Discover the famous historical monuments of mainland Greece! With this five-day sightseeing tour in Greece from Athens including Meteora and Delphi, you will visit some of the most interesting sites in Greece. Visit the archaeological site of Delphi with Apollo temple and the UNESCO World Heritage-listed rock-tower monasteries of Meteora.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Epidaurus: Epidaurus is one of the most important archaeological findings reflecting the splendour of Greek culture through its imposing beauty. Visit the birthplace of Apollo's son and an ancient place of healing.
Mycenae: See ancient Greek remains and the tomb of Agamemnon in fascinating Mycenae.
Olympia: Cath a glimpse of the birthplace of the Olympic Games.
Delphi: At the foot of Mount Parnassos, lies the Pan-Hellenic sanctuary of Delphi, which was the most famous Oracle of ancient Greece. Delphi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the second-most important archaeological site in Greece, after the Acropolis in Athens.
Meteora: In a region of almost inaccessible sandstone peaks, monks settled on these 'columns of the sky' from the 11th century onwards. Twenty-four of these monasteries were built, despite incredible difficulties, at the time of the great revival of the eremitic ideal in the 15th century. Their 16th-century frescoes mark a key stage in the development of post-Byzantine painting. Meteora is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Athens: Explore the Capital of Greece on your own, visiting the spectacular Acropolis and enjoying plenty of time for shopping.
Day 1: ARRIVAL ATHENS
Arrival at Athens airport where you will be met and transferred to your hotel for check-in. The afternoon is free at leisure for exploring this never-sleeping city. You may optionally visit Syntagma Square and get into the city’s vibe. Enjoy shopping in one of the most popular streets of the city in the Kolonaki area of Ermou, and have a nice, quiet walk at the beautiful alleys of Plaka (the old district) where you can also find a big number of small shops selling souvenirs and other local artefacts.
Overnight in Athens.
Day 2: ATHENS – CANAL OF CORINTH – EPIDAURUS – MYCENAE – OLYMPIA (385 km – 9 hrs)
Wake up to breakfast at the hotel before leaving towards the Corinth Canal, where you will make the first stop. If you are lucky, you will be able to witness the passage of a ship through the canal. Travel back three thousand years ago to visit the strategic enclave of the powerful Argolis, Mycenae, city of the Atrides cursed by the gods. Its impressive ruins evoke the memory of this fortress-city, ‘rich in gold’ in the words of Homer, who ruled by tyrant warriors, looters and hunters, was the cradle of the Mycenaean civilization. You will begin the visit appreciating the Cyclopean Walls, made with stones joined without any mortar. Cross the famous Gate of Lions, where the symmetry of the shapes is masterfully achieved. Enter the acropolis, with your guide that will explain in detail, the history of the palace and its tomb circles, especially the Treasure of Atreus or Tomb of Agamemnon, the largest and most beautiful of all, with its majestic burial chamber. You will also visit the museum of the archaeological site. Next visit in the middle of the soft hills of Argolida, the remains of the sanctuary of Aesculapius, hero and god of Medicine, whose oracle came to consult all of Ancient Greece. Aesculapius became so wise that he managed to resurrect the dead, thus earning the enmity of Hades and the jealousy of Zeus, who killed him and whose remains were buried right here. Patients came to put themselves under the treatment of the epidaurica therapy, which included physical exercise and intellectual hobbies. This explains the importance that was given to the theatre and sports facilities since the distraction of patients was part of the healing process of their souls. The theatre of Epidaurus was restored in 1954 and adapted for the representation of old works and lyrical concerts and shows, with a capacity of almost 16,000 spectators, vision and acoustics are fully guaranteed from anywhere in the cave. In the afternoon, crossing the central Peloponnese, arrive at Olympia, where you will have dinner and overnight stay at hotel.
Overnight in Olympia.
