Conference Tours 2017

Mycenae-Nafplio-Epidaurus

Pre Conference Tour

Wednesday the 4th of October 2017 at 8:30 am

Full Day Tour Including Lunch

Drive along the coastal road of the Saronic Gulf to MYCENAE (Visit) . Mycenae 'Rich in Gold', the kingdom of mythical Agamemnon, first sung by Homer in his epics, is the most important and richest palatial centre of the Late Bronze Age in Greece. Its name was given to one of the greatest civilizations of Greek prehistory, the Mycenaean civilization. Then trough Argos on to Nafplio the first capital of Greece in 1829 – After lunch we will depart to EPIDAURUS (Visit) On the headland called "Nesi" at Palaia Epidaurus, the theatre of the ancient city is quite well-preserved, in the shape it acquired during the latter years of its function. Apart from a few rows of seats, the cavea is made of limestone with poros staircases. Until now, nine cunei with eighteen rows of seats have been excavated, which originally could accommodate about 2000 spectators. All the benches and thrones of the theatre carry inscriptions with the names of the donors while implying a direct relationship of the monument with the cult of Dionysus. The theater is marveled for its exceptional acoustics, which permit almost perfect intelligibility of unamplified spoken word from the proscenium or scene to all 12,000 spectators, regardless of their seating.

Price: €100

Minimum Participation: 35 persons

Ancient Sparta & Byzantine City of Mystras

Post Conference Tour

Full Day Tour Including Lunch

Sunday the 8th of October 2017 at 8:30 am

Surrounded by mounts Taygetos and Parnon, Sparta was the kingdom of Menelaus and his beautiful queen, the most beautiful of all mortal women of her age, Helen. But Aphrodite had promised Paris of Troy the most beautiful woman on earth in return of a favour, so the Trojan prince came to Sparta to claim his trophy. He abducted Helen and travelled back to his homeland. Menelaus wanted his wife back and talked all the other kings of Greece into fighting against the Trojans. That’s pretty much how the most celebrated war of the myths started. Sparta has become known in history for its military strength, discipline and heroism. The military power of Sparta was due to the system of education imposed by the laws of Lycurgus, which was unique in ancient Greece.

Our first visit will be the Byzantine city of Mystras, with its fortified castle and the many churches. Mystras is the most important and complete site from the byzantine age, as the whole city still exists, and many of the monasteries are still alive. You must be equipped with appetite for exploration and water if you wish to walk through the whole city as there are lots of steps and there are plenty of things to see. After the visit to Mystras you will enjoy a traditional Greek lunch in a local restaurant.

Our tour continues with the visit of the statue of Leonidas (king of Sparta, and the legendary 300 Spartans at the Battle of Thermopylae), and then the acropolis of ancient Sparta with the Ancient theatre, one of the biggest among those of all the ancient Greek cities.

Our guide will share with you the history of Ancient Sparta and make you imagine the Spartan way of living and fighting.

Price: €100

Minimum Participation: 35 persons

Athens Sightseeing – The Parthenon & The New Acropolis Museum

Half Day Tour

Thursday the 5th of October 2017 at 9:00 pm

Saturday the 7th of October 2017 at 1:00 am

Upon deciding to take a tour of Athens, you will be totally impressed by the stark contrast between the "old" and the "new" Athens: on the one hand, you will marvel at the magnificent ancient ruins of the past, and, on the other, explore the modern architecture of the city. You will have the chance to visit the Acropolis, the exquisite landmark of Athens exhibiting its glorious history along with the Parthenon, the Propylea, the temple of Athina Nike and the Erechtheion, with its porch of Maidens. Other equally impressive and historic sites are the Roman Temple of Olympic Zeus, the tomb of the Unknown Soldier which is housed along with Parliament House in Syntagma (Constitution) Square. Do not miss the chance to visit the Panathinaiko Stadium (Kallimarmaro), where the first Olympic Games were held in 1896. Along Syntagma Square as well as downtown, you can marvel at state buildings and neoclassical structures of the 19th century, like the Catholic Cathedral, the University, the Academy of Athens, the National Library. Last but not least, do not leave Athens without visiting one of the most exceptional, modern, contemporary museums worldwide: the Acropolis museum, which fully displays the magnitude and glory of Athens in architecture and cultural style.

