ATHENS SIGHTSEEING - Half day

A tour offering the visit of two very important archaeological sites, in the historical centre of Athens.

Keramikos the ancient and well known cemetery was named after the community of the potters (kerameis) who occupied the whole area along the banks of river Iridanos. The walls of Athens, which were constructed in the 5th century B.C. by Themistocles, divided the area into two sections, the "inner" and "outer" Keramikos. The wall had two gates, placed at the outset of the two most important processional roads of Athens. Outside the city walls, along the sides of both roads lay the official cemetery of the city, which was continuously used from the 9th century B.C. until the late Roman period.

We will visit the site and its museum, which mainly exhibits items of monuments and tombs.

The Agora was the heart of ancient Athens, the focus of political, commercial, administrative and social activity, the religious and cultural centre, and the seat of justice.

The site was occupied without interruption in all periods of the city's history. It was used as a residential and burial area as early as the Late Neolithic period (3000 B.C.). Early in the 6th century, in the time of Solon, the Agora became a public area.

After a series of repairs and remodelling, it reached its final rectangular form in the 2nd century B.C.

From the Byzantine period until after 1834, when Athens became the capital of the independent Greek state, the Agora was again developed as a residential area.

It museum, recently restored exhibits various items mainly from the site of the Agora.

A very important and characteristic but less well known era of Greece is the Byzantine Empire. 

It has been one of the most influencing forces on the development of modern civilization and the world’s longest living empire. 

The 11th and the 12th centuries are said to be the Golden Ages of Athens' Byzantine art. 

Almost all of the dozen most famous and important Byzantine churches in Athens, were built during these two centuries, and owe their origins to the Christian restoration that followed the campaigns of Emperor Basil II in the Balkans. 

This tour will take you around some of the most beautiful preserved Byzantine churches and monasteries around Athens and gives you the opportunity to walk around Plaka, the old quarter of the city, famous for its narrow streets, its small houses, its taverns and its gift shops. 

The whole old city part of Plaka is characterised by its steep ways and steps. The steepest places are at the quarter Anafiotika, named from its first houses, built at the second half of the last century by some building workers from the island Anafi. 

Because of its very special character is the whole quarter under the protection law for historical buildings. 

People having visited some of the Greek islands will find in Anafiotika very many similarities, the white houses, the coloured doors and windows etc. Lastly this quarter has been built by people from the island Anafi !

• The Prehistoric Collection, which includes works of the great civilizations that developed in the Aegean from the sixth millennium BC to 1050 BC (Neolithic, Cycladic, Mycenaean), and finds from the prehistoric settlement at Thira.
• The Sculptures Collection, which shows the development of ancient Greek sculpture from the seventh to the fifth centuries BC with unique masterpieces.
• The Vase and Minor Objects Collection, which contains representative works of ancient Greek pottery from the eleventh century BC to the Roman period and includes the Stathatos Collection, a corpus of minor objects of all periods.
• The Metallurgy Collection, with many fundamental statues, figurines and minor objects.
• And, finally, the only Egyptian and Near Eastern Antiquities Collection in Greece, with works dating from the pre-dynastic period (5000 BC) to the Roman conquest. 

The Greeks: a small country in the Mediterranean Sea reached the highest limits of politics, military, commerce, art , religion and philosophy… It’s the story of that people that you can enjoy during your visit to the Benaki Museum. 

The Museum’s collections comprise many distinct categories totalling more than 40,000 items, illustrating the character of the Greek world through a spectacular historical panorama: from antiquity and the age of Roman domination to the medieval Byzantine period; from the fall of Constantinople (1453) and the centuries of Frankish and Ottoman occupation to the outbreak of the struggle for independence in 1821; and from the formation of the modern state of Greece (1830) down to 1922, the year in which the Asia Minor disaster took place. 

