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Byzantine Greece

Thessaloniki, Mount Athos, Meteora, Delphi, Olympia, Mystras, Sparta, Epidarius, Mycenae, Corinth, Athens, Option: Mykonos,Tinos

tour details

Itinerary

  • DAY 1:

    USA

    Depart for our overnight flight to Thessaloniki.
  • DAY 2:

    THESSALONIKI

    Upon arrival you will be greeted by a Homeric Tours representative and transfer to your hotel. Rest of the day at leisure. Dinner and overnight in Thessaloniki.
    Dinner included
  • DAY 3:

    THESSALONIKI

    After breakfast, we will tour Thessaloniki, visitingSt. Dimitrios Church, St. Sophia and the Church of the 12 Apostles. We will see the Arch of Galerius, St. George Rotunda and the White Tower. Tonight we have a discussion with a Greek religious specialist about Mt. Athos, and learn about the remarkable living museums of Byzantine art and culture, their impressive libraries, amazing frescoes, beautiful mosaics and fascinating way of life. Overnight in Thessaloniki.
    Breakfast and Dinner included
  • DAY 4:

    HOLY MOUNTAIN / (MOUNT ATHOS)

    Visit Mt. Athos a monastic state, which has conformed to unchanged rules of life and wor-ship for a thousand years. Emperor Constantine decreed that the Holy Mountain be set aside for exclusive veneration of the Virgin Mary, the protectress of the territory, and the area is off limits to women. Men need to have special permission to enter the Holy Site. In 20 sovereign monaster-ies, 2000 Orthodox Monks still live and work. Overnight in Thessaloniki.
    Breakfast and Dinner included
  • DAY 5:

    METEORA

    After breakfast, we depart for another Byzantine wonder - Meteora, where seemingly unscalable black rocks are topped by beautiful monaster-ies. Many monks believe that the founder of the first monastery was carried there by an eagle. The first monks were likely 10th century ascetics who climbed the rocks and lived in caves. By the 14th century, there were enough monks to build the Great Meteora monastery. In the late Byzantine period and during the Ottoman rule, this monastic community became a sanctuary of the prosecuted, and developed into a centre of Byzantine art. Of the original 24 monasteries, 5 remain and welcome visitors. Overnight in Kalambaka.
    Breakfast and Dinner included
  • DAY 6:

    DELPHI

    Today we drive through the countryside of central Greece to “the navel of the world” – Delphi. Leaders from around the ancient world flocked to Apollo’s Delphi Oracle for advice. You understand the foresight of the ancients when you see here the first monument ever created to One God. Visit the Archaeological Site and its Museum. Dinner and overnight.
    Breakfast and Dinner included
  • DAY 7:

    OLYMPIA

    After breakfast, we depart for Olympia via the town of Nafpaktos with its old Venetian fortress. In Olympia we will see the pediments of the Temples of Zeus and Hera, and walk the length of the world’s most famous stadium, where in 776 BC, the first Olympic games were held in honor of Zeus. Dinner and overnight in Sparta.
    Breakfast and Dinner included
  • DAY 8:

    MYSTRAS / SPARTA

    After breakfast, we depart for Mystras, where the ruins of a dead Byzantine city are spread along the foothill of Mount Taigetos. This captivating site is one of the most extensive Byzantine monu-ments in Greece. Once a home to 45,000 people its only habitants now are the nuns who maintain the Pantanessa Convent. Dinner and overnight in Sparta.
    Breakfast and Dinner included
  • DAY 9:

    EPIDARIUS / MYCENAE / CORINTH / ATHENS

    Journey through the ancient Peloponnese, full of treasures depicting a civilization that still captivates the world. Continue to Epidaurus, a lovely riverside sanctuary where healing arts were once practiced. Visit the amphitheatre, a miracle of acoustics, which hosts the famous summer Greek tragedy festival with participation by leading Greek performers. Continue to Mycenae, with its Lion Gate, the ruins of the Palace of Agamemnon and the Royal Tombs. Some of the richest archaeologi-cal finds are from this area. Continue to Corinth of St. Paul and the marketplace where the Apostle preached to the Corinthians, the Temple of Apollo and the Corinth Museum. Continue via the Corinthian Canal to Athens. Time permitting we stop at Dafni Monastery. Dinner and overnight Athens.
    Breakfast and Dinner included
  • DAY 10:

