Greece Foodie & Historical Tour
Overnight Flight
Depart from JMU’s Ice House and catch an overnight flight to Athens, Greece.
Arrival in Athens
Welcome to Athens, Greece! Land, unpack and unwind at the 4-star Brown Kubic Hotel, located adjacent to the famous Omonia Square with breathtaking rooftop views of the entire city of Athens.
Enjoy a warm welcome for all the guests at a local tavern minutes from the hotel and meet your guide.
Acropolis Tour & Archaeological Museum
We will visit the famous archaeological site of The Acropolis, the Acropolis Museum and the Ancient Agora, the center of political and public life in Ancient Athens. We are going to stroll around the winded alleys of the picturesque area of Plaka, beneath the Acropolis and visit the Athens Flea Market in Monastiraki, one of the best places to enjoy your shopping, almost everything at your fingertips.
Next we will visit the National Archaeological Museum, the largest museum in Greece and one of the most important in the world. It hosts rich collections, enumerating more than 11,000 exhibits, offering the visitors a panorama of ancient Greek culture from prehistory to late antiquity.
At night, dinner in a local taverna. Explore the charm and tastefulness of Greek Street food!
Cape Sounio, Temple of Poseidon, Sunset Cruise
After breakfast at our hotel, we will visit the temple of Poseidon, the ancient Greek god of the sea, which dominates the southernmost tip of Attica, where the horizon meets the Aegean Sea. Perched on the craggy rocks of Cape Sounio, the temple is enveloped in myth and historic facts dated from antiquity until the present times.
Later, a bit of free time for leisure
Most travelers and short-stay visitors are unaware of the Athenian Riviera’s proximity to the city center. Just half-hour away there is a beautiful coastline with sparkling waters waiting to be explored! This half-day afternoon trip leaving from Alimos Marina, Athens, sets on a journey away from the busy & hot city center to discover the magnificent South coast of Athens, where the locals spend most of their summertime.
Indulge in Greek delicacies, a light dinner freshly prepared and served for you by the crew, accompanied with ice cold refreshments.
Exploring Pelopponnese, Ouzo Tasting, Ancient City of Nafplion
After breakfast, check out from Brown Kubic Hotel. Check into our next hotel, the Liberty Urban Luxury Hotel. The hotel is located in a privileged position in Nafplio, overlooking Palamidi Castle.
One of the most beautiful towns in the area of Argolis (in eastern Peloponnese) as well as one of the most romantic cities all over Greece, Nafplio was the first capital of the newly born Greek state between 1823 and 1834.
According to mythology, the town was founded by Nafplios, 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.
An afternoon and just before dinner a comparative tasting of Greek varieties of ouzo and tsipouro will introduce you to the tradition of distillery in Greece, you will also have the chance to taste mastiha. Dinner at a local taverna.
Mycenae, Palamidi Castle, Free Time
Morning departure to visit the archaeological site of Mycenae, the kingdom of mythical Agamemnon, first sung by Homer in his epics. The Mycenaean Palace was the most important and richest palatial center of the Late Bronze Age in Greece and its name was given to one of the greatest civilizations of Greek prehistory, the Mycenaean. The myths associated with this place came down to us through the ages: the Homeric epics and the great tragedies of the classical period. These myths and works have been an inspiration to the world intellectual creation and art through the centuries, and still do so today.
Then Palamidi the medieval Castle is waiting to be explored and the evening is free for a pleasant walk around the narrow paved streets of the Old Town of Nafplio, like a trip to the Medieval past.
Please note: considerable walking and climbing required today. Moderately active.
Tolo, Hydra, Spetses
We are jet setting like celebrities such as Sophia Loren, Henry Miller, and Pablo Picasso to the beautiful island of Hydra today. Only accessible by boat, this island is home to over 300 churches and 6 monasteries. We will visit old town Hydra and a couple of charming churches. Nearby Spetses is picturesque and car-free. Today is absolutely unique, relaxing and basking in old world beauty along the Aegean Sea.
Known as Isola di Spezie under Venetian rule and Pityoussa (pine-clad) in ancient times, Spetses, at just 54 nautical miles from Athens, is a picturesque, car-free island with a unique architecture, naval history and culture. The island flourished during the early 18th century, developing into a significant naval power, dominating the major shipping routes of the Mediterranean. Today, the two-hundred year old captains’ mansions lining the coast are testimony to the vast wealth and grandeur of that time. The mansion of the Greek War of Independence heroine Laskarina Bouboulina – the only female admiral in world naval history - now houses Bouboulina’s Museum which hosts a Cultural Festival every summer with a plethora of events - while the Spetses State Museum is housed in the mansion of Spetsiot revolutionary leader Hatziyannis Mexis and contains artefacts representing more than 4000 years of history.
