TOUR 1: ATHENS

includes a visit to: The Acropolis (where you will see the Temple of Parthenon which is dedicated to Athena Parthenos, Propylea which is the monumental entrance to the sacred area, the Temple of Athena Nike which is dedicated to Athena-Apteros Nike, the Temple of Erechtheion which is dedicated to Athena Polias, the Cariatides, Herodeon Theater, the ruins of the Theater of Dionysus, Areopagus (Mars Hill), The Temple of Zeus (which is the largest ancient temple in Greece in the Corinthian order), The Panathenaic Stadium (also known as The Kallimarmaro, the original stadium built in the 1863 for the first modern Olympic games in 1896) for a short photo stop, The Old Palace, The Tomb of The Unknown Soldier in front of the Parliament & The Changing of The Guards, The Catholic Cathedral, The Neoclassical Trilogy [The Academy, The National Library, The First University of Athens], The Plaka (which is Athens oldest and most picturesque neighborhood. It is stone-paved, with narrow streets, and is full of gyros places, tavernas and souvenir shops) for lunch, and finally The Acropolis Museum.

TOUR 2: ATHENS & CAPE SOUNION

includes a visit to: The Acropolis (where you will see the Temple of Parthenon which is dedicated to Athena Parthenos, Propylea which is the monumental entrance to the sacred area, the Temple of Athena Nike which is dedicated to Athena-Apteros Nike, the Temple of Erechtheion which is dedicated to Athena Polias, the Cariatides, Herodeon Theater, the ruins of the Theater of Dionysus and finally Areopagus [Mars Hill]), The Acropolis Museum*, and finally Cape Sounion which includes a wonderful drive along the scenic coastal road of the Saronic Gulf passing through some of Athens most beautiful suburbs (Glyfada, Lake of Vouliagmeni, and Varkiza). In Cape Sounion you will visit The Temple of Poseidon [5th century B.C] with one of the most breathtaking panoramic views in the world (on a clear day you can see at least seven islands) and you will have lunch or dinner by the sea.

* Please note that The Acropolis Museum can be replaced by The Temple of Zeus (which is the largest ancient temple in Greece in the Corinthian order), The Panathenaic Stadium (also known as The Kallimarmaro; the original stadium built in the 1863 for the first modern Olympic games in 1896) for a short photo stop, The Old Palace, The Tomb of The Unknown Soldier in front of The Parliament & The Changing of The Guards.

TOUR 3: ATHENS & ANCIENT CORINTH

you will basically visit The Acropolis (where you will see the Temple of Parthenon which is dedicated to Athena Parthenos, Propylea which is the monumental entrance to the sacred area, the Temple of Athena Nike which is dedicated to Athena-Apteros Nike, the Temple of Erechtheion which is dedicated to Athena Polias, the Cariatides, Herodeon Theater, the ruins of the Theater of Dionysus and finally Areopagus [Mars Hill]), The Temple of Zeus (which is the largest ancient temple in Greece in the Corinthian order), The Panathenaic Stadium (also known as The Kallimarmaro; the original stadium built in the 1863 for the first modern Olympic games in 1896) for a short photo stop, The Old Palace, The Tomb of The Unknown Soldier in front of The Parliament & The Changing of The Guards, The Catholic Cathedral, The Neoclassical Trilogy [The Academy, The National Library, The First University of Athens]. Then you will drive to Corinth and visit The Canal (which is about 6 km long and connects the Aegean Sea with the Ionian Sea; its width upon completion was 25 meters, and 8 meters deep), Acro-Corinth (the fortress acropolis of Ancient Corinth and Medieval Corinth, being on a steep of a rocky hill 575 meters high at its highest peak, with uninterrupted views across the Corinthian and Saronic Gulfs. It has been a fortified citadel for the Mycenaens, Archaic Greeks, Macedonians, Romans, Byzantines, Franks, Venetians, Ottomans and eventually back to the Hellenes following the Greek War of Independence) for a short photo stop, and finally Ancient Corinth (where you can see the Long Walls that begin at the summit of Acro-Corinth and descend all the way to Lechaion, the artificial harbour on the Corinthian Gulf, the Agora, the Dorian Temple of Appollo [6th c. BC with 1st c. AD restorations], the museum which contains mosaic floors, Mycenaean and Corinthian pottery, terra cotta sphinxes, statues of two supernatural beings, relief plaques, the Roman head of the goddess Tyche and small objects of various kinds, and the Bima where St Paul preached).

