ROCS Simply Guided 2021

The Wonders of Ancient Greece Including Mythical Meteora

€ 1399 9 DAY GUIDED TOUR FROM

25 AUG - 2 SEP 2021

Visiting: Athens, Meteora, Delphi, Ancient Olympia, Vassae, Temple Of Epikourios Apollon, Ancient Messene, Sparti, Mystras, Diros Caves, Monemvasia, Mycenae, Epidaurus, Nauplio, Lousios Gogre & Monasteries Of Prodromos & Philosophou, Dimitsana, Cave Of Lakes, Kalavryta (Cog Railway), Ancient Corinth

DAY 4 - ANCIENT OLYMPIA - VASSAE - TEMPLE OF EPIKOURIOS APOLLON - ANCIENT MESSENE – SPARTI Breakfast and proceed for visit of the archeological site of Ancient Olympia, which lies in the lush valley formed by Alfios River, where the first Olympic Games took place in 776 B.C. You can also visit the Temple of Zeus, the most celebrated sanctuary of ancient Greece. Phedias had created the gold and ivory statue, dedicated to Zeus, which was housing one of the 7 wonders of the Ancient world. Then see the temple of Hera, the shrine of Pelops (one of the oldest in the sanctuary), the Council house where the athletes took the Olympic oath, the Treasury houses, the Gymnasium and the Palestra, where they used to exercise for a month prior to the Games. Finally you will visit the stadium. Later we will reach Vassae in ancient Figaleia, at an elevation of 1.130 meters, stands the eternally proud temple of Apollo Epikurios. The inspiration behind its construction and the architect is considered to be the great Ictinus. This universal architectural gem was the first of the great monuments of Greece to be recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1986. The temple was built at the height of the Greek civilization in the second half of the 5th century BC (420- 400 BC). We leave from Vassae to reach to ancient Messene which is a spectacular archaeological site, a UNESCO monument which combines diverse beauties as it is built at the one side at the Messenian valley. The city was founded on the 4th century B.C. by Epaminondas. Check in at the 4* Menelaion hotel in Sparti. DAY 5 - SPARTI – MYSTRAS – DIROS CAVES - MONEMVASIA Breakfast and today we will visit the unique Museum of Olive Oil of Sparta, a great Museum showing the unique history of olive production in Greece. We continue to visit the glory Byzantine town of Mystras. Wander around the castle city the Upper and the Lower Town, and sense through the silence the city’s sheer grandeur: the Palace of the Despots (Anaktora), the Houses of Laskaris and Frangopoulos, the beautiful Cathedral of Saint Dimitrios and the impressive Monasteries of Our Lady Pantánassa, and of Οur Lady Perivleptos. Later we will arrive

DAY 1 – MALTA – ATHENS - METEORA Meet your tour manager at Malta International Airport for your flight to Athens. Upon arrival you will start this incredible journey following the road towards Thermopylae. We will visit the monument of King Leonidas, in the historic Thermopylae, dedicated to the 480 BC battle that changed the course of Greek history, as 300 Spartans fought against Persian Empire. Check in at the 4* Iridanos Boutique Hotel in Meteora. DAY 2 – METEORA MONASTERY - DELPHI Breakfast and today we will visit the monasteries having our first stop at the Great Meteoro (or similar) which is the largest and the oldest of all. It was called the monastery that was “suspended in the air” (meteoro), due to the formation of the gigantic rock on top of which it was built. Our second visit is to the great monastery of St. Stephan which is a small church built in the 16th century and decorated in 1545. This monastery rests on the plain rather than on a cliff. It was damaged by the Nazis during World War II who believed it was harboring insurgents and was abandoned. Then, nuns took it over and reconstructed it. Furthermore, you will admire a small treasure of Byzantine and Christian items, at the museum inside the monastery. Afterwards we will head to Delphi where we will check in at the 4* Kasatalia Hotel. DAY 3 – DELPHI - ANCIENT OLYMPIA After breakfast, wewill visit the archaeological site of Delphi. Visit the Ancient Oracle, the Stadium, the Ancient Theatre which can host more than 5000 seated spectators and of course the Museum of Delphi, where you can admire the ‘’Charioteer’’, one of the best bronze statues ever! Delphi is perhaps best known for the oracle at the sanctuary that was dedicated to Apollo during the classical period. Proceed to the village of Arachova, the most bustling winter destination in Greece, a mountainous village at 1000 meters altitude. Discover the traditional character of the village and don’t forget to try the famous, traditional cheese, Arachova’s formaela, in various forms. Arrive at Arachova and head to Ancient Olympia for check in at the 4* Olympion Asty hotel

at Areopolis and Diros, famous for its marvelous subterranean caves as a part of an underground river. About 5,000 meters have been exposed and accessible by small boats and through narrow passageways and one is surrounded by formations of stalagmites and stalactites. Caves have served as places of worship in Paleolithic and Neolithic times and their inhabitant believed that the caves were the entrance to the underworld. Check in at the 4* Bastione Malvasia hotel in Monemvasia. DAY 6 - MONEMVASIA - MYCENAE - EPIDAURUS – NAUPLIO After breakfast you can stroll around the beautiful Monemvasia, a mystical stone- built settlement, nestled at the edge of a big rock by the sea, that was founded by the Byzantines in the sixth century. Peer into the history of the fortress –the so-called “Gibraltar of the East”–, which was occupied by the Byzantines, the Crusaders, the Venetians, and the Turks in the past. Later we will depart for Epidaurus and we will visit the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus, famous for the breathtaking acoustics that is still functioning today! After this, we will head back to Nafplio to have lunch (optional), and then we will leave for the famous ancient town of Mycenae and the Archaeological site - the Lion Gate, the Cyclopean Walls, the Royal Palace and the tomb of Agamemnon. At the end we will reach at Nauplio. You can explore the one of the most beautiful towns of Greece and the first capital city at the Modern Greek history, Nafplio! You can walk next to the coast, or you can visit the Castle of the Town, with the 999 steps (!) and the amazing view, or take a taxi boat to visit the small island of Bourtzi, in the middle of the city’s harbor, the fort on the sea and Nauplio’s trademark! Check in at the 4* Athena hotel in Nauplio. DAY 7 - NAUPLIO - LOUSIOS GOGRE & MONASTERIES OF PRODROMOS & PHILOSOPHOU - DIMITSANA Breakfast and proceed to the start of the path that leads to the Monastery of Agios Ioannis Prodromos that was built in 19th century. About after a 30 minutes walk you will reach the Monastery and admire the wonderful view to Lousios River under your feet! The monks will help you and show you how to

SIMPLY GUIDED COLLECTION 2020

FLORIANA | MELLIEHA | MINUSTHREE - THE POINT | MOSTA

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