OVERVIEW
Athens :
Athens is the historical capital of Europe, with a long history, dating from the first settlement in the Neolithic age. In 1834, it became the capital of the modern Greek state and in two centuries since it has become an attractive modern metropolis with
unrivalled charm. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world’s oldest cities, with its recorded history spanning. A large part of the town’s historic centre has been converted into a 3-kilometre pedestrian zone. The historic centre is an open-air museum, yet the city’s cultural and social life takes place amid these ancient landmarks, merging past and present. The magnificent Acropolis rises above the sprawling metropolis and has stood witness to the city’s many transformations.
Mycenae :
Mycenae is one of the most important archaeological sites of Greece. The fortified citadel is nested over the fertile plain of Argolis near the seashore in the northeast Peloponnese. Mycenae is the largest and most important center of the civilization that was named “Mycenaean” after this very citadel. Mycenaean is the culture that dominated mainland Greece, the Aegean islands, and the shores of Asia Minor during the late Bronze Age. The Mycenaean Era occupies the tail end of the Helladic Civilization.
Nafplio :
According to mythology, the town was founded by Náfplios, the son of god Poseidon and the daughter of Danaus (Danaida) Anymone. The town’s history traces back to the prehistoric era when soldiers from here participated in the Argonautic expedition and the Trojan War alike. The town declined during the Roman times and flourished again during the Byzantine times. Frankish, Venetian and Turkish conquerors left their mark in the town and strongly influenced its culture, architecture and traditions during the centuries. Ancient walls, medieval castles, monuments and statues, Ottoman fountains and Venetian or neoclassical buildings mesmerize the visitor with their unique architecture and beauty.
Olympia :
In western Peloponnese, in the beautiful valley of the Alpheios river, lies the most celebrated sanctuary of ancient Greece. Dedicated to Zeus, the father of the gods, it sprawls over the southwest foot of Mount Kronios, at the confluence of the Alpheios and the Kladeos rivers, in a lush, green landscape. Although secluded near the west coast of the Peloponnese, Olympia became the most important religious and athletic centre in Greece. Its fame rests upon the Olympic Games, the greatest national festival and a highly prestigious one world-wide, which was held every four years to honour Zeus.
Delphi :
One of the most interesting archaeological sites in Greece, Delphi is located on the slopes of Mount Parnassus in central Greece. Delphi Greece was the most important oracle in the ancient Greek world and pilgrims from all over the Mediterranean would come to ask for the prophecy of god Apollo. The prophecy was spoken by the god through the words of Pythia, the high-priestess of his temple. As the myth says and scientists have confirmed, Delphi is the naval of the Earth, meaning the central point of our planet. Along time, it became also the base of a political and military association, apart from a religious sanctuary. According to the myth, Delphi is the centre of the world.
Kalambaka - Meteora :
Meteora is the second largest monastic and pilgrimage area in Greece after Mount Athos. The first monks took refuge on these cliff tops fleeing an invading Turkish army around the 11th century. Several monasteries were built in the centuries that followed and all the building materials had to be winched up in baskets. Until 1920 this was the sole means for getting supplies up to the monasteries. According to numerous historical sources, there were once thirty religious communities but today only six of them remain and can be visited; other smaller monasteries, mostly built during the 14th century, are now deserted.