The Archaeology of Greece Tour

Athens has been a city for more than 3,500 years and much of the glory of ancient Greece is found in the many monuments that still survive.  Upon arrival, transfer to our hotel located in the city center, our home for the next three nights. After lunch on our own, we will enjoy a historical walking tour and stop at the Byzantine Museum, housing more than 25,000 exhibits with rare collections of pictures, scriptures, frescoes, pottery, fabrics, manuscripts, and copies of artifacts from the 3rd century AD to the late middle ages.  

Gather this evening for our welcome dinner. (D)

Begin the day on the Acropolis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This great hill dominates the city of Athens and 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 the construction 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 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. The immense and lovely Parthenon was originally built to house the 40-foot-high sculpture of the goddess, Athena Parthenos. The splendor of its frieze and the perfection of its architectural techniques make it immensely impressive even after 2,500 years. Spend time in the Acropolis Museum, which contains the works of art found onsite.

After lunch, spend the afternoon in the National Archaeological Museum, the largest museum in Greece, housing the greatest collection of Greek antiquities in the world.

Dinner is on our own this evening. (B/L)

Today we continue our explorations of Athens to examine the remains of the ancient city. The Arch of Hadrian was erected in honor of the 2nd-century Roman Emperor. From 600 BC, the Agora formed the political heart of ancient Athens.  Nearby, view the Tower of the Winds, an octagonal structure originally built as a water clock and weathervane 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”). 

Dinner tonight is on our own. (B/L)

Leaving Athens this morning we drive to Corinth to visit the Temple of Octavia, where three ornate Corinthian columns still stand on a platform, the Glauke Fountain and its four cisterns carved from a huge monolith, the theater, and the Temple of Apollo, the most striking structure of the lower city. If on site, the archaeological team will give our group a private tour of the current excavations.

For lunch we will drive to Nemea, regarded as a great winemaking region since the time of the ancient Greeks. Here we will enjoy lunch in one of the country’s top wineries with a sampling of the estate’s wines. Continue on to the Sanctuary of Epidaurus, a UNESCO World Heritage site, which was an extensive therapeutic and religious center dedicated to Asclepius.  

Drive to the lovely seaside town of Naufplion, lying in the shadow of a huge Venetian citadel, and overnight for two nights in Hotel Liberty. (B/L/D)

Begin today at Mycenae, another UNESCO World Heritage site.  The extensive complex, uncovered by Heinrich Schliemann, is one of the earliest examples of sophisticated citadel architecture.  Enclosed by fortification walls up to 5 meters wide, the city contained royal palaces and rich tombs.

If on-site, we will meet with the archaeological director, who will give us a private tour. He will lead us through the glorious 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 to the tholoi, or beehive tombs, outside the city walls.  

In the afternoon, continue to the nearby UNESCO World Heritage Site of Tiryns, a 13th-century BC citadel protected by cyclopean walls.  Dinner is on our own to search for one of Naufplion’s charming tavernas. (B/L)

We spend this morning at the Archaeological Museum of Naufplio, with its new, permanent exhibition that outlines the cultural identity of Argolida from the Paleolithic period until Roman times. Here, the most important exhibits are associated with the Mycenaean centers of the region and present in detail the palatial system, as well as the daily life and burial customs of the Mycenaean world. 

We then drive to Messini, ancient Messene, an impressive archaeological site that is on the UNESCO Tentative List. The city was founded in 369 BC by the great Theban general Epaminondas, who defeated the Spartan military power and liberated the Messenia region. The fortification wall, almost five miles in length, is dotted with towers and gates and is one of the most extraordinary achievements of ancient military architecture.

Enclosed within these ramparts are the remains of public and religious buildings laid out in a pattern according to the design of Hippodamus of Miletus, a legendary Greek architect long acknowledged as the inventor of formal city planning.  As we enter through the almost complete Arcadian Gate, we will see the ancient theater of Messini, the agora, the Sanctuary of Asclepius, and the stadium. 

Overnight for one night in Kalamata at the Hotel Pharea Palace, overlooking the Messinian Gulf. (B/L/D)

Today, we visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Olympia, esteemed for over a thousand years as a religious and athletic center.  The sanctuary was famous for the Olympic Games that were born here and held every four years at the late-summer full moon and were the most prestigious of all Hellenic competitions.

Here, if onsite, we join chief archaeologist for a tour of excavations.  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 workshop of Phidias, the archaic Hera Temple, and the still-standing vaulted entrance to the stadium.

In the site museum, view the plethora of artifacts found during excavations including, the sculpted pediments recovered from the Zeus temple. Overnight for one night at the Olympion Asty Hotel. (B/L/D)

We will spend today in Delphi, a UNESCO World Heritage site.  This was the home of Apollo and in antiquity, people came here to consult the oracle of the god. 

Begin in the Sanctuary of Athena, containing the remains of several buildings including the enigmatic Tholos, a 4th century BC rotunda. The stunning New Temple of Athena was constructed about 360 BC. Walk to the Castalian Spring, where pilgrims who entered Delphi 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. In the heart of the inner sanctum lies the splendid Sanctuary of Apollo, one of the finest theaters of the ancient Greek world. 

Finally, enter the Delphi Museum, which houses a collection second in importance only to the Athenian Acropolis Museum.

