Itinerary: Southern Greece May 13th to 21st 2009
Wednesday Q Fly to Athens on Olympic Airways at 1220 from Terminal 2, Heathrow. Coach to Hotel Pythagorian, Konstántinou Street, in the centre of Athens (about one hour from the new airport).
Overnight Athens
Free day in Athens. We will lead a group through the Ancient Agora * to the Temple of Hephaistos (the most complete temple on the Greek mainland) and then up to the Akropolis *^* to the Parthenon and the Eréchtheum built by Perikles in the 5th century BC, the jewels in the crown of Classical Greece.
I
fervently hope that the much heralded new Akropolis
museum will be open. It will contain some
lovely archaic statues and the sculptures from the
Parthenon that Elgin didn't take to London.
If you have been to Athens before you may prefer to
visit the Kerameikon, the Benaki Museum, go to the flea
market, shopping, or linger over lunch in the Plaka, (all
within walking distance of our hotel).
Overnight Athens
Temple to Hephaistos in th Agora, Athens
Visit the charming Sanctuary of Artemis at Vrauron*, silver mines & theatre at Thorikos**, silver washeries at Agrilesa** and the Temple to Poseidon at Cape Sounion**. Swim at Sounion followed by supper in taverna overlooking the temple before watching the sunset
Overnight Athens
Theatre and Washery at Thorikos
In the morning we will visit the National Archaeological Museum which contains treasures from all over Greece, including a fabulous collection of vases, sculpture and the frescoes from Thira (Santorini). After that you might like to take the ferry to the Island of Egina where there is the splendid Temple of Aphaia as well as an opportunity to swim.
Overnight Athens
Frescoes from Thira
We leave Athens to drive to the island of Evia (Euboea). We will take the ferry across to Erétria ** where we will visit the House of Mosaics, fine museum and ancient city. We then travel to Delphi, in the most dramatic setting beneath Mount Parnassos, where we stay the night at the Akropole Hotel. ( 0030 02650 82675
Overnight Delphi
Theseus abducting Antiope, Erétrea museum
Visit the Sanctuary of Apollo and museum of Delphi ^. The site which is within walking distance of our hotel, opens at 0800. The 4th century BC Sanctuary of Apollo was the most famous of the cult sites in Greece and the shrine of the Oracle. The museum here has many wonderful finds from the site including the glorious bronze charioteer, some stunning gold & ivory items and beautiful archaic sculptures.
Leave Delphi 1400. From here we have a beautiful drive along the Gulf of Corinth, cross the Gulf on the new suspension bridge and travel to Olympia where we stay the night at the Olympic Village Hotel . There is an outdoor swimming pool here. The hotel is within walking distance of the site.
Overnight Olympia
The tholos at the Marmaria or 'lower site'
Visit Olympia**, site of the 5th century BC Sanctuary of Zeus, the stadium where the first Olympic games were held c.776 BC and the magnificent museum where you will see some of the superb sculptures from the temple of Zeus and the famous statue of Hermes by Praxitiles (the site & museum are within walking distance of the hotel).
The Philipeion at Olympia
Overnight Loutraki
Temple to Appollo at Vassae
Possibility of early morning swim
for the brave! Then we will go to Mycenae,^,
Homer's 'city of gold' built c1200 BC.
Here, legend has it, Klytemnestra murdered Agamemnon on
his return from the Trojan war.
Next we go to the Sanctuary of Zeus, the stadium (complete with entrance tunnel) and lovely museum of Ancient Nemea* (where Herakles carried out his first labour of killing the lion!). We will have our picnic lunch at the stadium here.
Then go to the Graeco-Roman city of Ancient Corinth **, with one of the oldest remaining Greek temples in the Doric style (540BC) and extensive Roman remains from the first & second centuries AD.
In the evening we will take a boat trip along the Corinth Canal.
Overnight Loutraki
Thursday
To Athens airport by coach (2 hours) to catch 1320 flight for Heathrow
or local bus to Nauplion for week's stay at the Lito Hotel in the old town.
Temple to Zeus at Nemea