EXPLORING GREECE by PORTO CLUB Travel services  Excellent adventure in the Lab of the Gods We do all the work, so you have all the fun! ATHENS, MACEDONIA, Following APOSTLE PAUL’S STEPS, KAVALA, PHILIPPI, THESSALONICA, PELA, DION, VERGINA, VERIA, METEORA, DELPHI, OLYMPIA, MANI, MONEMVASSIA, MYSTRAS, SPARTA, MYCENAE, NAFPLION, EPIDAVROS, CORINTH, Do we have to say more??   A combination of History – Culture Religion & Lifestyle 14 days / 13 nights FOR ONLY PER PERSON €1.313 double occupancy Child: up to 2 years sharing parents room FREE OF CHARGE 2 – 4 years sharing parents room pay 25% 4 – 12 years sharing parents room pay 50% Single use add: € 412 Valid Period: July 1st - August 31, 2015 Experience an amazing world With us!  We provide:   13 nights accommodation / double occupancy Tours: ATHENS: Athens city tour (escorted – guided) 12 days rented vehicle B group / economy including unlimited mileage, insurance, taxes / manual swift Transportation from the airport of Athens by arrival to hotel and hotel / airport of Athens by departure 12 BREAKFASTS Office service:  Daily including Saturdays and Sundays from 8 am to 12 pm   Itinerary   Day 1: Athens Arrival. Reception at the airport. Transportation to the hotel. You will have the remainder of the day free to relax or take a stroll along the streets of Athens to enjoy the flavour of the city. Accommodation Athens. Day 2: Athens Pick up the rented car and Direction north to Thessalonica. Early afternoon arrival at Thessalonica. Accommodation Thessalonica. (breakfast) Day 3: Philippi/Kavala Kavala is Greece's prettiest mainland port with a most elegant harbour. 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 Christoupoli because it was the first European city to accept Christianity. Imagine walking on same sod 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 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 Paul. See the famous Acropolis, the Market Place, Basilica, and the Theatre. Return to Thessalonica for the night. Accommodation Thessalonica. (breakfast) Day 4: Thessalonica / Dion We visit the museum in Thessalonica, which has extensive Macedonian and Hellenistic collections, and get to know Thessalonica, a very unusual Greek city. It's more European than southern Greek. We now drive to the foot of Mt. Olympus and stay at the beautiful little resort town of Dion a key Roman colony in Augustus's time and has a wonderful museum. Back to Thessalonica late afternoon. Accommodation Thessalonica (Breakfast)  Day 5: Thessalonica/ Ancient Pela /Veria The New Testament books of I & II Thessalonians will come alive to us today. Visit the old city ramparts; the newly excavated Forum, St. George Church, an ancient Roman monument which was transformed into a church; and the Galerios Arch which rises over the famous Via Egnatia. We will see two of the beautiful basilicas in the city of St. Demetrius, dedicated to a distinguished member of the Roman army and a martyred Christian convert, and St. Sophia. Our next stop the ancient site of Pela [Alexander’s capital] and its famous mosaics. Go on direction Veria to view the Bema surrounded by newly placed mosaics of Paul and the plaque of scripture regarding the "more noble" church. We also visit King Phillips tomb in Vergina. Accommodation Veria (breakfast) Day 6: Meteora Monastery/Delphi Direction south west to Meteora where we step 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, later transformed into monasteries. Direction south to Delphi for overnight. Meteora where the fantastic and breathtaking Byzantine monasteries are perched on top of huge grey and reddish pillars. Monks seeking isolation and spiritual salvation first built those monasteries in the 14th century. They are veritable Byzantine museums exhibiting superb icons, old manuscripts and unique mosaics and frescoes. Accommodation Delphi. (breakfast) Day 7: Delphi/Ancient Olympia 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 we will see his eyelashes. We will see the Temple of Apollo and the Castalia Springs. Leave Delphi and through Galaxidi / Nafpaktos / Antirion – Rio,  pass to Peloponese and ancient Olympia. Olympia is situated in a fertile valley full of splendour 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)  Day 8: Olympia - Mani Morning, The stadium of Olympia, the temple of Zeus, the statues of heroes and athletes all embrace and speak in favour of the true Olympic Spirit flourished here... in Olympia and in the hearts of... get to know more. Drive south direction MANI. Accommodation MANI. MANI area is a sparsely settled region where