Price: €70

Minimum Participation: 35 persons

The Story of the ΄΄Marathon Race΄΄ and the Olympic Stadium of 2004

Half Day Tour

Friday the 6th of October 2017 at 9:00 am

Driving along the classic "Marathon" route you will have the chance to see the ancient marble mines of Mount Penteli. The specific marble was used in the most of the ancient temples. Arriving in Marathon, through the pinewoods, you can see the most important of the remaining monuments, the Marathon Tomb, of 9 m height and 50 m diameter, which covers the bones of the 192 Athenians who fell at the famous battle of Marathon against the invading Persian army. Legend wants an Athenian soldier named, ΄΄Pheidippides΄΄, to run from the battlefield all the way into Athens in order to bring the good news. He ran all the way from Marathon to the Athenian Agora located in the city centre of Athens. He collapsed and died immediately after he delivered his one word message: ΄΄Nenikikamen΄΄ (΄΄We have won΄΄). In memory of this great victory, the Marathon run was performed in the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 and since then, it is the last event of the modern Olympic Games. Here in Marathon, is the starting point of the authentic distance of 42,195 Km. (Roughly 26,2 miles).

We will continue our tour with a visit to the Archaeological Museum of Marathon and to Prehistoric Cemetery of Vranas.

Last but not least, on the way back you will have the chance to visit the inside of the Olympic Stadium Complex where the Olympic Games of 2004 were held. We will visit the main Stadium, the Aquatics Center and the Indoor Sports Arena.

Price: €60

Minimum Participation: 35 persons

Athens Winery Tour & Wine Tasting

Half Day Tour

Saturday the 7th of October 2017 at 10:00 am

After a short drive, just a few kilometers away from the city centre of Athens, we will arrive to Mesogaia, the blessed land of the famed Attica Vine. A land which is truly special and blessed by the gods,a nd surrounded by the sea which protects and nurtures it. The fruit of this land is borne of soft winters and warm and benevolent summers. From a soil which has the most perfect ingredients. The ideal environment for the cultivation of vines. Upon arrival we will meet the winery guide and then head out into the vineyards to begin the tour. As you stroll amid the vines, learn how the area has a rich viticulture heritage, with the winery itself dating back almost a century. See the plump savatiano and malagouzia grapes, which are used to make some of region’s most traditional wine varieties. Then, discover how the area’s climate and location create ideal conditions for dry white wines with high alcohol, balanced acidity and a fresh, delicate floral nose. Next, see where the wine is fermented and learn how the bioclimatic winery is designed to consume less energy than a conventional building. You’ll also see the huge, wooden casks used to hold resting wine. After your tour, head to a tasting room where you’ll sample five estate wines, paired with delicious regional specialties such as rusks or cheese. Savor the delicate bouquet of flavors in each wine, and pick up tips on how to identify the varying aromas and ingredients.

Price: €55

Minimum Participation: 35 persons

ONE DAY CRUISE – 3 ISLANDS IN THE SARONIC GULF

Full Day Cruise Including Lunch On Board

Monday the 2nd of October 2017 at 7:30 am

Tuesday the 3rd of October 2017 at 7:30 am

Wednesday the 4th of October 2017 at 7:30 am

Thursday the 5th of October 2017 at 7:30 am

Friday the 6th of October 2017 at 7:30 am

Saturday the 7th of October 2017 at 7:30 am

Sunday the 8th of October 2017 at 7:30 am

Our point of departure is Flisvos Marina on the Athenian coastline.

Hydra 1½ hour visit

Our first port of call is Hydra. A beautiful small island, yet so great in history that stands out among many others. Elegance, tradition and majesty. These are the three key-words that point out the beauty and significance of the island, that goes beyond what meets the eye. The cobblestone streets on the island, where donkeys are the primary mode of transportation, are lined with aristocratic mansions, forts, and churches steeped in history. The architecture of the island with the town of Hydra built in its centre on the imposing rocky slopes has remained intact and unspoilt by modern interventions to our very days thanks to the Hydrants, who religiously keep this unique legacy that has been handed down to them by their ancestors from one generation to the next.

Poros a 50 minute visit

Poros is the island of peace, romance and relaxation. It is lush with pine trees which reach the rugged shores and the sandy beaches. Approaching Poros by ship, from afar, we can see the historical clocktower on the highest hilltop.The architecture of Poros is a marvel right before your eyes. The beach houses are mostly neoclassical. The first houses were built in 1463 in the area around the clocktower. The centre of the town features the Town Hall, the Archaeological Museum, the Exhibition Hall and it is the site of a variety of cultural events.

Aegina a 3 hour visit

The world famous temple of Aphaia (Athena) imposes at the top of a pine-covered hill in the northeastern part of Aegina. This temple constituted the epitome and prototype of the Parthenon, which was built by Ictinus and Callicrates. When the atmosphere is clear, one can see the Temple of Poseidon at Sounion and the Acropolis of Athens from the site of Aphaia. These three temples form an isosceles triangle (the holy triangle of the ancient times). On the island there is also the church of Saint Nectarios, a grand Christian Byzantine church, which is one of the largest in the Balkan. It contains a silver urn with the relics of St. Nectarios, the patron saint of the island.

Price: €100

Minimum Participation: 35 persons