Overnight in the Amalia Hotel in Delphi for one night. (B/L/D)

Meteora, another UNESCO World Heritage Site, consists of a group of monasteries dramatically perched above the plain on rocky stone pillars created by a huge river that flowed through the region millions of years ago. Six of the monasteries are still in operation, and the 14th-century Great Meteoron is the most significant.

Dedicated to the Transfiguration and founded by a scholar monk from Mount Athos, it is the highest, largest, and oldest of the six. The main cathedral is embellished with lovely 16th-century frescoes. The second largest is the Monastery of Varlaam. According to ancient tales, it took more than twenty years to winch the building materials to the top of the rock.

After spending the day onsite, we will drive to Kalambaka, a town in the Meteora region, and overnight for one night in the Kastraki Hotel. (B/L/D)

An early departure takes us to Aigai, next to the town of Vergina, the first capital of the Kingdom of Macedonia best known today for the discovery of its royal tombs, some dating back to the 4th century BC. 

The wealth of imperial burials unearthed in the necropolis attest to the city’s prosperity. Certainly, the most important crypt is the one said to belong to Philip II of Macedon, the father of Alexander the Great. Built on a hill overlooking the city lies the Palace of Aigai, opened to the public in 2018. Gorgeous mosaic floors and painted stuccoes on the walls display the affluence of the Macedonian kingdom.

After exploring the site, continue on to Thessaloniki, a vibrant metropolis that has existed for more than 2,000 years. Overnight for four nights in the 5-star Daois Luxury Living Hotel in the heart of Thessaloniki. Dinner is on our own. (B/L)

Begin this morning in the Roman heart of the city – the Galerian Palace, the construction of which began in the late 3rd century AD when Caesar Galerius Valerianus Maximianus selected Thessaloniki to be the seat of the eastern part of the Roman Empire. The complex comprises the remains of several 4th-century structures. The Rotunda, now Saint George’s Church, displays domed architecture similar to the Pantheon in Rome, with dazzling mosaics decorating the interior. The Arch of Galerius, originally the ancient town’s main entrance gate, features elaborate reliefs that celebrate Caesar Galerius’ victorious campaign against the Sassanid Persians in 298 AD.  North of the Roman Agora lies the town’s main religious sanctuary, the 7th-century Church of Ayios Dimítrios, built in honor of the town’s patron saint, the martyred Roman Soldier Dimitrios.

In the afternoon, we will enter The Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki, one of Greece’s largest museums. Here, artifacts on display span the centuries from prehistory to late antiquity with special collections from all over ancient Macedonia. (B/L/D)

East of Thessaloniki are the ruins of ancient Philippi, originally established in the 4th century BC and named by Philip II of Macedon, father of Alexander the Great. Strategically located between the mountains and the sea, in antiquity, this UNESCO World Heritage city controlled the trade route linking Europe and Asia. In 42 BC, this is where the pivotal battle occurred in which Mark Antony and Octavian defeated Brutus and Cassius, the principal assassins of Julius Caesar. Much of the Hellenistic walls are still visible, along with the 4th century BC theater built by Phillip II.

We will spend the day walking through the extensive remains, including the Roman Forum and basilicas built in the Byzantine era. After our tour, we will stop by a vineyard to taste wines of the region before our return to Thessaloniki with dinner on our own. (B/L)

During the Byzantine Era, Thessaloniki was among the most important cities of the empire after Constantinople. The defensive walls have towered over the city for almost 2,000 years. We will walk parts of the bastions and see Eptapyrgio Castle. Within the battlements are several structures that UNESCO has designated the Paleochristian and Byzantine Monuments of Thessalonika World Heritage Sites. 

Located around the city’s acropolis, the Upper Town, known as Ano Poli, is the historic area of Thessaloniki and the only part of the city that survived the fire of 1917. Today it is a delightful labyrinth of cobblestoned streets, traditional wooden houses, Ottoman fountains, and Byzantine sanctuaries.

In the afternoon, take a short walk along the seacoast of the city. Constructed in the 16th century by the Ottomans the White Tower was once part of the town’s fortifications and is the only section of the seaward rampart remaining. The intrepid may climb to the top for a splendid view of the city’s waterfront. A further stroll along the esplanade takes us to the Museum of Byzantine Culture, with collections of sculptures, frescoes, mosaics, and other artifacts from the Byzantine period. Dinner is on our own. (B/L)

This morning we depart Thessaloniki on a flight to Heraklion, Crete’s largest city. Throughout the ages, this city has been under the control of the Romans, Arabs, Venetians, and Turks, and each has left behind spectacular cultural remains.

On our driving tour, 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, and the city walls, which 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.  

Overnight for two nights at the Olive Hotel. Dinner is on our own.  (B/L)

We begin today at the outstanding Iráklio Archaeological Museum where we will view a magnificent array of prehistoric artifacts, extraordinary finds from Knossos and other nearby Minoan cities, and impressive art from the Greek and Roman ages.

Then it’s on to Knossos, where a maze of corridors, passages, hundreds of rooms, and stairways make up the Palace of Knossos, the ceremonial and political center of the Minoan civilization. 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.

Return to the hotel for our Farewell Dinner. (B/L/D)