Grecia artística
Duración: 7 Días
El programa se realiza sólo para grupos privados de mínimo 20 participantes
Day 1: Athens arrival & Walking Tour
Upon arrival at Athens International Airport “Eleftherios Venizelos”, meet our local escort and transfer to the hotel for check-in. We enjoy an orientation walking tour of downtown Athens familiarizing ourselves with the area and restaurants close to the hotel. We continue to Monastiraki and Psiri viewing some of the famous graffiti of Athens.
Following the economic crisis, a new burst of creative energy has turned Athens into what the New York Times calls "a contemporary mecca for street art in Europe". Athens boasts 2,000 or so graffiti and street artists paintings around the city. Welcome dinner and overnight in Athens.
Following the economic crisis, a new burst of creative energy has turned Athens into what the New York Times calls "a contemporary mecca for street art in Europe". Athens boasts 2,000 or so graffiti and street artists paintings around the city. Welcome dinner and overnight in Athens.
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Day 2: Acropolis museum, Acropolis Hill & Plaka – theatrical performance & Ancient Greek mask workshop
Our day begins with a guided visit to the Acropolis Museum, that houses all the finds from the Acropolis hill across the centuries. We then continue with a visit to the famous marble-capped Acropolis, the sacred rock of Athens, the citadel and the sanctuary of the city in antiquity. We visit the famous Parthenon and the Erechtheion temples and view the theatre of Herod Atticus and the ancient Agora from above.
Then, we go to nearby Areopagus, or Mars Hill, the 'Rock of Ares', to the north-west of the Acropolis, which in classical times functioned as the high court of appeal for criminal and civil cases in Athens, and offers amazing views below.
After a break for lunch on your own, we explore the old historical neighborhood of Athens, clustered around the northern and eastern slopes of the Acropolis, and incorporates labyrinth streets with neoclassical architecture.
In the afternoon, we enjoy our private performance in English “Ruins of Passion” at the Topos Allou Theater, followed by an ancient Greek mask workshop. Return to the hotel. Dinner on your own. Overnight at the hotel in Athens.
Then, we go to nearby Areopagus, or Mars Hill, the 'Rock of Ares', to the north-west of the Acropolis, which in classical times functioned as the high court of appeal for criminal and civil cases in Athens, and offers amazing views below.
After a break for lunch on your own, we explore the old historical neighborhood of Athens, clustered around the northern and eastern slopes of the Acropolis, and incorporates labyrinth streets with neoclassical architecture.
In the afternoon, we enjoy our private performance in English “Ruins of Passion” at the Topos Allou Theater, followed by an ancient Greek mask workshop. Return to the hotel. Dinner on your own. Overnight at the hotel in Athens.
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Day 3: National Archaeological museum, Ancient Agora & Sounion
Our day begins with a guided visit to the National Archaeological Museum of Athens. Its original purpose was to house the findings from the 19th century excavations in and around Athens. However, gradually it became the central National Archaeological Museum, enriched with findings from all over Greece. Its abundant collections, with more than 11,000 exhibits provide a panorama of Greek civilization from Neolithic times to the last years of the Roman Empire.
We continue with our guide to the Ancient Agora, formerly the commercial hub of ancient Athens and birthplace of politics and philosophy. We see the very well preserved Doric Temple of Hephaestus and the Stoa of Attalos, an arcade built by Attalos II, king of Pergamum, used as a retail market. Today it is used as museum, displaying statues, pottery and especially coins.
After a break for lunch (on your own), we will view from our motor-coach the highlights of modern Athens: Syntagma Square, Parliament House with the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and famous guards, the Academy, the University of Athens, the National Library, the Panathenaic Stadium, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, and Hadrian’s triumphal Arch.
We then enjoy a drive along the coastal road passing by many of the beaches and coves ending at Cape Sounion. Here will visit the 5th century Doric Temple of Poseidon and enjoy the fantastic sunset. Return to Athens for dinner on your own and overnight stay.
We continue with our guide to the Ancient Agora, formerly the commercial hub of ancient Athens and birthplace of politics and philosophy. We see the very well preserved Doric Temple of Hephaestus and the Stoa of Attalos, an arcade built by Attalos II, king of Pergamum, used as a retail market. Today it is used as museum, displaying statues, pottery and especially coins.
After a break for lunch (on your own), we will view from our motor-coach the highlights of modern Athens: Syntagma Square, Parliament House with the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and famous guards, the Academy, the University of Athens, the National Library, the Panathenaic Stadium, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, and Hadrian’s triumphal Arch.
We then enjoy a drive along the coastal road passing by many of the beaches and coves ending at Cape Sounion. Here will visit the 5th century Doric Temple of Poseidon and enjoy the fantastic sunset. Return to Athens for dinner on your own and overnight stay.
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Day 4: Epidaurus - Mycenae & Pottery Workshop
Today we will enjoy a full day trip out of Athens. First we will visit Epidaurus, the Sanctuary of Asclepius, dedicated to the healer-god in ancient Greece. We see the best-preserved ancient theater in all of Greece with a seating capacity of 12,000, famous for the harmony of its design and the perfection of its remarkable acoustics.