Day 3: OLYMPIA – DELPHI (330km – 8 hrs)
Begin your day with a mouthwatering breakfast at the hotel. Visit the ruins of Olympia, reminiscent of the past greatness of a sanctuary that, thanks to the Olympic Games, was one of the symbols of the unity of ancient Greece. You will visit one by one the remains of each building that formed the set destined for sports celebrations, the gym, the arena, where athletes, especially wrestlers, trained and received oil massages in the adjacent rooms; Heroon, a circular room with an altar dedicated to an unknown hero; the Theokoleon, building of the s. IV. B.C. residence of the priests of Olympia; Phidias' workshop; The sanctuary that housed the statue of Zeus Olympian, considered one of the seven wonders of antiquity. From the Sanctuary you can access the stadium, the track where the athletic tests were held. The importance of these games is evident given the massive participation of the Greek cities, which maintained a truce for the duration of their celebration and the fact that the Olympiad, that is, the period of four years between the celebration of two games, was recognized as the only accepted chronological system for all of Greece. You also visit the Olympia Museum, which contains a large part of the archaeological remains of the temple of Zeus, as well as all kinds of objects in chronological order, found during the excavations. In the afternoon, passing the new Rio-Antirio suspended bridge that connects the Peloponnese peninsula with the rest of the country, is the largest in the world of its kind, with a length of 2,252 meters. Arrive in Delphi (or Itea), where you will have dinner and overnight.
Overnight in Delphi (or Itea).
Day 4: DELPHI – KALAMBAKA (310 km – 8 hrs)
Have a tasty breakfast at the hotel. In Delphi, a city known as the centre of the world, "the navel of the universe." One of the main religious centres of antiquity was the sanctuary of Apollo, god of harmony and music, guardian of the sacred laws of Zeus, attracting countless pilgrims who came to consult the oracle. You will walk the ‘’Secrete Street’’ decorated with innumerable offerings from Greek and foreign cities until you reach the Temple of Apollo. In addition to the statues, the cities dedicated to the god, the so-called treasures to house the offerings in the form of small temples, such as the treasure of Sifnos, the treasure of Thebes or the Treasury of the Athenians, which you will visit. In addition to the entire monumental complex, including the tholos of the oracle, the visit to the Delphi Museum is absolutely obligatory once you are at the site. It is one of the most important Museums in Greece, it houses in a simple and pleasant way the works of art found in Delphi. In the lobby, you will find a conical block of marble covered by a sculpted hairnet, which is a Hellenistic copy of the navel that marked the centre of the known world. You will also see the famous statue of the Charioteer of Delphi, perfectly preserved, dating from the archaic period and was part of a bronze votive offering that represented the victorious chariot of the Olympic Games. Continue your way until you reach the town of Kalambaka, where you will have dinner and an overnight stay.
Overnight in Kalambaka.
Day 5: KALAMBAKA – ATHENS (355 km – 9 hrs)
Begin your day with a delightful breakfast at the hotel. You are in Meteora the ‘suspended in the air ’or‘ between heaven and earth ’, once there, you will understand why they are named like that. A veritable forest of fantastically shaped and shadowy rocks stands out over the Peneo Valley and the city of Kalambaka. It is a unique geological phenomenon that gives rise to a landscape without equal, the tops of these gigantic rocks are crowned by famous coenobitical monasteries. Its origin is in the first anchorites of the 11th century, who settled in their caves in search of solitude. In the S. XIV with the Serb invasion in Thessaly, many of these hermitages were transformed into monasteries and it was then when Saint Athanasius, coming from Mount Athos, founded the Great Meteora, and other monks followed him despite the difficulties in transporting the materials to the construction of the different monastic centres. The XV and XVI centuries were the period of greatest splendour and they became up to 24 monasteries. Today there are only 5 establishments occupied by men and women religious, you will have the opportunity to meet two of these unique monasteries in the world with our guide. Arrive in Athens early in the evening. In the evening (after 08:00 pm) transfer to Athens airport and flight back or book your travel arrangements accordingly, or book an additional night in Athens (not included).
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