Reception at the airport.  Transportation to the hotel.

Accommodation Thessaloniki (Dinner)

DAY 2. JULY 02, THESSALONIKI- THESSALONIKI’S  CHURCHES GUIDED  TOUR

Accommodation Thessaloniki (Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner)

DAY 3. JULY 03, THESSALONIKI KAVALA – PHILIPPI

Accommodation Thessaloniki (Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner)

DAY 4. JULY 04, THESSALONIKI – PELA – VERGINA – VERIA

Accommodation Veria (Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner)

DAY 5. JULY 05, VERIA – PANAGIA SOUMELA – METEORA

Accommodation Kalambaka (Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner)

DAY 6. JULY 06, METEORA – DELPHI

Accommodation  Delphi (Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner)

DAY 7. JULY 07, DELPHI – OLYMPIA

Accommodation Olympia (Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner)

DAY 8. JULY 08, OLYMPIA – AGIA THEODORA AT VASTA – PYLOS

Accommodation Pylos (Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner)

DAY 9. JULY 09, PYLOS – MYSTRAS – SPARTA

Accommodation Sparta (Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner)

DAY 10. JULY 10, SPARTA – MYCENAE – NAFPLION

Accommodation Nafplion (Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner)

DAY 11. JULY 11, NAFPLION – EPIDAVROS – CORINTH – ATHENS

Accommodation Athens (Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner)

DAY 12. JULY 12, ATHENS- FLIGHT BACK HOME

Transportation to the airport for the flight back home.

Breakfast

THANK YOU FOR COMING Have a nice flight back home! KALO TAXIDI

DAY 1. JULY 01, THESSALONIKI- ARRIVAL

Reception at the airport.  Transportation to the hotel.

Accommodation Thessaloniki (Dinner)

DAY 2. JULY 02,  THESSALONIKI- THESSALONIKI’S  CHURCHES GUIDED  TOUR

Thessaloniki is Greece’s second largest city and the capital of Macedonia (also voted “Best Mid-Sized European city for human capital and lifestyle” by Financial Times in 2014). It offers a rich cultural and historical heritage as well as a cosmopolitan café life. We will visit some of the splendid churches including the Byzantine church of St. Dimitrios. Naturally, there’s also time to enjoy the shopping and cafés downtown.

“Meze” lunch at Modiano market. The tour could not end without a visit to one of the city’s oldest confectioneries for a sample of siropiasta. These syrupy sweets are still made from the original recipes that Greek refugees brought with them during the1920s from Istanbul and Asia Minor, the perfect Thessaloniki food to finish off this tour (and aid your digestion!) Evening dinner will be at Athonos Square, and be amazed by beautiful scenery that compliments the numerous old-world ouzeris and small taverns. Visit one of the best ouzeris in the city and taste meze accompanied with ouzo or tsipouro – some flavors you won’t be forgetting in a hurry, that’s for sure!

Accommodation Thessaloniki (Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner)

DAY 3. JULY 03, THESSALONIKI KAVALA – PHILIPPI

Full day tour – visit the cities where Apostle Paul taught – previously known as NEAPOLIS and PHILIPPI – now known as KAVALA where St Paul went to prison. Ninety miles from Thessaloniki are the extensive ruins of the city of Philippi, which was one of the leading cities of Macedonia and which St Paul visited in A.D. 50. Among the ruins is a most impressive Roman theatre. Kavala is Greece’s prettiest mainland port with a most elegant harbor. St Paul landed here with his disciples, Timothy and Silas. Luke, the Evangelist, also came here from Troas. This ancient city of Neapolis was later renamed Christoupolis because it was the first European city to convert to Christianity. Imagine walking on the same ground as these men of the Bible! We will see the Roman Aqueduct and the ruins of the Acropolis in this beautifully located city, known since the 5th century as Kavala.

Continue on to Philippi where St Paul preached his first evangelical sermon and baptized the first Christians on European soil. We will view the baptismal site where Lydia surrendered her life to Christ and visit a crypt dating from the Roman period that is thought to have served as a prison for St Paul. See the famous Acropolis, the Market Place, Basilica, and the Theatre. We return to Thessaloniki for the night.

Accommodation Thessaloniki (Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner)

DAY 4. JULY 04,  THESSALONIKI – PELA – VERGINA – VERIA

Vergina has the tomb of Philip plus an important museum. Staying in Beroea (Veria), which had an important early Christian community and visit the Altar Apostle Paul taught.

Accommodation Veria (Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner)

DAY 5. JULY 05, VERIA – PANAGIA SOUMELA – METEORA

A visit to the altar of St. Paul at Veria and then on to the monastery of  PANAGIA SOUMELA. A visit to the monastery and then drive south to the holy rocks of METEORA.  Meteora is a must-see on any trip to Greece.

