THE ART & ARCHAEOLOGY OF GREECEJune 6 - 16, 2011
Crete Extension
June 15 - 18, 2011
Far Horizons proudly presents an 11-day journey through Greece that includes specially arranged meetings with archaeologists at two projects - Mt Lykaion and Corinth .
During the trip, view both the celebrated and more remote remains of the many civilizations that have passed across this land including five UNESCO World Heritage Sites – Athen’s Acropolis, the Sanctuary of Asklepios at Epidaurus, Tiryns, Mycenae, and Delphi. Spend two days in Athens, travel through the Peloponnese Peninsula, visit the rugged northern part of the country, and travel to the island of Santorini. An optional post-trip tour of Crete is also offered.
Our study leaders’ contacts in the archaeological community, and their in-depth knowledge of the history of each site allows us to not only admire visually all that we explore but also provides a comprehensive context for all that we see.
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(B) breakfast, (L) lunch, (D) dinner
DAY 1: Depart USA for Athens, Greece.
DAY 2: Arrive in Athens. This afternoon, visit the Acropolis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the great hill dominating the city of Athens. It has been occupied since the Neolithic period and in Mycenaean times there was already a palace and fortified citadel here. In the mid-5th century BC, the Atheni
ans began an immense construction program that resulted in the erection of several extraordinary buildings that still stand today. Walk through the Propylaia, the enormous entrance to the Acropolis, and pass the Temple of Athena Nike, built to commemorate the Athenians’ victories over the Persians. View the Erechtheion, situated on the most sacred part of the Acropolis, said to be where Poseidon left his trident marks in a rock and where Athena’s olive tree sprouted. See the Porch of the Caryatids on the south side of the Erechtheion with carved statues of women used in place of columns; it is considered one of the most beautiful works of architecture in the Greek world. The immense and lovely Parthenon, originally built to house the 40-foot high sculpture of the goddess, Athena Parthenos, is one of the world’s most famous buildings. The splendor of its frieze and perfection of its architectural techniques makes it immensely impressive even after 2,500 years of erosion, neglect and damage from bombs. The splendid Theater of Dionysos lies on the south side of the Acropolis and is still used today. Spend time in the new Acropolis Museum built just below the Parthenon and containing the works of art found nearby. Gather this evening for our welcome dinner party in one of Plaka's fine restaurants. Overnight for two nights in the Hotel Divani Palace Acropolis with spectacular views overlooking the Acropolis. Gather this evening for our welcome dinner. (D)
DAY 3: Athens has been a city for more than 3,500 years and much of the glory of ancient Greece can be see
n in the many buildings and monuments that still survive. Begin today at the Arch of Hadrian, built by the 2nd century emperor of Rome who was a great admirer of classical Greece. Visit the National Archaeological Museum, one of the world’s finest storehouses of ancient art, for an overview of the cultures we will see during our trip. The Agora formed the political heart of ancient Athens from 600 BC. In the 1930s, the American School of Classical Studies began excavations that have revealed a vast array of impressive public buildings. Nearby, see the Roman Forum and the towering Temple of Olympian Zeus, or Olympeion, the largest in Greece exceeding even the Parthenon in size. View the Roman Forum and the Tower of the Winds, an octagonal structure originally built as a water clock and weather vane by an astronomer in the 1st century BC. Move forward in Athenian history and pay a visit to the 12th century Little Metropolis church, or P
anayia Gorgoepikoos (“Virgin Who Answers Prayers Quickly”). Late this afternoon, drive to Cape Sounion to watch the sunset from the spectacular Temple of Poseidon. (B/L/D)
DAY 4: Depart Athens and drive to Corinth. Along the way, pass through the four-mile-wide isthmus with a stop to see the canal, first begun by Emperor Nero, and the reason for the ancient city’s prosperity. Excavations show that Corinth was once the largest Roman township in Greece. Visit the Temple of Octavia where three ornate Corinthian columns still stand on a platform, the Glauke Fountain and its four cisterns that were carved from a huge monolith, the theater, and the Temple of Apollo, the most striking structure of the lower city. Continue to the Sanctuary of Epidaurus, a UNESCO World Heritage site and an extensive therapeutic and religious center dedicated to Asclepius, a mortal physician deified after his death by Zeus for retrieving a patient from the underworld. Drive to the lovely seaside town of Naufplio, lying in the shadow of a huge Venetian citadel. Overnight for the next two nights at the Hotel Marianna, a small bed-and-breakfast inn located overlooking the picturesque town. (B/L/D)