Lunch in Hydra's traditional fish taverns. Dinner in Local Tavern
Nafplio, Epidaurus
Morning departure for guided tour to the archaeological site of Epidaurus. We are going to visit the Great Theater of Epidaurus, the most beautiful and best preserved of all the ancient theaters, destined for the fun of the patients of Asklipieio, and the Sanctuary of Asklepios: a sacred place where sick people and seekers arrived from all over Greece and the Mediterranean basin in order to be healed.
Afternoon swimming at Old Epidaurus area. Dinner at seaside tavern.
Nafplio, Kalamata
Check out: Liberty Urban Luxury Hotel
Check in: ELITE CITY RESORT, KALAMATA
Wear comfortable shoes and let’s visit to the top of Mystras, a fanciful castle-city overlooking Sparta. It is an UNESCO world heritage site. In the afternoon we visit the Kalamata Farmers Market, one of the largest in the region. Among the delicious products you can buy at the Farmers Market, make sure to get your hands on the famous Kalamata olives, local honey, Taygetos tea, and as many wild edible greens and herbs as possible.
Lunch in a traditional tavern with local delicacies. Dinner at a local tavern in Kalamata
Kardamyli, Areopoli, Gytheio
Today we take a drive through ancient history and unpack the stories of Sparta from a close up look. The first stop is Kardamyli, a town by the sea, one of the seven cities offered to Achilles by Agamemnon to rejoin the Troian war. This tiny village has one of the prettiest settings in the Peloponnese, nestled between the blue waters of the Messinian Gulf and the Taygetos Mountains. Gytheio is the site of ancient Cranae, a tiny island where according to legend Paris of Troy and Helen from Sparta spent their first night together before departing for Troy, thus igniting the Troian war. Gytheio used to be an important port until it was destroyed in 4th century AD, possibly by an earthquake. Even thereafter its strategic location gave Gytheio a significant role in Maniot history. Today it is the largest and most important town in Mani
We will be immersed in Spartan and Ancient Greek history today!
Ancient Messene, Cooking Class
Ancient Messini is one of the best-preserved archaeological sites in Greece. Located just 40 minutes north of Kalamata in a fertile valley under Ithome mountain is the ancient site of Messini ( also known as Messene). This was once a large city-state, founded during the Bronze age and home to thousands of people. We will then visit the old monastery of Vourkano, located on one of the holiest areas of ancient times. Nearby are ruins of the ancient temple of Zeus were animal and maybe even human sacrifices took place.
Finally, let’s enjoy some ancient Messene meals together. The visit starts with a refreshing homemade Lemonade from the lemon trees of the Farm and it continues with a walk among the trees. We prepare our ingredients for the cooking lesson and get vegetables from the organic gardens of the Art Farm if needed, according to the menu. While the food is cooking we listen to Greek music with a glass of wine or relax under the trees and then we lay the table to enjoy a delicious traditional Greek meal. As we eat we enjoy the Greek music and the breathtaking view from the 100m ² terrace . Before we say goodbye we have a coffee after lunch or take a walk around the Farm.
Visit a Traditional olive oil Mill that is set up as a traditional kitchen.
Cook together with local housewifes , local recipes based in olive oil such as pumkinpie, tzatziki, Salads, Gemista etc
Tour at the modern olive oil factory and storage facility (mill) (30’)
Olive oil tasting workshop in 3 different extra virgin olive oils by experienced olive oil taster (member of certified olive oil panel) ( 30’)
Olive oil & Food Pairing with at least 4 different taste combinations (15’)
Traditional “mezedes” such as lalagia, pasto, Kalamata Olives, tzatziki, feta cheese, olive paste , wine etc.
Visit Ancient Olympia
Check out at Elite City Resort
Check in at Brown Acropol - This hotel is located about three quarters of a mile from the center of Athens.
In the so-called "valley of the gods", Ancient Olympia grew to be the most celebrated sacred site of Ancient Greece, and the birthplace of the Olympic Games, the most important sports events in all antiquity: starting from 776 B.C., all Greeks – across the then known world – would be united every four years and all hostilities would be suspended so that everyone could take part in these games in the true spirit of sportsmanship. Olympia is now, as it used to be in the past, a famed destination, a powerful landmark known the world over. After learning about the beauties and wonders of this ancient city, we will enjoy lunch here under the ancient arches.
We have an early farewell dinner and prepare for our flight the following morning.
Flight Home
After breakfast, airport shuttle service to return group to Athens International Airport.
We hope you had a great time in our country.
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