Here are some of the most ancient, active monasteries in all of Greece, and they are perched miraculously atop the mountains along the Pinios river. Meteora, where we will climb and see the world famous Byzantine monasteries that are perched precariously on summits of grey rock –  pinnacles of varied and beautiful shapes. Their history goes back to the 14th century when the monks sought refuge in the Cliffside caves then fled higher to build the original wooden shelters, that was later transformed into monasteries. Monks seeking isolation and spiritual salvation first built these monasteries in the 14th century. They are veritable Byzantine museums exhibiting superb icons, old manuscripts and unique mosaics and frescoes.

Accommodation Kalambaka (Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner)

DAY 6. JULY 06, METEORA – DELPHI

Delphi – the ancient sanctuary of Apollo. We will gain a greater understanding of the Greek religious heritage and their influence on the early Christian church. We visit the museum where we will marvel at the site of the Charioteer, a bronze statue so delicate you can see his eyelashes. We will see the Temple of Apollo and the Castalia Springs.

Visit Meteora with its striking scenery. Perched on the top of huge rocks which seem to be suspended in mid-air, stand ageless Monasteries, where you can see exquisite specimens of Byzantine art. Depart from Kalambaka towards Delphi. Arrival  Delphi early afternoon.

Accommodation  Delphi. (Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner)

DAY 7. JULY 07, DELPHI – OLYMPIA

We leave Delphi and travel through Galaxidi -Nafpaktos / Antirion – Rio we pass to Peloponnese and ancient Olympia. Olympia is situated in a fertile valley full of splendor, surrounded by hills and light green forests. The incense and the holy atmosphere of the surroundings along with the classical architecture of the ancient buildings make this place unique in the world.

Accommodation Olympia (Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner)

DAY 8. JULY 08, OLYMPIA – AGIA THEODORA AT VASTA – PYLOS

From Olympia, drive 2 hours and reach the little church of Agia Theodora at Vasta. Why visit this little church? In the green-clad gully, near Vasta village, there was certainly a miracle. Whether it is created by God or nature we are unable to tell. On the roof of the small church of Saint Theodora seventeen bigger and smaller trees (holm-oaks, maples and other) have grown in an impressive way embracing and supporting the temple. Their roots are invisible both on the outside and in the inside of the church. Perhaps they run through the stone-built walls and constitute a miracle of nature, perhaps,  a divine hand has woven and maintained their clustering. Lunch at the near restaurant with a variety of local specialties. After lunch, we drive to Pylos, a Mycenaean capital and palace, the traditional home of Nestor (from Homer’s Odyssey), located near the modern city of Pylos. Dinner at local restaurant with a variety of local specialties.

Accommodation Pylos (Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner)

DAY 9. JULY 09, PYLOS – MYSTRAS – SPARTA

A visit to the old Navarino castle and you will enjoy the wonderful panorama that unfolds in front of you, the view from Palaikastro hill is unique in all directions. Ending the visit drive to Sparta. A visit to the one time capital of Byzantium, the medieval town of Mystras that is mounted on Taigetos’ slope. It is protected by an impregnable fortress (the Kastro), which was built in 1249 by the Frankish prince Guillaume de Villehardouin, the Byzantine acropolis, the monasteries of Lakonia and the bare and wild slopes of Mani, and Sparta. Lunch at a nearby local restaurant then travels to Sparta.

Sparta – the pride, simplicity, duty, courage, the strength of the Spartan-led to the legendary Thermopiles, the most heroic battle of all seasons. Sparta has fought against many invaders on its native soil and is considered the cornerstone of resistance throughout the centuries.

Accommodation Sparta (Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner)

DAY 10. JULY 10, SPARTA – MYCENAE – NAFPLION

Breakfast then one and a half hours drive north to Argos and Mycenae, to visit the archaeological site and the museum. The Mycenaean civilization perished with the collapse of Bronze-Age civilization in the eastern Mediterranean in 1100 BC and then flourished until 1600 BC when Helladic culture in mainland Greece was transformed under influences from Minoan Crete.

Accommodation Nafplion (Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner)

DAY 11. JULY 11, NAFPLION – EPIDAVROS – CORINTH – ATHENS

Breakfast and the first stop at Epidaurus to visit the archaeological site and the 2,300-year-old Theatre of Epidaurus, famous for its acoustics. Keep driving in the direction of Athens via Corinth. Corinth is the city that inspired many of St Paul’s most familiar letters. See the Archaeological Museum, the Market Place, the Bema, and the Temples. To stand in the midst of the ruins of the church of Corinth and see the pillars, steps, and public worship place where St Paul preached. This will enhance your understanding and love of I & II Corinthians. The ruins of this important cultural center are fascinating as you walk along the stone path that the Apostle Paul walked. The engineering skill and intellect of these people are evident in the water systems that still flow from ancient to modern day. Continue our journey to Athens.

Accommodation Athens (Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner)

DAY 12. JULY 12, ATHENS- FLIGHT BACK HOME

Breakfast and transportation to the airport for the flight back home.

(Breakfast)

THANK YOU FOR COMING Have a nice flight back home! KALO TAXIDI