TOUR 4: COASTAL TOUR (CAPE SOUNION, MARATHON, MARATHON LAKE, RHAMNOUS)

includes: a wonderful drive along the scenic coastal road of the Saronic Gulf passing through some of Athens most beautiful suburbs (Glyfada, Lake of Vouliagmeni, and Varkiza). In Cape Sounion you will visit The Temple of Poseidon [5th century B.C] with one of the most breathtaking panoramic views in the world (on a clear day you can see at least seven islands) and you will have lunch or dinner by the sea. Then follows The Burial Ground which was raised in honor of the Athenian Warriors who fell in the battle of the Marathon in 490 B.C., The Museum, The Marathon Lake Reservoir, with the all marble dam, which supplies Athens with water (there is a cafeteria near the Marathon lake where you can have a coffee break).

TOUR 5: ANCIENT CORINTH, CANAL, MYCENAE, NAFPLION

includes a visit to: Ancient Corinth (where you can see the Long Walls that begin at the summit of Acro-Corinth and descend all the way to Lechaion, the artificial harbour on the Corinthian Gulf, the Agora, the Dorian Temple of Appollo [6th c. BC with 1st c. AD restorations], the museum which contains mosaic floors, Mycenaean and Corinthian pottery, terra cotta sphinxes, statues of two supernatural beings, relief plaques, the Roman head of the goddess Tyche and small objects of various kinds, and the Bima where St Paul preached), The Canal (which is about 6 km long and connects the Aegean Sea with the Ionian Sea; its width upon completion was 25 meters, and 8 meters deep), Mycenae (where you will see the Cyclopean Walls, the Grave Circle A with 6 royal tombs, courtiers’ houses, sanctuaries, the Grave Circle B with 14 royal tombs and 12 tombs of private citizens, the Treasure of Atreus also known as the beehive tomb of Agamemnon, and the Lions Gate), and finally Nafplion (where you will climb up the 999 steps to the Venetian fortress of Palamidi crowning the city, wander around the battlements of Acronafplia and pop over to the fortified island, Bourtzi).

TOUR 6: CANAL, MYCENAE, NAFPLION, EPIDAURUS

includes a visit to: The Canal (which is about 6 km long and connects the Aegean Sea with the Ionian Sea; its width upon completion was 25 meters, and 8 meters deep), Mycenae (where you will see the Cyclopean Walls, the Grave Circle A with 6 royal tombs, courtiers’ houses, sanctuaries, the Grave Circle B with 14 royal tombs and 12 tombs of private citizens, the Treasure of Atreus also known as the beehive tomb of Agamemnon, and the Lion Gates), Nafplion (where you will climb up the 999 steps to the Venetian fortress of Palamidi crowning the city, wander around the battlements of Acronafplia and pop over to the fortified island, Bourtzi), and finally The Theater of Epidaurus (which is known for its exceptional acoustics, which permit almost perfect intelligibility of unamplified spoken word from the proscenium or skene to all 15,000 spectators, regardless of their seating).

TOUR 7: DELPHI & THE MONASTERY OF OSIOUS LUCAS

includes a visit to: The Famous Sanctuary of Delphi (which was the site of the Delphic Oracle, the most important oracle in the Classical Greek world), and finally The Monastery of Osious Lucas (In the year 946 AC Osious Loukas first built his cell, a small church in which to pray. He also made a beautiful garden in which he grew his vegetables. He did not, however, manage to finish it. He died in February 7, 953 AC at the age of 56. The monastery is famous for its wall paintings. Those paintings have been cleaned and restored recently and they exhibit special interest).

 

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