6 Days
ATHENS & MYKONOS
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FIT GRC#6D#03 ATHENS & MYKONOS
6 DAYS / 5 NIGHTS PROGRAM
ATHENS (CITY TOUR – ACROPOLIS – NEW ACROPOLIS MUSEUM – MYKONOS
DAY 1
ARRIVAL IN “EL.VENIZELOS” ATHENS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT – PICK UP FROM THE AIRPORT AND PRIVATE TRANSFER TO HOTEL FOR CHECK IN – REST OF THE DAY FREE AT LEISURE – OVERNIGHT IN ATHENS
DAY 2
BREAKFAST AT THE HOTEL – PICKUP FROM THE HOTEL FOR CITY TOUR OF ATHENS WITH ACROPOLIS & NEW ACROPOLIS MUSEUM (NON PRIVATE SIT IN COACH TOUR) DROP OFF AT THE HOTEL – FREE TIME AT LEISURE – OVERNIGHT IN ATHENS (B)
DAY 3
BREAKFAST AT THE HOTEL – PICKUP FROM THE HOTEL & PRIVATE TRANSFER TO PIRAEUS PORT FOR THE FERRY BOAT TO MYKONOS (DEP. 07:30 ARR. 12:45) – UPON ARRIVAL COLLECTIVE TRANSFER TO HOTEL FOR CHECK IN – FREE TIME AT LEISURE – OVERNIGHT IN MYKONOS (B)
DAY 4
BREAKFAST AT THE HOTEL – FREE TIME AT LEISURE – OVERNIGHT IN MYKONOS (B)
DAY 5
BREAKFAST AT THE HOTEL – PICKUP FROM THE HOTEL & COLLECTIVE TRANSFER TO PORT FOR THE FERRY BOAT TO PIRAEUS (DEP. 14:15 ARR. 20:00) – UPON ARRIVAL PRIVATE TRANSFER TO HOTEL FOR CHECK IN – FREE TIME AT LEISURE – OVERNIGHT IN ATHENS (B)
DAY 6
BREAKFAST AT THE HOTEL – FREE TIME AT LEISURE – PICKUP FROM HOTEL AND PRIVATE TRANSFER TO THE “EL.VENIZELOS” ATHENS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT FOR THE DEPARTURE FLIGHT (B)
INCLUDED
NOT INCLUDED
NOTES
ATHENS CITY TOUR WITH ACROPOLIS & NEW ACROPOLIS MUSEUM (ATHENS)
Daily except Mondays 08:45 – 13:30 (ALL YEAR)
During the tour you will be able to see the Panathenaic Stadium where the first Olympic Games of modern times were held in 1896 (short stop). Pass by the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Hadrian’s Arch, the Parliament at Syntagma (Constitution) Square and the memorial to the Unknown Soldier,
the Neoclassical Trilogy” of the city of Athens, the Acropolis hill & New Acropolis Museum.
The Panathenaic Stadium also known as the Kallimarmaro (meaning the “beautifully marbled”), is a multi-purpose stadium used for several events and athletics in Athens that hosted the first modern Olympic Games in 1896. Reconstructed from the remains of an ancient Greek stadium, the Panathenaic is the only major stadium in the world built entirely of white marble (from Mount Penteli) and is one of the oldest in the world.
The Temple of Olympian Zeus also known as the Olympieion or Columns of the Olympian Zeus, is a colossal ruined temple in the centre of the Greek capital Athens that was dedicated to Zeus, king of the Olympian gods. The Arch of Hadrian is a monumental gateway resembling – in some respects – a Roman triumphal arch. It spanned an ancient road from the centre of Athens, Greece, to the complex of structures on the eastern side of the city that included the Temple of Olympian Zeus.
The Academy of Athens is the first of the so-called “Neoclassical Trilogy” of the city of Athens. It consists of aesthetically distinct parts that form a harmonic ensemble. A corridor connects the two lateral wings to the main body of the building, which is set-off by its Ionian-style entrance and its big pediment. The entrance has elements originating from the eastern side of the Erechtheion on the Acropolis. The predominant material on the facets is marble.
