Athens and Classical Greece with Meteora

1st day: Athens

Arrival in Athens. Our assistant will be waiting you for the transfer from the airport to the Hotel. Take advantage of your assistant local tips and start a stroll through the center of Athens for a first taste of the city.

2nd day: Athens – City tour – Optional

The Athens city tour will be passing through the main highlights of the city. We start from Hadrian’s Arch and continue visitingthe Pana- thinaiko Stadium (also known as Kalimarmaro), which was originally built in 329 BC, and where the first Olympics of the modern era were held in 1896. We continue to the main square of the city named “Syntama ” square (Constitution), where the presidential guard is located. With its typical costumes, the so called” Evzonos ” make the change of guard in front of the Greekparliament and the Tomb of the unknown soldier. After we continue the panoramic tour visiting the Neoclassical buildings of Athens such as the College, the library, and the Academy, and finally we will visit Acropolis and Parthenon, this magnificent monument built in 447 BC during the golden age of Pericles dedicated to Goddess Athena. We will appreciate the Propylaea,temple of Athens Nike,

Erechtheum and all its magnificent constructions. AGer Acropolis we will visit the Acropolis Museum, a building of a modernarchitecture, hosting the unique antiquities from the Acropolis.

Enjoy the free afternoon to discover the center of Athens around Acropolis, strolling through Monastiraki, Plaka and Thissio,enjoy ing the pleasant sites of the ancient city.

3rd day: Epidauros, Mycenae and Olympia

In the morning we leave Athens to Corinth Canal. After a brief stop in the Canal which connects the Aegean Sea with the Ionian Sea, we continue to Epidauros. Here we enter into the culture of the 4th century BC and admire the Theatre of Epidauros, which is famous for having an exceptional acoustics that allows almost perfect hearing of the unamplified voice stage for any of the 15,000 places in which each viewer can be seated. The city of Epidauros was one of the mostimportant pilgrimage centers of antiquity for having the famous shrine of the God Asclepius doctor. The theater for his seeis now the best-preserved theater of antiquity. Depart for Nauplion, this picturesque town which was the first capital of Greece after the Turkish rule, in 1821. This beautiful town nestles at the foot of the cliff were the Palamidi Fortress lies on the top. After passing by the old town, we continue and visit the Acropolis of Mycenae, the Homeric city of King Atreides,the city “rich in gold” of the ancient poets, where we will see the tomb of Agamemnon, the “lions gate” and Cyclopic wallsamong other interests of antiquity. Late in the afternoon, depart to the birthplace city of the Olympic games called Olympia,through Tripolis and Megapolis in the center of Peloponnese.

4th day: Olympia

After breakfast we will visit the archaeological site of Olympia, the site of the Olympic games of the Classic Era, which were held every four years during antiquity, from the 8th century BC to the 4th century AD. We will see the temple of Olympian Zeus withthe famous statue of Zeus, which was about 13 meters and was made out of gold and ivory, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world that the sculptor Phidias took about twelve years to build. We will go by the old stadium, that hosted the varioussports of the Olympic games, and the archaeological museum. Leaving Olympia northward and through the plain of Ilias andAchaia, we arrive at the magnificent bridge which unites the Rio with Antirio and passes over the bay of Corinth. Continuing our path and passing through the picturesque towns of Itea and Nafpactos we reach the “center of the ancient world” Delphi.

5th day: Delphi

In the morning we will visit the archaeological site and museum of Delphi, where we see the Omphalos which was the “navel ƒcenter of the universe” and whose fame extended far beyond the borders of Greece, kept in the temple of the wrath Apollo.Inside the museum enjoy some masterpieces of ancient Greek sculpture as the famous athlete Aghias and the Brass Charioteer.The Oracle of Delphi acquired great influence in the world. The predictions of the priestess of Apollo called Pythia, influenced thedecisions, and had a great impact on the history of the cities of ancient times. Walk the Via Sacra which arrives at the temple of Apollo. After visiting and getting to know this legendary location, we will continue our journey to the town of Kalambaka, aninspiring and impressive destination.

6th day: Meteora

Kalambaka is at the foot of this astonishing complex of Meteora, an impressive backdrop of gigantic rocks that appear to be suspended in the air, formed over 60 million years ago. On top of these rocks, the monks who settled after the 12th century, despite being almost inaccessible, built 24 monasteries in the hermit ideal time of the 15th century. Today six of these are kept which enjoy excellent specimens of Byzantine art. Meteora is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Depart in the aGernoon fromKalambaka passing through the plains of Thessaly, Lamia and Thermopy- lae, where the monument of King Leonidas of Sparta is,and Thiva. Arrival at our final destination Athens late afternoon.

7th day: Athens

Free day in Athens. Start the morning experiencing a typical Greek coffee and explore the ancient and modern city. Walk the streets of the traditional neighborhoods of Plaka, Monastiraki and Thissio, where modern build ings blend with the old.Experience the spectacular Greek cuisine that is the basis of the Mediterranean diet and follow with a typical Greek drink “ouzo” or a good Greek wine and discover the real nightlife that Athens offers.

Enjoy the various optional tours that Athens.

8th day: Return

At a designated time, transfer from your hotel to the airport.