The Athenian Vol.3 – Athens and Meteora
Description
Itinerary
Day 1: Morning or evening arrival
Upon your arrival in Athens be welcomed by your English-Speaking driver and depart to your hotel for check-in. Overnight in Athens.
Day 2: City Tour of Athens & The Acropolis
After breakfast, meet with your English-speaking guide at the hotel lobby and depart for your organized Athens city tour including the Acropolis and the Acropolis Museum. You will see the Constitution Square (Syntagma Square), the House of Parliament, the Evzones in their picturesque uniform guarding the Memorial to the Unknown Soldier. See the Athens Academy, the University and the National Library. Have a short photo stop at the Panathenaic Stadium, the site of the first modern Olympic Games that took place in 1896. The stadium is impressive both for its history and for its U- shape, which seats more than 70,000 spectators on a surface completely covered in white marble from Penteli, the same used to build the Parthenon. Continue towards the Acropolis, passing by Hadrian’s Arch and the Temple of Olympian Zeus. On top of a rocky hill, overlooking the city of Athens you will visit the monuments of the Acropolis: the Propylaea, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion and finally, the Parthenon. You will also see the Herodion theatre (no entry) and the theatre of Dionysos. Your last stop will be the Acropolis Museum where the friezes and statues from the Acropolis have finally found their permanent home. The tour finished at tour hotel. Overnight in Athens.
Day 3: Two-day tour to Delphi and Meteora. Visit Delphi, the sanctuary of Apollo
After breakfast, meet your English speaking guide and depart for your two-day Delphi and Meteora tour. Drive through the fertile plain of Beotia, crossing the towns of Thebes connected with the tragedy of King Oedipus - Levadia and Arachova. Arrive at Delphi, the centre of the Ancient World - the "Omphalos" (Navel of the - whose prestige extended far beyond the boundaries of the Hellenic World. On the slopes of Mount Parnassus, in a landscape of unparalleled beauty and majesty, lie the ruins of the Sanctuary of Apollo Pythios. Visit the archaeological site including the Treasury of the Athenians and the Temple of Apollo. Continue and have a short stop at the picturesque mountain village of Arachova, built on the south slopes of Parnassus, well known for its attractive hand-woven carpets, rugs and quilts, as well as for its wine and cheese. Depart for Kalambaka, passing through villages and towns of Central Greece. Upon arrival in Kalambaka, check in to your hotel. Enjoy your dinner at the hotel. Overnight in Kalambaka.
Day 4: Two-day tour to Delphi and Meteora. Visit Meteora Monasteries
After breakfast, check out and meet your English speaking guide at hotel lobby. Depart for your visit to the nearby Byzantine monasteries, built on top of rock towers and providing fantastic views over the plain. Meteora is included in the UNESCO world heritage monuments. The monasteries are perched on top of towers of sandstone, which for centuries provided totally inaccessible retreats for the monks. It is considered one of the most beautiful areas of mainland Greece, and the monasteries are one of the country's most unique attractions. Start your departure trip to Athens. On the way back, you will pass by the heroic monument of Leonidas king of Sparta in Thermopylae (15’ stop for photos), built to commemorate the battle at Thermopylae. Upon arrival to the hotel for check-in. Overnight in Athens.
Day 5: Athens, departure
After breakfast, you will be met, at a set time, by your English-speaking driver and depart to Athens Airport. Connect with your flight back home.
