Driving afterwards through the hills of Corinth, among thousands of olive trees and vineyards, we’ll arrive at the prefecture of Argolis where we’ll visit the archaeological site of Mycenae.
Mycenae, ‘Rich in Gold’, was the kingdom of mythical Agamemnon who dominated the Aegean Sea after the distraction of the Minoan Empire . The city looks out across the plain of Argos to the sea. Its elevated position and its huge Cyclopean Walls offered protection from surprise attacks by pirates and enemies. At the peak of its power (1300 B.C.) the population resided around the fortress where the Royal Family resided. The Palace, symbol of power of the Mycenaean rulers, was reached by a large ramp beginning at the Lions Gate.
Outside the fortress lie the impressive beehive tombs including that ascribed to Agamemnon known also as the Treasury of Atreas.
After concluding our visit to Mycenae we’ll drive through the plain of Argos among endless farms of orange trees and forty minutes later we’ll arrive at the picturesque town of Nafplion (First capital of modern Greece from 1829 to 1834).
Nafplion is the most ancient city in Greece. According to the myth it was founded by Theseas who first conceived the idea of organized cities where people could live together. The city lies under the imposing rocks of Palamide the most formidable Venetian Castle in the Eastern Mediterranean. The smaller Castle of Acronafplia (where the ancient city was founded) crowns Nafplion and at the entrance of the harbor, in the Argolic Gulf , there is yet another, third castle, Bourtzi , situated on a small islet.
Whether you decide to have lunch in the old medieval quarter, with the narrow, stoned paved streets, or by the port, with the view of Bourtzi Nafplion is the best choice for lunch in this trip.
After the conclusion of Argolis tour and lunch in Nafplion we’ll depart for Olympia through the mountains of Arcadia and Messenia in central & south Peloponnese ,a very scenic drive. Finally we’ll arrive in Olympia where we’ll have diner and spend the night.
The Archaeological Museum of Olympia is one of the most important museums in Greece. The museum’s permanent exhibition contains finds from the sacred precinct of Altis and the rest archaeological site dating from the prehistoric era. Among the many precious exhibits you we will also see the famous marble statues of Hermes of Praxiteles and the Nike (Victory) of Paionios.
After the conclusion of our tour we can have lunch in the town of Olympia and then start our trip to Delphi , where we’ll arrive in the evening. In Delphi we can have diner in a local Greek restaurant and stay overnight.
After our visit to the Museum we’ll drive down the slope for about a mile to visit the ruins of the Temple of Athena Pronea and the Tholos.
After the conclusion of our tour in Delphi we can have lunch in a traditional Greek restaurant in town and then start or return trip back to Athens.
Driving down mountain Parnassos , and before reaching the national highway to Athens, we’ll stop again at Cheronia to see the famous “Lion of Cheronia ”. The “Lion” is a marble monument erected in the battlefield by Phillip King of Macedonia and father of Alexander the Great , to commemorate his victory there against the Athenian and Thebean armies in 338 B.C.