PELOPONNESE, DELPHI AND METEORA 4 DAYS TOUR

First day: Argolis
We leave Athens and make a brief stop at the famous Corinth Canal, which links mainland Greece with the Peloponnese peninsula, separating the Saronic Gulf from the Gulf of Corinth. We will go back three thousand years to visit the strategic enclave of the powerful Argolis, Mycenae, city of the Αtrides cursed by the gods with its impressive ruins that evoke the memory of this city-fortress of the II millennium BC, ‘rich in gold’ in the words of Homer. We cross the famous Puerta de las Leonas, in which the symmetry of the forms is masterfully achieved. You will enter the acropolis, where you can visit, and our guides will explain in detail, the history of the entire archaeological site, its palace and its circles of tombs, especially the Treasure of Atreus or Tomb of Agamemnon, the largest and most beautiful of all, with its majestic burial chamber. You will also visit the museum of the archaeological site.

Later on, we will delve into the culture of the 4th century BC. In a remote area amidst the gentle hills of Argolis, the remains of the sanctuary of Asclepius, the hero and god of Medicine, appear. The oracle of Asclepius was consulted by all of Ancient Greece. According to mythology, Asclepius became so wise that he managed to resurrect the dead, earning the enmity of Hades and the jealousy of Zeus, who killed him and buried his remains here. The beauty of the landscape, the majesty of its lines, and the harmony of its proportions have made the Epidaurus Theater the most accomplished example of the Ancient world. It was restored in 1954 and adapted for the performance of ancient plays, concerts, and lyrical shows where artists like Maria Callas shone. With a capacity of almost 16,000 spectators, both the view and the acoustics are fully guaranteed from any part of the auditorium. In the evening, crossing central Peloponnese, we arrive in Olympia, where you will have dinner and stay in 3 or 4-star hotels.

Second day: Olympia
We are in Olympia and begin our day by visiting the ruins of Olympia, located in the idyllic Alpheus Valley. These ruins recall the past grandeur of a sanctuary that, thanks to the Olympic Games, was one of the symbols of unity in ancient Greece. You will visit the remains of each building that comprised the complex dedicated to sporting celebrations, such as the gymnasium and the palaestra, where athletes, particularly wrestlers, trained and received massages with oils in the adjacent rooms. There is also the Heroon, a circular room with an altar dedicated to an unknown hero, the Theokoleon, a building from the 4th century BC that served as the residence for the priests of Olympia, and the workshop of Phidias. The sanctuary housed the statue of Zeus Olympios, considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. From the sanctuary, you can access the stadium and the track where the athletic events were held. The importance of these games is evident from the massive participation of Greek cities, which observed a truce during their celebration. Additionally, the Olympiad, a four-year period between the celebrations of two consecutive games, was recognized as the only accepted chronological system for all of Greece. You will also visit the Olympia Museum, which houses a large part of the archaeological remains from the Temple of Zeus, as well as various objects found during excavations, displayed in chronological order.wpml_linebreak In the afternoon, passing over the new Rio-Antirrio suspension bridge, which connects the Peloponnese peninsula with the rest of the country and is the largest of its kind in the world, with a length of 2,252 meters, we arrive in Delphi, where you will have dinner and stay in 3 or 4-star hotels.

Second day: Delphi
We are in Delphi, a city known as the center of the world, “the navel of the universe.” It was one of the main religious centers of antiquity, where the sanctuary of Apollo, the god of harmony and music, and guardian of Zeus’s sacred laws, attracted countless pilgrims who came to consult the oracle. We will walk along the Sacred Way, adorned with countless offerings from Greek and foreign cities, until we reach the Temple of Apollo. In addition to statues, cities dedicated small temple-like structures called treasuries to the god, to house these offerings. You will visit treasures such as the Treasury of Sifnos, the Treasury of Thebes, and the Treasury of the Athenians. Apart from the monumental complex, including the Tholos of the Oracle, a visit to the Delphi Museum is a must once you are at the archaeological site. It is one of the most important museums in Greece and beautifully displays the artworks found in Delphi. In the vestibule, you will find a conical marble block covered by a sculpted net, which is a Hellenistic copy of the navel that marked the center of the known world. You will also see the famous statue of the Charioteer of Delphi, perfectly preserved and dating back to the Archaic period. It was part of a bronze votive offering representing the victorious quadriga from the Olympic Games.

Fourth day: Meteora
We are in Meteora, which translates to “suspended in the air” or “between heaven and earth,” and once you arrive there, you understand why it’s named as such. It is an authentic forest of rocks with fantastic shapes, and it represents a unique geological phenomenon that gives rise to an unparalleled landscape. The peaks of these gigantic cliffs are crowned by famous cenobitic monasteries. Their origin dates back to the 11th century when the first hermits settled in the caves seeking solitude. In the 14th century, with the Serbian invasion of Thessaly, many of these hermitages were transformed into monasteries. It was during this time that Saint Athanasios, who came from Mount Athos, founded the Great Meteora, and other monks followed him despite the difficulties in transporting materials for the construction of the various monastic centers. The 15th and 16th centuries were the periods of greatest splendor, with up to 24 monasteries in existence. Today, only five establishments are still occupied by monks or nuns, and you will have the opportunity to visit two of these unique monasteries in the world with our guide.