Corinth-Olympia-Delphi-Meteora

Description

Day 1

We start our tour, driving on the Athens - Corinth National Road, having on our left the Saronic Gulf and the island of Salamis, where in 480 BC the famous battle of Salamis took place. After about an hour, we make our first stop at the Corinth Canal. There, we will admire and take pictures of the magnificent Canal, which connects the Saronic with the Corinthian Gulf.                                                                                  

Not far from the Corinth Canal, lies Ancient Corinth, which is our next stop. Ancient Corinth was the richest city of Ancient Greece and the only one that had two ports. It is also known for the visit, stay and teaching of Apostle Paul.     

At the archaeological site, you will see the Temple of Apollo, the Pirene and Glafki fountains, the Ancient Agora and the location called “Vima” (Step) where the Apostle Paul was led to be tried by the Roman Proconsul Gallio, who refused to prosecute him. You will also see the Roman Odeon and the Ancient Theatre. The museum is situated in the same location.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

Of course, we will continue our drive to the Acrocorinth rock, where the fortress by the same name stands at an altitude of 575 meters above the ancient city. There, we will make a brief stop and take pictures.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

We leave Ancient Corinth behind us and after a journey of two and a half hours, we reach the town of Ancient Olympia. The historic and famous city of Ancient Olympia is located on the west side of the Peloponnese. It is, of course, the city which gave birth to the Olympic Games in 776  BC .                                                                                                                                                                     

At the archaeological site, you will admire the Temple of Zeus, the Temple of Hera (Heraion), the Palaestra, the Gymnasium, the Ancient Stadium, the Zanes, the workshop of the famous sculptor Phidias, the circular Philippeion and many more . The museum is situated in the same location, where, among many exhibits, you will see the famous statue of Hermes of Praxiteles.                                                                                                                                                                             

The Museum of the Olympic Games is situated just a few meters away.

Olympia is also the location of our overnight stay.

Day 2

We will start our day, quite early in the morning, at about 08:00.  

The journey we have to make is quite long and requires a stop. After we start and cross through the stunning Rio–Antirrio Bridge that joins Peloponnese with Western and Northern Greece, we arrive in the small town of Nafpaktos, which has been declared a traditional settlement.                                                                                                                                                                                     

Nafpaktos is a historic city known for the Battle of Lepanto (as the city was then known). The battle, which is known to Western historians as the Naval Battle of Lepanto, was very important, as the European powers intercepted the naval threat of the Ottomans.                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

In Nafpaktos, we will see the old port city and have a chance to enjoy a cup of coffee.

We continue and arrive in the city of Delphi at early noon, where you will dine in an amazing restaurant with a breathtaking view. After your meal, you will visit Delphi, the site which was considered by the ancient Greeks the center of the Earth, and also the location of the most important Oracle of ancient times. At the archaeological site, you will admire the Temple of Apollo, the Sanctuary of Athena Pronaia, the Roman Agora, the Athenian Treasury, the Ancient Theatre, the Stadium and many more .

The amazing museum is situated in the same location. A few meters away, one can see the famous Castalia Spring and the Ancient Gymnasium.                                                                                                                                                                    

Leaving Delphi behind us, we depart for the magical location of Meteora, where we will have our second overnight stay.

At the evening you will be driven to the best spot from where you will admire a wonderful sunset .

Day 3

After a good breakfast, we depart for our tour of the monasteries and the amazing Meteora rocks.                                                                                                                                                                     

Meteora is located on the northwestern border of the Thessalian plain. It is a large cluster of dark rocks with a maximum height of 530 meters. This strange and unique landscape was created by nature about 30 million years ago.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

This wild and inaccessible place attracted Christian hermits as early as the 10th and 11th centuries, with official operation of the monasteries beginning in the 14th century. At their peak, there were about 24 monasteries in operation. However, today only 6 of them remain active. The area has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.                                                            

You will have time to visit three of the most important monasteries. Finally, you will make all the necessary stops to enjoy the scenery and take hundreds of photos. After completing your tour, you will dine at a local restaurant, tasting excellent Greek cuisine.                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

After your meal, we will take the road back. In about the middle of our route, we will stop at Thermopylae, where the Thermopylae battle took place with Leonidas and the 300 Spartans battling against hundreds of thousands of Persians. We will stop at the Leonidas monument and walk in the battlefield. The tour driver will also show you the hot springs of Thermopylae, with hot water gushing abundantly.         

After Thermopylae we’ll take the way back to Athens                                                                                            

You will leave this tour, with a sense of utter satisfaction. However, you may need to purchase a new card for your camera because the existing one may have already.