Educational
Tour in Greece
Optional day: Arrive in Athens, Transfer
from the airport to your hotel by the Acropolis.
We'll visit the Acropolis and the highlights
of Athens. Optional tour Athens by night.
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1st day:
Starting from Athens we drive
westwards towards along the scenic
coast of the Saronic Gulf until
we reach the Corinth canal with
its breathtaking views (short stop).
Shortly after we reach the Ancient
town of Corinth (visit). Back in
ancient times Corinth was almost
one of the richest cities and this
is quite evident by its remains,
including the huge Agora (market
place) and Apollo's Temple (6th
c. B.C.)
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Visit Mycenae, the Homeric city
of the Atreides - the city "rich
in gold" of the ancient poets. (Visit
the
Lions Gate, the
Cyclopean Walls, the
Royal Tombs e.t.c.).
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Proceed to
Nafplion, the picturesque
town nestling at the foot of a cliff
crowned by the mighty ramparts of
the
Palamidi Fortress. Overnight
in a traditional hotel, located
in the centre of the old city, just
under the castle. |
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2nd
day:
Nafplion
(first capital city of Greece in
modern times) the picturesque town
nestling at the foot of a cliff
crowned by the mighty ramparts of
the
Palamidi Fortress. After
breakfast on a beautiful veranda
with the best view over the city,
visit the castle of Palamidi which
is a unique fort. Compromised of
seven individual Bastions.
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Then drive on to Epidavros to visit
the sanctuary of Asklepios, the
most brilliant centre of healing
in the ancient world and the theatre
(4th century B.C.) one of the most
perfect and the best preserved of
the ancient Greek theatres, famous
for its acoustics (On summer weekends
ancient plays take place). |
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3rd day:
Leave Nafplion in the morning, through
Central Peloponnese. We'll drive
south by the scenic coast
of the Argolis Gulf, from the town
of
Astros we will turn to
Central Peloponnese, (Arcadia, through
the village of Agios Petros, ( 3000
ft. high -short stop -the village
became capital city of Greece for
24 hours, short stop) and
Karies on the slopes of the mount
Parnon.
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Shortly
we will arrive in Sparta,
the modern town was developed in
the reign of King Otto after 1834.
Visit the archaeological site, the
Acropolis and the theatre of Ancient
Sparta and then on to visit the
Medieval state of Mystras
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Continue for Mani an undeveloped
rocky wild area strewn with 15th
16th c. stone tower houses.
Areopolis:
This is a large village (with taverns)
in the typical Maniot style with
tradesmen's workshops (bakery),
tower houses and churches
(Overnight in a tower
house built in 17th c.)
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4th day:
Leave after breakfast,
down the west coast of Mani, opening
into Diros Bay are two caves which
were explored after the Second World
War. The largest, Glifada, is one
of the most spectacular natural
sights in Greece. We'll visit the
Caves and Museum of Diros tel. (0733)
52.22. The cave is well organized
for visitors with floating lights
and colored light projectors. The
guided tour consists of a boat trip
(about 2km/1.25mi) along both arms
of the river which splits in two
in the cave. Daily 8a.m to 5p.m
(2.30p.m winter) Entrance fee 12
Euro child (under 12) 6 Euro.
Return to Arepolis and drive through
the scenic coast and via Kalamata
to Olympia / overnight
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5th day:
The ruins
of Olympia in the idyllic Alfios Valley
testify to the grandeur of the ancient sanctuary
which through the Olympic Games was a symbol
of Greek unity - the cradle of the Olympic
Games. After breakfast we'll visit
the
archaeological area of Olympia,
the Sanctuary of the Olympian Zeus the Archaeological
Museum (one of the biggest and nicest in
Greece) and the Museum of the Olympic games.
Overnight in Olympia.
6th
day:
Departure , drive on
through the plains of Elias and Arcadia,
and take the Car-Ferry across the "Little
Dardanelles - Half hour" from Rio to Antirio.
Take in the site of the newly built suspension
bridge.
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Crossing to the picturesque town
of Nafpaktos, charming little city
at the northwest end of the Gulf
of Corinth which was fortified by
the Venetians in the 15C. Under
its medieval name of Lepando it
recalls the famous naval battle
which took place in 1571 between
the Christian fleet from Spain,
Genoa, Naples, Malta and Venice
with the Turkish fleet of Sultan
Selim. |
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Continue along the scenic new road
on the coast until we arrive in
Delphi . Visit the Sanctuary of
Apollo Pythios and the Museum in
the evening.
Overnight
in Delphi or Arachova one of the
most traditional villages in Greece. |
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7th
day:
Further
sightseeing of Delphi, visit Castalia
Spring and the Sanctuary of Athena
Pronaea.
Continue
for Meteora, passing through,
Lamia, typical towns and
numerous picturesque villages of
Central Greece. Stay overnight in
Kastraki, the closest village to
Meteora with the best view or
Trikala one of the nicest cities
in Greece. |
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8th
day:
Visit
Meteora,
amongst striking scenery, perched
on top of huge rocks which seem
to be suspended in Mid - Air, stand
ageless Monasteries, where you can
see exquisite specimens of Byzantine
Art. |
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Of
the 24 monasteries that grew up
between the 13th and
16th centuries only six
are still inhabited: The Great Meteoron,
Agia Triad, Agios Nikolaos and Varlaam
by monks: Agios Stephanos and Roussanou
by nuns.
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This city was the most important
urban centre in the region until
the 4th C. BC. Here were to be found
the ancestral sanctuaries of the
Macedonians, and the palaces and
the tombs (with their famous treasures)
of the Argead dynasty, which traced
its origins to the mythical hero
Herakles and gave Greek history
its most captivating figure, Alexander
the Great: Stay overnight in Thessalonike.
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Comment:
See the main cultural
and archaeological, historical and religious
highlights of Greece. Time is allowed for
gentle walks, swimming and coastal relaxation.
Most of the driving is on mountain and coastal
roads.
Closed
on Holidays:
January 1st.
March 25th, May 1st, Easter Sunday, Christmas
Day and Boxing Day.
On Good Friday, the sites are open 12.00
- 17.00.
Ps : Have in
mind that most of the Archaeological sites
in winter close at 2.45 pm.
All the information & photos on this website
is updated continuously. I myself visit
all sites at least once the month.
