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This trip combines several archeological sites that are impossible to visit in one day alone or with a tourist bus of 50 people. It refers to religion, culture, the science of medicine, engineering in the daily life of the ancient Greeks, the philosophy and the quests of the ancients for life after death and the immortality of the soul.
Athens to Delphi.
Τhe Ancient city of Thebes was one of the most important ancient cities in Greece. Most of the most famous ancient myths played here. It was the homeland of the god Dionysus and the mythical Oedipus.
Thespies was the city of warriors. Few people know that in Thermopylae, not only the 300 Spartans were killed with King Leonidas, but also 700 Thespian soldiers. Also in 165 AD when the Germans attacked the borders of the Roman Empire, 150 Thespians fought alongside the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius and only 70 of them returned alive to their city.
Τhe birth place of Plutarch, the great philosopher and the main priest in the Delphi Oracle for 30 years. There is also the statue of the lion there, the gift of king Fillip the Macedon to the city. The entire area is full of ancient cities and point of views.
Ancient Lilaia is a very old city, mentioned also by Homer. There we will visit the temples of Apollo and Artemis and the springs of god Kiffisos, where the Nymphs still frequent... Archaeological site there is not organized, so we are able to walk and stand inside the temples.
We will drive high on Mount Parnassus, taking the road to Delphi. The mountain of myths and gods Apollo, Dionysus and of course Pan. Shortly before Arachova we will pass from the Korykion cave, it was the first oracle of the area (from 4000 BC) and the temple of Pan and the Nymphs.This is a mysterious, well-hidden large cave, where we will have the opportunity to walk in it and feel the positive energy that exists there. Before Delphi we will also visit the famous mountain village Arachova.
We will arrive at Delphi. around 13:00 for check in our hotel and lunch. We will rest for a while and in the afternoon we will visit the museum and the archeological site of Delphi. They are of great interest and we will need more than 2 hours there. After this, night we will be free and we will be able to take a walk and admire the view of the sea and the ancient port of Delphi. Delphi is located at an altitude of 720 meters and the view from there is incredible.There are a lot of cafe/bars there and also a great restaurant, with great view, we suggest.
We will spend our night at Delphi in Hotel Nidimos (3*), or similar. Double rooms. Extra charge of 40€, for single room)
Delphi to Meteora
Next morning, our day starts at 08:00. We will leave Delphi and drive for around 3 hours to Meteora. Our route to the plain of Lamia, will be through vast olive groves and mountains where the landscapes are magnificent. On our way we will also see the area of Thermopylae, the camp of Persians soldiers and the path of Ephialtes (the trator).
At Meteora, we will do the round of the area, we will see everything and we will admire the unique view with many stops.. The monastery of St Stefan will be our first visit.This is one of the most beautiful monasteries there. with nuns. It is the only monastery that you can visit, in Meteora, without having to climb dozens of stairs.
Megalo Meteoro is a male monastery and is the oldest and largest of all the monasteries of Meteora. Megalo Meteoro was founded shortly before the middle of the 14th century and is the starting point of organized monastic life in Meteora. Built on the most imposing rock, it occupies a prominent position among the monastic complex of Meteora. It is the largest and most official of the existing monasteries. One of the most interesting parts of the monastery is the sacristy which contains parts of the skulls of monks who lived there for centuries. The Great Meteora is the main museum for the visitors of Meteora.
If we have time we will visit another monastery, but we will definitely pass by and see many of the ruined monasteries today. Consider that today there are only six monasteries left, while there were 30. There are also many caves and small huts on the rocks, where even today ascetic monks live. The wild and inaccessible landscape was a suitable place for the Christian ascetics who settled in the area in a date that is not exactly known (it is claimed that it started before the 11th century). The view of the towering dark rocks here, awe-inspiring to everyone.
The village Kastraki got its name from a castle whose few ruins are still preserved. The village is very picturesque and has an impressive landscape full of plateaus, ravines and the spooky rocks of Meteora that seem to want to touch the sky. There we will walk in its alleys and we will have our meal in a traditional tavern.
Visit to the cave of Theopetra, a place where archaeologists have discovered habitats from 130.000 – 25.000 BC. The cave of Theopetra is quite likely to be the only one which contains, within a single space, elements of two very important cultural transitions. First from the replacement of Neanderthals by modern humans and then from the transition from the hunter-gatherer to agriculture, the transition from the Paleolithic to the Neolithic way of life, at the end of the last Ice Age.
We will take the way back to Athens, with a stop at Thermopylae battlefield. The area that 300 Spartans fight against hundreds thousands of Persians and died there. We will visit the hill of Kolonos, where everybody died, and the monument. We will also see the thermal springs there. We will be back in Athens around 20:00.
No accommodation provided
12 hours