DAY 5: Mycenae, uncovered by Heinrich Schliemann in the 19th century and another UNESCO World Heritage site, is one of the earliest examples of sophisticated citadel architecture. Surrounded by unbreachable fortification walls up to 46 feet wide, the city contained royal palaces and rich tombs. Walk through the imposing Lion Gate, erected in the 13th century BC, to reach the royal family’s shaft graves where 31 pounds of gold funerary goods were found, and then visit the tholoi, or beehive tombs, outside the city walls. The University of Pennsylvania has spent the past several years studying the area outside the main complex using modern techniques and has identified and mapped hundreds of visible and buried structures in a wide area around the citadel, including tombs, houses, buildings, guard towers, beacons, a network of roads and highways, bridges and dams, as well as an outer fortification wall with three gates. Far Horizons will arrange a private tour if the excavators are on site. Dinner tonight is on our own to enjoy one of Naufplio’s excellent restaurants. (B/L)
DAY 6: Begin the day in the Nauplio Museum, housed in a Venetian warehouse and containing pre-Mycena
ean artifacts. Continue to the nearby UNESCO World Heritage Site of Tiryns, a 13th-century BC citadel protected by a circle of cyclopean walls. Then we drive into the mountains to meet privately with archaeologists from the Mt. Lykaion Project. The entire mountain was considered sacred by the ancient Greeks, and the sanctuary of Zeus stands out for its great fame, mysterious rituals and wide-ranging significance. We will enjoy a specially-arranged visit to the excavations. Then it’s on to Olympia and the Hotel Europa for dinner and overnight. (B/L/D)
DAY 7: The UNESCO World Heritage Sanctuary of Olympia enjoyed over a thousand years of esteem as a religious and athletic center. The city was famous for the Olympic Games which were held every four years at the late-summer full moon and were the most prestigious of all Hellenic competitions. In the site museum see the plethora of artifacts found during excavations including the relief pediments recovered from the Zeus temple. The rest of the day will be spent seeing the exquisite structures of the city. The massive column bases and tumbled sections are proof of the former magnificence of the Temple of Zeus. Walk through the colonnade surrounding the central court at the Palaestra (the training center for wrestlers and boxers), the workshop of Phidias, the archaic Hera Temple, and the still-standing vaulted entrance to the stadium. (B/L/D)
DAY 8: This morning, transfer from Olympia to Delphi, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Cross from the Peloponnese to mainland Greece via the new Rion-Antirion bridge. This bridge, completed in 2004, has reduced travel time across the Corinth Gulf from 45 minutes to a mere 5 minutes. According to ancient legends, Delphi was the center of the world. This was the home of Apollo and for more than 1,000 years in antiquity people came here to consult the oracle of the god. Walk to the Castalian Spring, where citizens who entered Delphi for religious reasons were required to purify themselves. Water from these springs provided the cold baths in the Gymnasium for athletes who were in training. Enter the Sacred Way through the agora and pass the Bouleuterion, or Delphic Council House, and the Rock of Sibyl marking the place where the first prophetess of Delphi pronounced her oracles, into the heart of the sanctuary. Here lies the stunning Sanctuary of Apollo and one of the finest theaters of the ancient Greek world. Continue to see the marble quarry and the Sanctuary of Athena Pronaia, and the 656-foot long stadium partly hewn out of the rocks that would hold 7,000 sports enthusiasts. Overni
ght at Hotel Apollonia. (B/L/D)
DAY 9: Experience the Temple of Athena as the sun rises and covers the temple with color. Then visit the Delphi Museum, which houses a collection second in importance only to the Athenian Acropolis Museum. Leave Delphi and drive to Athens in time for our evening flight to the island of Santorini, shaped by an explosion that created its dramatic appearance. What remains are broken pieces of the volcano’s rim encircling a deep lagoon. The exquisite whitewashed villages cling to volcanic cliffs above beaches of black sand. Overnight for two nights in the El Greco Hotel. (B/L/D)
