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Athens Stopover

Day 1: Athens

Arrive at Athens international airport

You will be met with a driver, who will transfer you to your hotel.

Half day tour of Cape Sounio (Temple Of Poseidon)

According to legend Cape Sounio is the spot where Aegeas, King of Athens, believing that his only son Prince Theseas was dead leapt to his death off the cliff, thus giving his name to the Aegean Sea. The wind-swept Cape Sounio was an obvious choice for a sanctuary of Poseidon, where the sailors might offer a last sacrifice to appease the mighty God of the Sea before leaving the comparative safety of the Saronic Gulf for the perils of the open Aegean Sea. The archaic temple was destroyed by the Persians in 480 B.C. and a new one was built in its place in 440 B.C. by Pericles. The contrast between the 12 white remaining Doric columns and the deep blue of the sea is still as dazzling as in the days of Lord Byron who carved his name on the marble. Byron spent several months in Athens in 1810 and 1811 and there are two documented visits by him to Sounion. Byron mentions the Cape in his poem Don Juan: The site is the most popular half day excursion from Athens, not only for its great archaeological interest but for the scenic drive along the coastal road of the Saronic Gulf as well. Passing on the way though some of Athens’s most expensive and beautiful suburbs and resorts (Glyfada, Vouliagmeni, Lagonisi) areas that offer you a variety of choices either for a coffee break or for lunch on the waterfront.

Day 2: Athens

5 hours - Half Day Athens Sightseeing

We start the tour by visiting the so called “sacred rock”, The Acropolis. Here you will see the Parthenon that was dedicated to goddess Athena (Parthenos), Propylea, the monumental entrance to the sacred area, the temple of Athena Nike which was dedicated to Athena Nike (Victory) the Erechtheion with its famous female figures-statues the Caryatides or Maidens dedicated to both goddess Athena and god Poseidon. The Odeum of Herodus Atticus and the ruins of the first theatre in the whole world the Theatre of Dionysus and finally the Areopagus (Mars Hill). We will proceed to the Temple of Olympian Zeus (visit) and then to Panathenaic or Kallimarmaro Stadium which hosted the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 (short visit). We will drive by the Prime Minister’s residence (Maximou Mansion), the former Royal Palace, today the Presidential Palace, and the House of Parliament with the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (short stop so as to watch the changing of the guards). We continue our tour by driving up to the highest point of Athens, the Lycabettus Hill (the best 360 degree panoramic view of Athens). We will conclude our tour with a quick visit to the oldest and most picturesque neighborhood of Athens, Plaka.

5 Hours tour of Corinthos

Corinth is famous not only as a place of great archaeological interest but as an important landmark in the history of Christianity. St. Paul lived and preached in Corinth, a rich and powerful city, in his pilgrimage to spread the teachings of Christ. Leaving Athens behind we drive on the coastal road towards the West. Our first stop, after approximately one hour, is the Corinth Canal. There we’ll make a short stop, enough to see the Canal, (approximately 6 km long connecting the Aegean with the Ionian Sea), take photos and visit the local cafeteria. Twenty minutes later we’ll arrive at the small town of Ancient Corinth. This is the major stop of our tour, where we’ll visit the archaeological site, with the unique monolithic Temple of Apollo (one of the oldest in Greece, 585 B.C.) the Bema where St. Paul preached and the Archaeological Museum of Corinth. Afterwards we can have a relaxing stroll in the pedestrian part of the town, stop to enjoy a cup of coffee or do some shopping. Finally, before heading back to Athens we’ll visit Acrocorinth, where in the Temple of Aphrodite, (Goddess of Love) the famous sacred “eteres”served their Goddess. (For more information about this you will have to ask me in person!). An imposing fortress was later built in the site. The fortress was successively taken over by the Byzantines, the Franks, the Venetians and finally the Turks. Extensive ruins remain from this fortress.