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Thessalonica - City Tour & Shopping One day
The tour starts with a visit to the market and shops
of Thessalonica, which offer a great variety of modern clothes and
all kinds of products. We will next have a city tour. Starting from
the White Tower (symbol of the city), we will further see the premises
of the International Trade Fair, the University, the Arch of Galerius
(Kamara), the Roman Forum and the Byzantine Church of Saint Demetrius
(patron saint of the city). We will end up in the upper city with
the Byzantine Walls and the Citadel, from where one can enjoy a spectacular
view of the city and the Thermaic Gulf . Arrival at the hotel in
the afternoon
Alexander the Great & Pella- Edessa-Vergina One day
On our way to Naoussa - a place where high quality
wines are produced we will visit Pella , the birthplace of Alexander
the Great and second capital city of the ancient Macedonian Kingdom
. We visit the archeological site, where unique mosaics have been
revealed by excavations and the museum. Our next stop is the beautiful
city of Edessa with its charming waterfalls. After we will visit
Vergina (ancient Aigai), the first capital city of ancient Macedonia
. The tomb of Philip the Second, father of Alexander the Great, is
right here. Arrival at the hotel in the evening.
Dion -Olympus One day
 
Dion, the ancient Macedonians' sacred city,
lies at the foot of Mt. Olympus , the mythical home of the Twelve
Gods of the ancient Greeks, and is named after Zeus (Dias). It is
at this place that Alexander the Great sacrificed to the Gods and
asked for their favor before starting his campaign to the East. We
begin by visiting the archeological site with the Hellenistic amphitheater,
the temple of Isis , the Odeion and the Baths. We then visit the
museum, which houses findings from the site. Lunch. After the lunch
we will visit the village of Litohoro , which offers splendid views
to the Aegean Sea and to Mt. Olympus , one of Greece 's largest national
parks and visit the cave on the Enipeas river. Arrival at the hotel
late in the afternoon
Meteora Monasteries One day
Departure early in the morning. On our way there we drive near Olympus - the
mythical home of the 12 Gods, and through the Tempi valley where the nymphs
lived according to the mythology. Arrival in Kalambaka. One of the most spectacular
settings in Greece , towering over nearby hills and villages, the Meteora Rocks
of Thessaly is a geological marvel which has to be seen to be believed. Built
nearly 600 years ago on top of these rocks, the Meteora monasteries, with their
rich collection of icons, exquisite frescoes and monastery implements, are
live museums. Only 6 out of a total of 24 monasteries are still operational.
We will visit two of them: one for men and one for women. Further we will have
free time for lunch (optional), in a tavern in Kalambaka. Arrival at the hotel
in the evening.
NOTE: Visitors to the monasteries must be dressed appropriately.
Women must wear skirts below their knees (NOT trousers!), men must
wear long trousers and both sexes must have their arms covered
Mount Athos Cruise One day
Starting out of a little port at the second "leg" of
Chalkidiki, the boat will take you to the southern tip of the Holy
Mountain peninsula. Sailing up the west coast of the peninsula, we
will admire the unique sight of the monasteries which, built in unspoilt
natural settings, have been facing the sea for ten centuries. Some
of the monasteries that we will see and hear about their history
are Dohiariou, Xenofondos, Dionysiou, Panteleimonos e.t.c. We will
stop at the little town of Ouranoupoli for a swim and have lunch
at one of its many seaside taverns.
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