    ATHENS

    After breakfast, our Athens city tour begins with a visit to the Agora where Paul preached, and where Socrates taught and was forced to drink the deadly hemlock. Visit the Acropolis to see the Parthenon and its Museum, the theatre of Dionyssos, the Temple of the Wingless Victory and other sights which reflect the golden age of Greece. In the afternoon visit the Metropolitan Cathedral and Kessariani Monastery. This evening enjoy dinner in the Plaka with traditional Greek music and dancing. Dinner and overnight in Athens.
    Breakfast and Lunch included
  • DAY 11:

    USA

    After breakfast we depart for the airport for our flight home.
    Breakfast included

Package Includes

  • Round-trip air: USA – Venice and Naples – USA
  • Meet and assist upon arrival by your Homeric Tours representative
  • Private deluxe air-conditioned motorcoach throughout
  • Professional English speaking Orthodox guide(s)
  • Your choice of 3, 4 or 5 star hotels
  • 11 Nights of hotel accommodation
  • Breakfast and dinner daily
  • 11 Days of sightseeing tours
  • All transfers
  • All entrance fees
  • Hotel taxes and service charges
  • Porterage of one suitcase per person
  • USTOA $1 Million Travelers Assistance Program

BROCHURE

Brochure Name:

FAITH TOURS (GROUPS)

Byzantine Greece Tour Page:

67

Optional Tours

Click on each tour to expand and see the full details.

EXCURSION WITH A 3-DAY CRUISE

DAY 11: MYKONOS (ANO MERA)

After breakfast, we transfer to Rafina (port of Athens) and board our superfast ferry to Mykonos (2 ½ hrs). Upon arrival we transfer to our hotel. After check in, we take a very short coach drive to Ano Mera to visit the monastery of Panagia Tourliani whose main church houses a superb collection of icons made by a Cretan painter, as well as holy vessels and vestments. The wonderful belltower and marble fountain are in the courtyard of the monastery and are worth seeing. Dinner and overnight in Mykonos.

Breakfast and Lunch included

 

DAY 12: MYKONOS (TINOS)

Leave your luggage behind as we take a half day excursion to the nearby island of Tinos. We visit Pyrgos, the most characteristic village of Tinos, with a long tradition in marble carving. The island is special for the Orthodox Greeks as it hosts the Church of Panagia (Virgin Mary), considered the protector of the country, with a miraculous icon inside. This church receives thousands of pilgrims year round, particularly on the 15th of August, on the occasion of the Dormition of the Virgin. Return to Mykonos and enjoy the rest of the after-noon at leisure to shop, swim and enjoy the slow pace of the island. Dinner and overnight.

Breakfast and Lunch included

 

DAY 13: CRUISE

Today is free for last minute shopping or relaxing at the pool or beach. In the afternoon transfer to the port to board your cruise ship and begin your 3-day cruise. Dinner on board.

Dinner included

 

DAY 14: KUSADASI / PATMOS

Arrive in Kusadasi and take an optional tour to the ancient city of Ephesus, where Paul preached. See the monastery of St. John, where tradition tells us the Apostle is buried. You can also visit Mary’s house where tradition tells us Mary spent her last days upon leaving the Holy Land with St. John. In the afternoon cruise towards Patmos, where St. John the Divine received the mystical revelation which forms the last book of The New Testament. Your optional excursion takes you to the Grotto of the Revelation and the 11th century Monastery of St. John (which houses the original manuscript of the Gospel).

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included

 

DAY 15: CRETE / SANTORINI

This morning we arrive in Heraklion, the capital of Crete and visit the fantastic ruins of the Palace of Knossos. Discovered in 1899 by Sir Arthur Evan and partially reconstructed, the elaborate palace is believed to be the mythical Labyrinth of King Minos at the seat of ancient Minoan culture. This afternoon depart for the island of Santorini, possibly the most breathtaking of all Greek Islands.

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included

 

DAY 16: ATHENS / USA

This morning return to Athens and transfer to the airport for your flight home.

Breakfast included