The National Library also forms part of the so-called “Neoclassical Trilogy” of the city of Athens. It consists of three solid parts, out of which the one in the middle, which is also the biggest, houses the reading room. To enter this part, one has to pass through a Doric-style row of columns (designed after the Temple of Hephaestus in the Ancient Agora of Thission, which served as its model), after climbing a monumental curved double Renascence style staircase.
The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens is the last part of the Neoclassical Trilogy. It was a design of the Danish architect Christian Hansen. The University of Athens in 1932 was officially named National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, in honour of Ioannis Kapodistrias, the first governor of Greece, after the nation’s independence. Today, this building houses the Rectorate, the Senate, the Great Hall of Ceremonies and important central services. Its forecourt, the Propylaea, is socio-historically significant as it has served as a main site for political rallies and demonstrations by students and other social groups involved in social rights movements.
On the hill of Acropolis we will visit the Architectural Masterpieces of the Golden Age of Athens: The Propylaea, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion and finally the Parthenon, a temple which is dedicated to the maiden goddess Athena, whom the people of Athens considered their patron. Its construction began in 447 BC when the Athenian Empire was at the height of its power. It was completed in 438 BC, although decoration of the building continued until 432 BC. It is the most important surviving building of Classical Greece, generally considered the culmination of the development of the Doric order. Its decorative sculptures are considered some of the high points of Greek art. The Parthenon is regarded as an enduring symbol of Ancient Greece, Athenian democracy, western civilization and one of the world’s greatest cultural monuments.
The Acropolis Museum is an archaeological site-specific museum, housing more than 3.000 famous artefacts from the Athenian Acropolis, the most significant sanctuary of the ancient city. Architect Bernard Tschumi’s new Acropolis Museum replaced the old Museum on the Rock of the Acropolis. The new museum has a total area of 25,000 square meters, with exhibition space of over 14,000 square meters, approximately ten times the size of the old Museum. A tailor made museum building with extensive use of glass ensures breathtaking views of the Acropolis, the surrounding historic hills and the modern city of Athens and immediate views of the archaeological excavation that lies below the Museum, visible through large expanses of glass floor. With the benefit of the changing natural light, visitors can discern and discover the delicate surface variations of the sculptures and select the vantage point from which to observe the exhibits.
MYKONOS ISLAND
The island of Mykonos is one of the most popular Greek islands and it belongs to the Cyclades islands group. Mykonos island, the Ibiza of Greece as it is called, is particularly famous for the picturesque town and the fantastic beaches. The main town is a characteristic sample of Cycladic architecture, with whitewashed sugar houses, lovely churches and cobbled streets. Little Venice is the most picturesque quarter of Chora, the capital of Mykonos island. With colourful houses that are constructed right by the sea, Little Venice is a popular spot with vivid nightlife and lovely cafeterias. The hill with the traditional windmills above Chora provides the best view of the village and the picturesque port. These windmills have been restored and have become the trademark of the island over the years. The chapel of Panagia Paraportiani is the most photographed church of the island. Located in Chora, this white, assymetrical church dates from the 15th century.
The most fabulous beaches are located on the southern side of Mykonos island. Super Paradise, Paradise, Platis Gialos and Lia amaze visitors with the soft sand and the crystal water. Beach bars are open all day and attract many visitors for swimming, kite surfing and other activities
Ano Mera is the second bigger village after Mykonos Town and is one of the oldest villages of Mykonos. It offers a few luxurious hotels and some rooms and studios for rent. It is a quiet village where locals are continuing their every day life without being interrupted by a crowd of tourists, as is happening all the time in the capital. Near Ano Mera is the interesting monastery of Panagia Tourliani which main church houses a superb collection of icons made by a Cretan painter and holy vessels and vestments. The wonderful bell-tower and marble fountain are in the courtyard of the monastery and are worth-seeing.
A must is a trip by boat to Delos Island. Delos is a tiny island that can be reached by boat from the port of Mykonos Town. Delos was a sacred island for the ancient Greeks as, according the mythology, god Apollo had been born there. Remains of an ancient sanctuary and a theatre have been found on the island, which is a great open site today.