Classical Tour of Greece

Fly from London Heathrow to Athens and transfer to the central 5-star Hotel Divani Acropolis for a three-night stay.

An orientation tour of Athens views the heart and soul of the city, Syntagma Square; the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, with its hourly Changing of the (Evzone) Guard; the regal façade of the old National Library, one of the ‘Athenian Trilogy’ of white marble, neoclassical buildings; and the 1896 stadium of the first ‘modern’ Olympic Games. Visit the Acropolis, with the Roman ‘Herodeon’ theatre at its feet, and crowning glories including the Parthenon, Erechthium, Propylaea gateway, and Temple of Athena Nike; and view its treasures in the Acropolis Museum, where exhibits span the centuries from Bronze Age to Byzantine relics. Enjoy a Welcome cocktail at the hotel this evening.
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Free day for independent exploration, perhaps mooching in Monasteraki market, picking a Plaka taverna for lunch, taking the tunnel funicular to the top of Lykabettos Hill, for fantastic views across the city from the whitewashed St. George’s chapel, or visiting the Benaki or Archaeological Museums.
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Travel to Kalambaka (4hrs approx.) to see the ‘mid-air’ monasteries of Meteora, built in the 14^th to 16^th centuries, and precariously perched atop rock pillars. Of the 24, with just six still active, St. Stephen’s is the easiest to reach, across a little bridge; Holy Trinity is the hardest but has the best views; and Roussanou, with resident nuns, carries the name of its first hermit. Overnight at the 4-star Divani Meteora Hotel.
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Travel to Delphi (3hrs approx.) to visit the classical ruins of the Delphic Oracle, clinging to steep slopes at the foot of Mount Parnassos. Ascend the Sacred Way to the Temple of Apollo, treasuries, amphitheatre, stadium, and statuary. The sizeable UNESCO site is incredibly impressive, made more so by its gorgeous views down to the Gulf of Corinth. Overnight at the 4-star Hotel Amalia.
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Visit the Delphi Archaeological Museum, displaying the religious and cultural history of the sanctuary site with statues and architectural sculptures. A scenic journey (3hrs approx.) takes you to Olympia to visit two museums. The Archaeological, focused on the Sanctuary of Zeus, is known for its fascinating Terracotta collection; the many and varied items of its Sculpture collection; and the Bronze collection, considered among the richest of its type in the world. The Olympic Games Museum boasts over 400 ancient finds, from Mycenaean ceramics to copper and stone inscriptions, recording the games from the 2^nd millennium BC to the 5^thcentury AD. Overnight at the 4-star Hotel Olympian Asty or Hotel Europa. Dinner at the hotel.
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Visit ancient Olympia, its ruins undiscovered for over a thousand years since its 7^th century demise. The altar at the Temple of Hera, one of the oldest in Greece, is where the Olympic flame is lit for the modern games; the colonnaded Temple of Zeus was a magnificent building, with multiple marble sculptures, begun in 470BC and taking thirteen years to complete; and close to the sanctuary, the Stadium’s start/finish lines are shown with stone markers, 193metres apart, tempting many a tourist to run a lap in the footsteps of ancient athletes. Travel to Nafplion for two nights at the 4-star Hotel Ippoliti or similar.
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Visit the Bronze Age stronghold of Mycenae, the citadel of Agamemnon, encircled by cyclopean boulder-stone walls, shrouded in myth and mystery, and the site of his tragic return from the Trojan War. Enter through the Lion Gate to view the palace and vaulted ‘Atreus Treasury’, believed to have been Agamemnon’s tomb. Continue to Epidaurus to experience the astonishing acoustics of the ancient amphitheatre, the architectural star of the Sanctuary of Asclepios. Return to Nafplion to explore the town’s seafront, staircases, and steep lanes, where Bourtzi Fort basks on an islet in the bay, and Palamidi Fortress, atop 999 rock-carved steps, rewards the effort with exquisite views.
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Cross the Corinth Canal enroute to Athens for the return flight to London Heathrow.
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