After a break for lunch (on your own), we enjoy a visit to Mycenae to see the remains of the pre-historic citadel fortified with the Cyclopean Walls, the Lionesses' Gate, the remains of the Mycenaean Palace and the Tomb of King Agamemnon (which we will actually enter!). Our tour ends with a visit to a pottery workshop where we will make pottery like the Ancient Greeks and take home our designs with us. Return to Athens for overnight stay.
After a break for lunch (on your own), we enjoy a visit to Mycenae to see the remains of the pre-historic citadel fortified with the Cyclopean Walls, the Lionesses' Gate, the remains of the Mycenaean Palace and the Tomb of King Agamemnon (which we will actually enter!). Our tour ends with a visit to a pottery workshop where we will make pottery like the Ancient Greeks and take home our designs with us. Return to Athens for overnight stay.
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Day 5: One-day cruise to Hydra, Poros & Aegina
Today we enjoy a one-day cruise to the Greek islands of Hydra, Poros, and Aegina, including a buffet lunch served on board and round-trip transfers by bus.
We sail at 8:00 a.m. from the port of Piraeus. Our first stop is Hydra, a fashionable artists' colony and a favorite film location due to its well preserved distinctive setting. An amphitheatrical port town rings the colorful harbor with well-preserved sea-merchant stone family mansions. The narrow cobblestoned streets echo with the sound of donkeys that are used as a mode of transportation since cars have been banned from use on the island!
Our voyage continues to the island of Poros, where the first naval arsenal of independent Greece was established. Poros provides delightful scenery marked by the low pine-wooded hills, crystal clear beaches, a lively waterfront adorned with shops, cozy cafes, restaurants and grand traditional mansions. The picturesque cobbled streets, as well as a wide selection of entertainment venues are the ingredients of this quiet, yet cosmopolitan, destination.
Our last port of call is Aegina, an attractive and tranquil resort place that boasts a great number of sights and natural beauties, the highlight of which is the famous Aphaia Temple. This temple forms an equilateral triangle with the Parthenon and the Temple of Poseidon at Sounion, creating the so-called 'triangle of antiquity'. Here, you can enjoy a leisurely walk around the harbor with free time for picture taking or sketching (also don’t forget to try the locally grown delicious pistachios!). Return to the port in the early evening (around 7:00 p.m.) and transfer to the hotel in Athens for overnight stay.
We sail at 8:00 a.m. from the port of Piraeus. Our first stop is Hydra, a fashionable artists' colony and a favorite film location due to its well preserved distinctive setting. An amphitheatrical port town rings the colorful harbor with well-preserved sea-merchant stone family mansions. The narrow cobblestoned streets echo with the sound of donkeys that are used as a mode of transportation since cars have been banned from use on the island!
Our voyage continues to the island of Poros, where the first naval arsenal of independent Greece was established. Poros provides delightful scenery marked by the low pine-wooded hills, crystal clear beaches, a lively waterfront adorned with shops, cozy cafes, restaurants and grand traditional mansions. The picturesque cobbled streets, as well as a wide selection of entertainment venues are the ingredients of this quiet, yet cosmopolitan, destination.
Our last port of call is Aegina, an attractive and tranquil resort place that boasts a great number of sights and natural beauties, the highlight of which is the famous Aphaia Temple. This temple forms an equilateral triangle with the Parthenon and the Temple of Poseidon at Sounion, creating the so-called 'triangle of antiquity'. Here, you can enjoy a leisurely walk around the harbor with free time for picture taking or sketching (also don’t forget to try the locally grown delicious pistachios!). Return to the port in the early evening (around 7:00 p.m.) and transfer to the hotel in Athens for overnight stay.
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Day 6: Delphi & cooking class or Greek dance class or drawing/painting class
Today we will depart from Athens and drive through the fertile plain of Boeotia, crossing the towns of Thebes (connected with the tragedy of king Oedipus), Livadia and Arachova (famous for their colorful woolen rugs and resort ski town). We arrive at Delphi, the center of the Ancient world, the "omphalos" (navel) of the earth - whose prestige extended far beyond the boundaries of the Hellenistic world.
On the slopes of Mt. Parnassus, in a landscape of unparalleled natural beauty and majesty, lies the archaeological site of Delphi. We visit the Sanctuary of Apollo, the Treasury of the Athenians and the Archaeological Museum containing masterpieces of ancient Greek sculpture, such as the bronze Charioteer and the famous athlete Aghias. We enjoy lunch at a local restaurant as well as the choice of one activity (cooking class / Greek dance lesson / drawing/painting class). Return to the hotel in Athens for dinner and overnight stay.
On the slopes of Mt. Parnassus, in a landscape of unparalleled natural beauty and majesty, lies the archaeological site of Delphi. We visit the Sanctuary of Apollo, the Treasury of the Athenians and the Archaeological Museum containing masterpieces of ancient Greek sculpture, such as the bronze Charioteer and the famous athlete Aghias. We enjoy lunch at a local restaurant as well as the choice of one activity (cooking class / Greek dance lesson / drawing/painting class). Return to the hotel in Athens for dinner and overnight stay.
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Day 7: Athens departure
Escorted group transfer to Athens International Airport “Eleftherios Venizelos” for your departure flight home.
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