DAY 10: In the capital village of Fíra, or Thíra, visit the Archaeological Museum and the Mégaron Gýzi Museum, housed in a 17th century 
mansion with collections about the island including photographs taken before the devastating 1956 earthquake. Santoríni’s Pompeii is the Minoan town of Akrotíri, preserved for millennia under volcanic ash. If open, we will visit it. Then it’s on to Boutari, well-known as one of the most exported labels of wine from Greece. At the Santorini vineyard, the winery produces several delicious and distinct white wines which are typical of the island, and we will stop for a sample tasting. This evening, gather to watch the spectacular sunset over the remains of the island’s volcanic cauldron. Dinner is on our own. (Those departing for the extension to Crete take the high-speed ferry this evening). (B/L)
DAY 11: Transfer to the airport for our return flight to Athens and on to the United States. (B)
CRETE EXTENSIONDAY 10: Depart this evening on the high-speed ferry to Crete with dinner on our own onboard. Overnight for three nights at the Astoria Capsis in Heraklion.
DAY 11: For approximately two thousand years from 2800 BC to 1000 BC, Crete was the center of a brilliant civilization of mythical origin. According to Homer, Zeus was born here and his son, Minos, is credited as the great king of the Minoans. Iráklio, or Herakleion, is the island’s largest city and the port for Knossós. Through the ages, the city has been under the control of the Romans, Arabs, Venetians, and Turks, and each has left behind spectacular cultural remains. We will see the Venetian Arsenal found at the end of the colorful old port along with the 16th century fortress still bearing the Lion of St. Mark. The city walls are three miles long. Reinforced by seven large bastions, these bulwarks were designed by the same man who built the fortifications of Padua and Verona. In the outstanding Iráklio Archaeological Museum, examine magnificent finds from Knossós and other nearby Minoan cities. (Please note that the Iráklio Museum is currently undergoing renovations and only a portion of its collection may be on display.) We also visit the Rhithymna Museum, which is housed in a 16th century Venetian villa and contains a notable coin collection. Next, proceed to Knossós where a maze of corridors, passages, hundreds of rooms and stairways make up the Palace of Knossós. Although there is controversy concerning the reconstruction done one hundred years ago, the complex illustrates the richness and complexity of the former civilization. Stunning painted frescoes covered the walls, light wells allowed air circulation, and the royal apartments were adorned with paintings and private bathrooms. Parts of the Royal Road, the paved thoroughfare from the harbor to the palace, are still visible. (B/L/D)
DAY 12: Once the Greco-Roman town of Rithymna, the site of today’s Rethymnon has been occupied since Minoan times. The charming city is considered the intellectual capital of Crete. The old quarter is rich in elegant, well-preserved Venetian and Ottoman architecture and the huge Venetian fort overlooks the picturesque harbor. Our walking tour includes the archaeological museum and the Fortétsa, or fort, built to defend against pirate attacks and still dominating the town. (B/L/D)
DAY 13: Transfer to the airport for our flight to Athens and our return flight to the United States. (B)
Jeremy McInerney received his PhD from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1992. He is the Davidson Kennedy Professor and Chair of the Graduate Group in the Department of Classical Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. A specialist in both Greek and Roman history, Dr. McInerney has published extensively on his subject. He is the author of The Cattle of the Sun: Cows and Culture in the World of the Ancient Greeks and The Folds of Parnassos: Land and Ethnicity in Ancient Phokise, consultant for 'What Life was Like in Ancient Greece' for Time-Life Books, and a featured speaker on videos of full-length university lectures about the Greek World produced by The Teaching Company. Dr. McInerney is a recipient of the Ira Abrams Award for Distinguished Teaching, one of the University of Pennsylvania’s highest teaching honors. He is an exceptional teacher with a charming personality, wonderful sense of humor, and exceptional knowledge of ancient history and architecture.
