Glorious GreeceWith Dr. Kyra Nourse
October 9 - 23, 2010
Greece is a land of rugged beauty that includes over 2,000 islands stretching from the Ionian Sea in the west to the Aegean Sea and Turkey in the east. A geographic crossroads, the area has been a turbulent battleground for millennia. Early Greek history portrays a multitude of internal struggles, from the Minoan and Mycenaean cultures to the city-states that began to emerge three thousand years ago. The scattered states were consolidated under Alexander the Great, designated a province under the Romans, became a powerful part 
of the Eastern Orthodox Christian world under the Byzantines, and was part of the Ottoman Empire for four hundred years until 1821 when it became an independent country.
Far Horizons proudly presents a 15-day journey through Greece that includes viewing both the celebrated and more remote remains of the many civilizations that have passed across this land. Spend two days in Athens, travel through the Peloponnese Peninsula, visit the rugged northern part of the country, and sail to two islands - Crete and Santorini - and during each day’s exploration begin to unfold
the countless layers of Greek history.
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(B) breakfast, (L) lunch, (D) dinner
Day 1: Begin the archaeological tour on the flight from the USA to Athens, Greece.
Day 2: Arrive 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 Athenians began an immense construction program that resulted in the construction of several extraordinary buildings that still stand today. Walk through the Propylaea, 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 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 by 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 seen 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 Panayia 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 Nauplio, lying in the shadow of a huge Venetian citadel. Overnight at the Hotel Rex for the next two nights. (B/L/D)
Day 5: Begin the day in the Nauplio Museum, housed in a Venetian warehouse and containing pre-Mycenaean artifacts. Then it's on to Mycenae, another UNESCO World Heritage site. The extensive complex, uncovered by Heinrich Schliemann, 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. Continue to the nearby UNESCO World Heritage Site of Tiryns, a 13th-century BC citadel protected by a circle of cyclopean walls. (B/L/D)
Day 6: 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. Here, we begin in the site museum to 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. Overnight at the Hotel Europa for one night. (B/L/D)
Day 7: 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. Overnight at Hotel Apollonia. (B/L/D)
Day 8: 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 the spectacular monasteries of Meteora, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As early as the 11th century, ascetic monks seeking refuge from the expanding Ottoman occupation found the unique geological formations here an ideal sanctuary. Although more than twenty monasteries were once in existence at Meteora, only six survive as functioning monasteries. They were originally only accessible by a basket lift, however in the 1920s stairs were carved into the cliff face. Overnight at the Meteora Hotel in Ioannina. (B/L/D)
Day 9: When Alexander the Great died in 323 BC, he had conquered most of the then-known world and had set in motion a lasting legacy united by a common language. However, he spent his formative years in northern Greece. Unearthed in 1977, Vergina, or ancient Aigai, houses several spectacular tombs, thought to be the burial place of members of Alexander’s famous father, Philip II, and several other members of his family. In 1996 Vergina was given UNESCO World Heritage status. The several tombs uncovered contained large quantities of gold and other valuables which are now displayed in the modern onsite museum. After visiting the museum, continue to Thessaloniki, founded in the 3rd century BC in honor of Alexander the Great’s half-sister. The city is perhaps best known for its still-functioning Byzantine churches, nine of which constitute another UNESCO World Heritage Site. Modern Thessaloniki is second in size only to Athens and is full of vibrant modern culture. Tonight, dinner is on our own. Overnight at the Capsis Hotel for one night. (B/L)
Day 10: Begin with a free morning to explore Thessaloniki. Early this afternoon, board the InterCity train from Thessaloniki to Piraeus Harbor. This trip by rail travels through the diverse vegetation of Greece from alpine-like forests near Mt. Olympus to Mediterranean flora and fauna, and is considered by some to be one of the most scenic in Europe. In the evening, board an overnight ferry from Pireas to Crete. (B/L/D)
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. We arrive from our overnight cruise into Iráklio, or Herakleion, 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.) Later, we will visit the Rhithymna Museum, which is housed in a 16th century Venetian villa and contains a notable coin collection. Dinner this evening is on our own to sample the local cuisine. Overnight for two nights at the Astoria Capsis Hotel in Heraklion. (B/L)
Day 12: An all day tour takes us along twisting mountain roads to the Lasithi Plain. Stop to examine Lato where traces of an ancient town lie scattered over the slopes with an awesome view down the mountainside to the sea beyond. The setting is extraordinary, in a saddle of land between two mountains each crowned by an acropolis, with the agora in the open space between. 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. Dinner is on our own. (B/L)
Day 13: Board a ferry this morning to cruise across the sparkling turquoise waters of the Aegean 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. 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. This evening, gather to watch the spectacular sunset over the remains of the island’s volcanic cauldron. Overnight for the next two nights at the El Greco Hotel. (B/L/D)
Day 14: Boutari is well-known as one of the most exported labels of wine from Greece. At the Santorini vineyard, Boutari produces several delicious and distinct white wines which are typical of the island, and we will stop for a sample tasting. Lunch is on our own. Enjoy a free afternoon to explore the winding streets of Thira. Our farewell dinner will be in an elegant local restaurant. (B/ /D)
Day 15: Transfer to the airport for our return flight to the United States. (B)
Tour Leader - Kyra NourseDr. Kyra Nourse received her BA (Cum Laude) from Whitman College, and her MA and her PhD in Ancient History from the University of Pennsylvania. A specialist in Ancient Greece and Rome, Dr. Nourse has taught at Whitman College and University of Pennsylvania. She has received numerous awards including The Robert Y. Fluno Award for Distinguished Teaching at Whitman College. Dr. Nourse is an outstanding teacher with a warm personality. Her expertise in ancient history well qualifies her to lead a tour through a region that preserves some of the finest Greco-Roman buildings in the world.
October 9 - 23, 2010
$9,995.00 (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; and all ground transportation.
Cost Does Not Include: A donation as outlined below; 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.
Donation Checks: As a tour company that benefits from the cultural and natural riches of our destinations, we have a policy of donating to the scientific and cultural projects and museums we visit. This has created a bond between Far Horizons and the academic and local communities that has helped us establish an extensive list of lecturers andcontacts in each of our destinations. We ask that each participant write a check to the noteworthy project we designate. The donation amount is $150.00 per person and is made by check directly to the donation project. Note that the donation is required as part of your registration for the trip and that it is non-refundable. We will be designating a donation project for this trip shortly.
Single Supplement: $1,395.00. Should a roommate be requested and one not be available, the single supplement must be charged.
Fuel Surcharges: Far Horizons must pass on price increases when additional fuel charges are levied.
RegistrationA 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
