Four day private tour to Delphi, Athens, Corinth and Meteora from Corfu
Day 1: Corfu - Delphi - Athens
Departure by ferry from Corfu to Igoumenitsa, the port on the Greek mainland. Driving on the road towards south Greece we will first visit the archeological site of Delphi, the Navel of the Earth, as Delphi is called, the most important oracle of the ancient Greek world was located, and its reputation exceeded the boarders of Greece, even during the ancient years, which is proved by the findings of the diggings that showed oblations from Syria and Armenia.
The oracle of Delphi was dedicated to God Apollo and Pythia, the High-Priestess, was the medium to deliver to the interested people the prophecy. Delphi, as it was recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, gathers a large number of Greek and foreign visitors all year long.
Visit to the Treasure of the Athenians, the sanctuary of Apollo, the amphitheater, the stadium. The Archaeological Museum of Delphi, one of the most important in Greece, exhibits the history of the Delphic sanctuary, site of the most famous ancient Greek oracle. Its rich collections are comprised primarily of architectural sculpture, statues and minor objects donated to the sanctuary. These reflect its religious, political and artistic activities from its early years in the eight century BC to its decline in Late Antiquity. Later in the afternoon arrival in Athens.
Day 2: Athens full day tour
Full day Athens tour starts with a visit to Acropolis. The entrance to the Acropolis was a monumental gateway termed the Propylaea. To the south of the entrance is the tiny Temple of Athena Nike. At the centre of the Acropolis is the Parthenon or Temple of Athena Parthenos (Athena the Virgin). East of the entrance and north of the Parthenon is the temple known as the Erechtheum. South of the platform that forms the top of the Acropolis there are also the remains of the ancient, though often remodeled, Theatre of Dionysus. A few hundred metres away, there is the now partially reconstructed Odeon of Herodes Atticus.Enjoy the amazing vista of the entire city of Athens, along with the surrounding mountains and you will allow your sight to reach the shores of Athens and the famous port of Piraeus.
Once as descend from the Acropolis, visit the New Museum of the Acropolis that is built at the feet of the Sacred Rock and admire the marbles of the Parthenon and an impressive collection of artifacts and relics found on the Acropolis during the excavations.
Walking in Plaka-the oldest and most picturesque part of Athens, the Roman Agora, and the Tower of the Winds and the ancient Agora of Athens, which was the centre of public life where Plato and Socrates-the two famous philosophers of ancient Greece- taught to the Athenians about Democracy and Philosophy.
Later the tour pass from the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Panathinaic Stadium (where the Olympic Games were held for the first time in modern Athens in 1896), the Parliament, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the University Street that connects Constitution (Syntagma) Square with Concord (Omonia) Square-the second most important square in Athens and see the Academy, the University and the National Library followed by a drive up to Lycabettus Hill (highest point of Athens) where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the city.
In the night free time in Monastiraki and Plaka. Dinner a local taverna.
Day 3: Ancient Corinth and Isthmia ( Half day tour )
Starting from Athens, drive westwards, along with the beautiful scenic coastal until we finally reach the Corinth Canal, which is 6 kilometers long. Short stop at the Corinth Canal and then in about 15-20 minutes, drive through the beautiful local villages to reach the Ancient Corinth. This is the place where Saint Paul preached and lived for about two years. During the ancient times, the town of Corinth was considered as one of the richest cities in Greece, due to the remains of the Temple of Apollo, during the 6th century BC and the Ancient Agora.
Afterwards, drive up to the edge of the Acropolis of Corinth (Acrocorinth), where a spectacular panoramic view of the entire area will amaze you. According to a local Corinthian myth, Briareus, one of the three Hecatonchires, was the arbitrator between Poseidon’s (God of the sea) and Helios’s (God of the sun) dispute, when he decided that the Corinth Canal (Isthmus) belonged to Poseidon and the Acropolis of Corinth (Acrocorinth) to Helios. In the afternoon free time in Athens for shopping and walking in the ara of Plaka and Monastiraki
Day 4: Meteora - Corfu
Drive to the Central Greece where Meteora rocks are. On the way Short stop at Thermopylae, an important area well known for the battle among the Greek forces including the 300 Spartans and their leader King Leonidas and the Persians in 353 BC. At noon arrival in Kalambaka Short stop for rest and then visit to the rocks of Meteora . Meteora offers the unique experience of nature’s grandeur in conjunction with history, architecture and man’s everlasting desire to connect with the Divine. From the early Christian times, the Meteora vertical cliffs were regarded as the perfect place to achieve absolute isolation, to discover peace and harmony and, thus, to support man’s eternal struggle for spiritual elevation. Meteora is a truly inspiring and sensational setting of overwhelming rock formations, but one must also be prepared to expect that this trip is much more than merely visiting an exquisite landscape. It is a pilgrimage to a holy place for all Christians around the world. Meteora has become a preservation ark for the 2000-year-old Christian Orthodox creed.
Optional lunch in a restaurant and then drive to Igoumenitsa. Arrival in Corfu late in the evening.
Inclusions
· Transport by private vehicle
· Hotel accommodation on Bed & Breakfast basis.
· English speaking driver
· Professional guides in visiting places
· Round-trip ferry tickets
· Bottled water
· Hotel pickup and drop-off
· Tolls
Exclude:
- Lunch
- Drinks
- Monasteries entrance fees
- Museums and archaeological sites entrance fees
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