, dominated by the citadel of Acronauplia and the Venetian fortress of Palamedes.
The waterfront is lined by cafes and restaurants where you have lunch with a great view of Bourtzi, the islet with the Venetian castle, in the middle of the gulf.
Our drive continues through central Peloponnese to Olympia, where we will have dinner and stay overnight. -
Day 2
In the morning we will explore ancient Olympia, a sacred place dedicated to Zeus.
Olympia was the sanctuary to which people from all over the Greek world went every four years.
A sacred truce allowed athletes and spectators to travel safely to Olympia to celebrate the games in honor of Zeus.
The beauty and tranquility of the sacred grove of Olympia will take your breath away. The temple of Zeus, the temple of Hera, the Nymphaion, the stadium, the gymnasium, the paleastra, the workshop of Pheidias are some of the ruins you will see in ancient Olympia.
The archaeological museum with its gems, such as the sculptures of the temple of Zeus, the statue of Hermes of Praxiteles and the Nike of Paionios will complete the visit of Olympia.
After a restful lunch break in the village of Olympia, we will drive towards Patras and we will pass from the Peloponnese to mainland Greece over the spectacular bridge of Rion-Antirion.
Following the scenic road along the coast of the Ionian Sea we will arrive in Delphi, where we will have dinner and stay overnight. -
Day 3
The day will be dedicated to the exploration of the magnificent site of Delphi, situated on the slopes of Mount Parnassus, the perfect location for the sanctuary of the god of light, music and prophecies.
The oracle of Apollo attracted people from all over the Greek world and accumulated a vast wealth over the centuries.
Walking along the sacred way you will see the Treasury of the Athenians, the temple and oracle of Apollo, the theatre, the stadium and the most breathtaking view that an ancient sanctuary could offer.
In ancient times the waters of Castalia Spring purified those who consulted Apollo.
Castalia Spring on the road is still visible, while below the road in an olive grove is the sanctuary of Athena Pronaia where the most photographed monument of Delphi stands, the Tholos.
The visit of the local museum will complete your journey in time and will convince you that indeed for the ancient Greeks, Delphi was the center of the world, the earth’s navel.
After the exciting visit of the site and the museum you can enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before going on to Meteora.
In the first part of the trip we see wonderful mountainous scenery and in the second part we drive through the fields of the Thessalian plain to Kalambaka, the town at the feet of the amazing rocks of Meteora. We stay overnight in Kalambaka. -
Day 4
Early in the morning we begin the exploration of Meteora, a group of rocks on the border between the Pindos mountain range and the Thessalian plain, where solitude and broad horizons favoured a mystic way life and attracted hermits in the 11th century who lived in caves on the rocks between heaven and earth.
In the 14th century St Athanasios founded the first monastery on top of a precipitous rock, the Great Meteoron, soon others followed his example and eventually a monastic city was developed with twenty-four monasteries perched on top of the rocks.
Nowadays six monasteries still function and depending on the day of your visit you can choose which ones to explore, the Great Meteoron, the monastery of Varlaam, Roussanou, Holy Trinity, St Steven’s or St Nicholas Anapafsas.
You will have a unique experience and probably feel that you are between heaven and earth like the first founders of the monasteries.
After tasting delicious local food at a restaurant in Kalambaka we start our journey back to Athens driving through Thermopylae where 300 Spartans and their king Leonidas gave their lives to defend their homeland from the invading Persians in 480 BC. Late in the afternoon we get back to Athens.
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