Cycladic Art Museum was founded in 1986 in order to house the collection of Cycladic and Ancient Greek art belonging to Nicholas and Dolly Goulandris. Starting in the early Sixties, and with a permit by the Greek State, the couple collected Greek antiquities, with special interest in the prehistoric art from the Cyclades islands. 

The Collection was augmented during the Seventies, following the two main directions it had been given in the previous years: the Cycladic Collection, which was now given a slight preference owing to the scholarly importance of the subject and the ever growing international interest and the Ancient Greek Collection, covering Greek art from the 2nd millennium B.C. to the first centuries A.D., which was also enriched with significant additions. 

The Monastery lies at a short distance to the east of Athens, on a hillside at the foot of Mt. Hymettos among pins, maple trees and cypress trees.

It was founded in the Early Christian period and was dedicated to the Entry of the Virgin to the Temple. Remains of two successive basilicas, dated to the 6th and the 10th century, respectively, have been uncovered. The complex seen today was erected in the 11th century and remained in use during the Turkish occupation.

The monastery had a famous, rich library which was moved to the Metropolis of Athens and destroyed during the Uprising of 1821.

The interior of the church is decorated with wall paintings dated before 1700 while those in the narthex are a little earlier, dated to 1682 and made by Ioannes Hypatios, according to an inscription.

Excavations were conducted in 1958 on the hill to the south west of the monastery and revealed the ruins of a 6th-century basilica beneath the 10th-century basilica.

Driving along the coast of Athens, we pass by the beautiful sea side suburbs having a splendid view of the Saronic Gulf. We will pass towns and settlements, mostly in bays, harbours and beaches.

We arrive at Cape Sounion, where we visit the Doric Temples of 5th century BC dedicated to the good of the sea, Poseidon.

In ancient times the temple was the last sign of civilization the Athenians saw as they sailed away from home and the first as they returned.

The temple stand above the sea at the edge of a cliff, overlooking the Aegean sea and offering a magnificent view of the Aegean and one of the worlds most beautiful and romantic sunsets.

The Canal of Corinth opened end of XIX century for connecting the Ionian with the Aegean Sea, offering a marvellous view with its 6.343 M length and 23 m width.

The ancient Corinth was the centre of a strategic region between the ports of the Corinthian Gulf and the Saronic Gulf.

Departure at 08h30 from your hotel, escorted by your guide.

We drive South West until we reach the Corinth Canal.

Quick stop, for a visit of the canal and for a soft drink.

Continue to the archaeological Site where St. Paul lived and preached for two years. The remains of the city, which include the Agora (market) and Apollo’s Temple of 6th century BC, clearly show how rich and important Corinth was in Ancient Times. In addition we will visit the archaeological museum and the Ancient port of Kechries where St. Paul disembarked.

Return in Athens at ± 1h00 pm. Just on time for a late lunch!

This tour offers a resume of the most important sites in Athens offering a variety off attractions ranging from classical ancient monuments such as Acropolis, to Byzantine structures and Modern Greek Monuments. A definite must see for anyone that wants to get a taste of the multiple flavours Athens has to offer.

09h00: Departure from the hotel, escorted by your guide.

Passing by the Temple of Olympian Zeus, Hadrian’s Arch, the National Garden, the Parliament, the Presidential Palace with its Evzones and the tomb to the Unknown Soldier we arrive in the Panathenean Stadium where we will stop for 15 minutes to admire the stadium where the 1st modern Olympic Games took place.

We continue by passing the Academy, the University, the National library. On to Omonia Square, the Place of Constitution, the theatre of Dionyssos and finally we arrive at Acropolis.

Visit the Propylaea, the Temple of Apteros Nike, the Parthenon and the Erechteion.

We continue with the visit to the New Acropolis Museum.

End of the tour at your Hotel.

With this excursion we will visit the unknown north-west coast of Attica.

