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. Continuing our tour, and not far away, lies ancient Corinth, the richest city of ancient Greece and the only one that had two ports. The city is known for the visit and stay of Apostle Paul in it.

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 continue and after a 30 minutes drive through villages and fields where grapes and olive trees are cultivated, we reach the ancient city of Mycenae.The city of Mycenae was the kingdom of the legendary King Agamemnon, whom Homer has praised. Mycenae is famous for its Mycenaean civilization, which lasted from 1,600 to 1,100 BC. At the Acropolis of Mycenae, you will admire the Cyclopean Walls and cross the impressive Lion Gate. A little further, the tomb of Agamemnon, stand impressive majestic, which is nothing less than this great King deserved. The museum is situated in the same location.

Leaving Mycenae behind us, and after a 25 minute drive through orange orchards, we reach Nafplio .

Nafplio is the capital of the Argolis prefecture. In the 19th century, it was the first capital of Greece (from 1828 to 1833), after the liberation of the country from Ottoman rule. The old city has been given the status of a “traditional settlement” by the Greek state. It is full of historic buildings and ideal for walks through its narrow, picturesque alleys.

Just above the town, the Palamidi castle dominates the area. This is an amazing fortress that was fortified by the Venetians from 1686 to 1715 and has been kept in immaculate condition, giving all visitors a sense of awe.

After a good meal in a traditional tavern, you will check in at your hotel, where you can rest for a while. Early in the afternoon, you will visit the Palamidi Fortress, where you will be amazed!   After visiting the fortress, we will return to the Old City, where you will walk through the picturesque pedestrian streets and admire historic buildings. You will also admire the small water castle of Bourtzi, located in the middle of the harbor

Day 2

We depart after breakfast and head south, towards the historic city of Sparta, known in Ancient Greece for its brave warriors. We will visit the archaeological site and then we will continue towards our next destination, Mystras.           

The fortified town of Mystras, also known as “Myzithras” was founded in 1248 byWilliam II of Villehardouin, ruler of the Frankish Principality of Achaea. In 1259, William II is captured by the Byzantines at the Battle of Pelagonia and three years later the castle surrenders to the Byzantines and specifically Michael VIII Palaiologos.

In the mid-14th century, Mystras became the capital of the Byzantine Peloponnese.                                                              

In the area, you can admire numerous Byzantine churches, the palace of Palaiologos and many more.

After you are left in awe by the amazing fortified town, we will leave Mystras. We will dine at a traditional tavern, and then, after a journey of one hour and ten minutes, we will reach the city of Ancient Messene.                                           

The ancient city of Messene was founded in 370 or 369 BC by the Theban general Epaminondas, after his victory over the Spartans. Here, you can admire the imposing city wall and walk through the Arcadian Gate.In this incredibly beautiful ancient site, you can admire the ancient theater, the Ekklesiasterion (or Odeon), the Arsinoe fountain, the Asklepieion, the ancient stadium and many more. The small museum is situated just a few meters away.

In Ancient Messene, you’ll wonder why this awesome location is not getting the recognition and the visitors it deserves!

After leaving Ancient Messene, we will head towards Ancient Olympia, which is also the location of our overnight stay.

Day 3

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

After your long tour around the area and two museums, we will depart towards Patras. Shortly before reaching the city of Patras, we will visit the historic winery of Achaia Clauss. It was founded in 1861 by the Bavarian Gustav Clauss, who, after becoming fascinated by the cultural quality of the Achaean capital and the delicious power of its vines, decided to establish the first winery of Greece. In 1873, Achaia Clauss created Mavrodaphne, a famous sweet wine with a dark purple color and in 1901 it produced another one of its famous wines, Demesticha.

The location you will visit is amazing and has a great history. You will admire and taste wine varieties of many different flavors and you will be guided to areas with barrels where the wine has been aging for more than 130 years!  The tour will be conducted by experts on wine and after it ends, it is possible for you to buy wine bottles of various types, aromas and flavors.

After this unforgettable experience, we will take the way back to Athens, having the most incredible memories in our baggage!