Maud Burnett McInerney received her PhD from University of California, Berkeley, in Comparative Literature, and her BA in English, Latin and Greek from the University of Toronto. She is presently the Department Chair and Associate Professor of English and Medieval Studies at Haverford College in Pennsylvania. Dr. McInerney has also taught courses in Greek Mythology and reads Latin and Greek. Her book, Eloquent Virgins from Thecla to Joan of Arc, was published by Palgrave Press in 2003. Her recent research has concerned itself with Greek Christian writers in Asia Minor and contacts between Byzantium and the Holy Roman Empire in the ninth and tenth centuries. Dr. McInerney’s familiarity with the mythology and history of the ancient Mediterranean, and her enthusiasm for her subject will make traveling with her a very special experience.
Greece Only: June 6 – 16, 2011
Crete Extension: June 15 – 18, 2011 (With Guide Only)
$9,795.00 (per person, double occupancy) includes roundtrip international airfare from the United States to Greece; all hotels; most meals (as listed in the itinerary); entry fees; flight from Santorini to Athens, and all ground transportation.
Cost Does Not Include: A tax-deductible check for $150.00 per person made out to the donation project; passport or visa fees; airport or departure taxes; beverages or food not included on regular menus; laundry; excess baggage charges; personal tips; gratuities to guides and drivers; alcoholic drinks; telephone and fax charges; or other items of a personal nature.
Single Supplement: $645.00. Should a roommate be requested and one not be available, the single supplement will be charged.
Crete Extension Cost: $2,275.00 (per person, double occupancy) hotel; most meals (as listed in the itinerary); entry fees; flight from Crete to Athens, and all ground transportation.
Crete Extension Does Not Include: Meals other than those listed in the itinerary; food, alcoholic and other beverages not on set menus; passport and visa fees; airport fees and taxes; excess baggage charges; gratuities to guides and drivers; email, telephone, and fax charges; laundry or other items of a personal nature.
Crete Extension Single Supplement: $195.00. Should a roommate be requested and one not be available, the single supplement will be charged.
Note on Donation: The cost of the trip does not include the separate check for $150.00 (per person) to the Mt. Lykaion Project of the University of Pennsylvania . You may visit their web site at http://corinth.sas.upenn.edu/lykaion/lykaion.html . As a tour company that benefits from the historical, cultural and natural riches of our destinations, we have a policy of donating to scholars, archaeological and cultural projects and museums in each of our destinations. The donation is required as part of your registration and is non-refundable.
Fuel Surcharges: Far Horizons must pass on price increases when additional fuel charges are levied.
A deposit of $500.00 to Far Horizons is required upon making your reservation, along with a separate check made out to the donation project and a completed and signed registration form is required. Final payment is due 75 days before departure. Upon receipt of your deposit and completed registration form, you will be sent a reading list and a tour bulletin containing travel information. Prior to the trip, we will send links to various websites of pertinent interest to the trip.
Click here to download our Registration Form.
Changes in our itinerary, accommodations, and transportation schedules may occur. A good book to read as well as a flexible attitude and a sense of humor are essential.
Cancellations received in writing at least 75 days before departure will result in an administrative fee of $250.00. Cancellations received less than 75 days before departure will not receive a refund. If for any reason you are unable to complete the trip, Far Horizons will not reimburse any fees. Registrants are strongly advised to buy travel insurance that includes trip cancellation.
If you do not fly on the group flight, you are responsible for all flight arrangements and transportation (including airport transfers) to join the group. If Far Horizons must change the trip dates or cancel the trip for any reason, Far Horizons is not responsible for any air ticket you may have purchased.
Private tours of archaeological sites and talks by specialists are scheduled in advance and include a donation to each. Specialists working at these sites are excited about showing their work to interested enthusiasts. However, please be aware that there may be times when the director or a member of the staff may not be onsite when our groups arrive due to other commitments.
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THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL TOUR TO GREECE IS LIMITED TO 15 PARTICIPANTS