We will travel through an unspoiled valley of olive groves and farms until we reach our first site, the tomb of Marathon dedicated to the victory of 11.000 Greeks against 100.000 Persians. Following the heroic victory, an Athenian soldier was dispatched to bring the good news to the city. He ran all the way from the battlefield to the Athenian Agora. He collapsed and died immediately after he delivered his one word message: ‘Nenikikamen’ (We have won).

This soldiers run is the event which today’s Marathon race commemorates and which is symbolised by the opening ceremony at each Olympic Games. Marathon is still one of Attica’s loveliest spots, as you are bound to find out long before you reach your destination. The road passes through vegetable gardens, vineyards, olive groves and wild vegetation which are natures contribution to the uniqueness of this land.

12 km further, we will visit the archaeological site of Ramnous which includes the remains of two temples. The Great one was dedicated to Nemesis, the goddess of divine justice, while the Little one was dedicated to Themis, the goddess of human justice. Both temples were erected in the 5th century B.C.

The lunch will be served in a local tavern.

Finally we will visit in Vravron the sanctuary of Artemis, a mysterious and unorthodox ancient Greek site, the sanctuary dedicated to the goddess Artemis, an almost exclusively female place of worship, the only one of its kind near Athens. This is really a nice place to visit.

Return to the hotel late afternoon.

During the cruise you have the chance to enjoy three typical Greek islands of the Saronic Gulf by combining descry and relaxation. Each island has its own attraction and beauty, which makes the cruise pleasant and interesting. Lunch is served on board in form of a rich buffet while you enjoy your cruise.

Departure from the hotel at 07h30 and transfer to Piraeus for the embarkation.

At 08h30 departure of the cruise boat to the island of AEGINA, arrival at 09h40 and free time at your disposal till 12h00.

Aegina is the biggest of the Saronic islands, where you can enjoy a nice walk though the small picturesque streets.

13h00 Arrival on the island of POROS, time at leisure till 14h00.

This island opposite to the mainland of Peloponnese is small but very lively and reach in history. The short stay gives you the possibility of souvenir shopping at the typical small shops.

14h50 Arrival in HYDRA, time at leisure till 17h00.

This island is very famous for its remarkable architecture and is therefore very popular to artists and painters. You will see the traditional city centre, which is built in amphitheatre style overlooking the harbour. No cars or motorcycles are allowed and donkeys are used as the main way of transportation on the island.

19h00 approximate arrival at Piraeus and drive back to your hotel.

Departure from the hotel at 08h00, escorted by a professional guide. The route is passing by the cities of Thiva & Livadia.

For many centuries Delphi was the centre of the world to the ancient Greeks.

According to the legend the father of the Olympic gods Zeus sent two eagles flying, the one to the east and the other to the west.

At the point where they met, they let the Holy stone fall to the earth and named it the centre of the world - the ‘Omphalos’- the navel of the earth.

Arrival in Delphi, on the slopes of Mt. Parnassus and visit the archaeological site of the Sanctuary of Apollo, the Treasury of the Athenians and the museum with its remarkable masterpieces of ancient Greek sculpture.

Lunch will be served in the modern village of Delphi.

Return to Athens via the village of ARACHOVA, famous for its ski resorts, colourful rugs and carpets.

Return in Athens around 19h30

Departure from the hotel escorted by a licensed guide and route for Argolide. 

With this excursion we offer you a voyage into the realms of Greek history. 

The tour starts with a stop in Corinth Canal. 

Then we visit Mycenae, home of the legendary King Agamemnon and centre of pre-classical Greece where you will visit the Lion Gate, the Royal Tombs and the Cyclopean Walls which still remain one of the mysteries of the ancient world. 

On to Nafplia, the first capital of modern Greece, which is today one the most picturesque towns of the countryside and the view of the historical Palamidi fortress appears in a breathtaking way. 

Lunch in a local tavern. 

Then leave for Epidaurus, visit of the world famous theatre from the 4th century BC with its astonishing acoustics. 

Return in Athens around 19h00