castles, traditional villages build around Mount Tayetos, and wild landscapes abound. The harsh and proud land of the free. Castle-houses stained by the blood shed by the "vendetta" that has market the history of generations of Maniatic families. (breakfast)   Day 9: Mani – Gythion - Monamvassia Drive east direction Gythion and Monemvassia. Break at the fantastic cave of Dirou. Accommodation Monemvassia. MONEMVASIA is building on a rock, and it is likened to the "Gibraltar of Greece". The medieval castle city of Monemvasia is a magical place that during its long history has been conquered by many; Pirates, Francs, Byzantines, Saracens, Venetians, Turks and many more. Unique Monemvasia with its narrow alleys, impressive buildings, churches and museums, is a place that should be included in any visit to Greece and the Peloponese. Monemvasia was one of Venice's key Mediterranean military and administrative outposts. The medieval castle-city built on the steep rocks of Lakonia. A wealthy Byzantine fortress that would constantly attract the attention of pirates. GYTHEION the "Gateway to Mani" is a lively port town with many fish taverns and shops. The small island of Marathonisi, where according to mythology Paris and Helen consummated their ill-fated love, is connected to Gytheion by a causeway. (breakfast)  Day 10: Byzantine city of Mystras/Sparta We go west to Mystras, the Byzantine acropolis, the monasteries of Lakonia the bare and wild slopes of Mani, and Sparta, where we overnight. Accommodation Sparta. Sparta the pride, simplicity, duty, courage, strength of the Spartan led to the legendary Thermopiles, the most heroic battle of all seasons. Native soil of the brave Sparta has fought against many invaders and is considered the cornerstone of resistance throughout the centuries, the Byzantine castle state of Mystras - one of the most important cultural and religious centers of the late-Byzantine era. The sacred Byzantine city. Cultural and artistic center of the Byzantine Empire with a strong religious character it was the capital of the "Despotato" of Cantacuzeni and Palaiologi emperor lineages. With its incredible churches, monasteries, palaces and mansions. ...to visit Mystras only about 20 minutes away by car. Mystras is among the best preserved Byzantine fortress cities and really quite enchanting. The fact its Byzantine means it was heavily influenced/funded by the Byzantine Greek Orthodox Church of Constantinople so there are several churches with old icons etc. including a garden-like small convent. (breakfast)  Day 11: Mycenae/Nafplion Today we travel to Mycenae where the remains of the ancient city date back to the Bronze Age to see the famous Lioness Gate, the Tomb of Agamemnon in the shape of a Beehive the ancient city of Mycenae. - Mycenae and Argos, the cradles of Mycenaean civilization, along with the military and naval powers of Corinth and Sparta were some of the mightiest city-states of antiquityon . Accommodation at  NAFPLION  - the first capital of Greece, is divided into the old and the new town, with both parts overlooked by the Palamidi, the famous Venetian fort, which was constructed in the early 18thc. The old town was mainly built in the early 19thc but buildings still exist from the Venetian era. A visit to the Bourtzi (a small rock Island - fort at the entrance to the port) in the harbor is well worth a visit. Join the old city and the traditional small restaurants  tasting local specialties. Accommodation Nafplion. (breakfast) Day 12: Nafplion – Epidavros – Corinth - Athens First point the ancient theater of EPIDAVROS. We get to Epidaurus (Epidavros) The ancient theatre at Epidaurus, with its'  15.000 seats is one of the most important monuments in Greece. Yet, it is still in use!!! Here, in the summer during the  Epidaurus festival one can appreciate the incredible acoustics of the ancient theatre, next to the sanctuary of Asclepius. The next point Corinth is the city that inspired many of 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 Paul preached will enhance your understanding and love of I & II Corinthians. The ruins of this important cultural centre are fascinating as we 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 to   Athens. Drop off the vehicle Accommodation Athens (breakfast )  Day 13: ATHENS Morning city tour including Acropolis (escorted – guided) Afternoon time free to explore the city and do the last shopping Accommodation Athens (breakfast)   Day 14: Flight back home Arrival Piraeus. Transportation port / airport for the flight back home. End of tour. (breakfast)