ARGONAUT TRAVEL
IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF SAINT PAUL – OPTION 2 program
Day 1: ATHENS
Arrival in Athens – assistance and transfer to the hotel.
Balance of day at leisure.
Overnight in Athens.
Day 2: ATHENS
Breakfast at the hotel.
In the morning city tour of Athens which will give you the opportunity to observe the striking
contrasts that make Athens such a fascinating city. Your guide will take you to the center :
Constitution Square, the House of Parliament, the Memorial to the Unknown Soldier. Driving
down Herod Atticus street you will see the Evzones in their picturesque costume and the
Presidential Palace. On your way to the Acropolis you will see the Panathenaic stadium (where
the first Olympic Games of the modern era were held in 1896) and the Athens of the 2nd
century A.D. , the temple of Olympian Zeus and the Adrian’s Arch. On the Acropolis visit its
museum and the architectural masterpieces of the Golden Age of Athens : the Propylaea, the
temple of Athena Nike, the Erechteion and finally, the “harmony between matter and spirit”,
the monument that “puts order in the mind”, the Parthenon. Afterwards pass by the Mars Hill
(Areopagus) where Saint Paul preached Christianism to the Athenians. Time for lunch and in
the afternoon visit to the Ancient Corinth.
Drive down the coastal road along the Saronic Gulf to the Canal of Corinth which connects the
Ionian Sea with the Aegean Sea (short stop) then continue to the Ancient Corinth. Here Saint
Paul spent some 18 months preaching to the Jews and the Gentile. The site is overlooked by an
Acropolis housing the remains of the temple of Aphrodite, the goddess of love. In Corinth Paul
worked with Aquilla and Priscilla. Paul’s trial by Gallio took place in the Agora. The community
he founded here caused him much grief and prompted from him at least 4 letters. It is from
Corinth that he wrote to the Thessalians. Return to Athens.
Overnight in Athens.
Day 3: ATHENS - DELPHI
Breakfast at the hotel.
In the morning departure for the tour. Drive through the fertile plain of Boeotia, past the towns
of Thebes connected with the tragedy of Oedipus – Levadia and Arachova (famous for its
colorful rugs and carpets). Arrive at Delphi, the center of the Ancient World – the “omphalos”
(navel) of the Earth – whose prestige extended far beyond the boundaries of the Hellenic world.
On the slopes of Mount Parnassus, in a landscape of unparalleled beauty and majesty, lie the
ruins of the sanctuary of Apollo Pythios. Visit the various Treasure Houses and votive offered by
ancient cities, the Castalian Spring and of course the museum which contains the sculpture of
the Athlete Agias and the famous bronze Charioteer.
Overnight in Delphi.
Day 4: DELPHI - METEORA - KALAMBAKA
Breakfast at the hotel.In the morning drive to Kalambaka through villages of Central
Greece. Arrival in Kalambaka, small village at the foot of the Meteora.
Visit the monasteries of Meteora lying in as quite impressive scenery. Meteora are gigantic
rocks etched by time into a variety of shapes: grey stalagmites rising towards the sky,
they appear as nature’s gift to the pious, which, driven by faith, have opted for solitude
and a life of worship. The monasteries, with their wooden galleries and corniced rooftops,
crown the summits of these formidable pinnacles. Precariously hanging over the sinister
abysses, these otherworldly hermitages compose one of the most breathtaking sites on the
earth. The development of the community may be more thoroughly traced from the 14th
century when the first monasteries were established.
Then was founded what was to become the most important of all, the “Great Meteora”. Of
the 24 monasteries built through the years only 5 are still inhabited and can be visited :
Great Meteora, Varlaam, Aghia Triada, San Stefano and Roussanou (the last 2 are run by
nuns). You will visit 2 monasteries and marvel the priceless historical and religious
treasures they contain.
Overnight in Kalambaka.
Day 5: KALAMBAKA - VERIA - VERGINA - THESSALONIKI
Breakfast at the hotel.
In the morning departure to Thessaloniki – on the way you will stop in Veria, where Saint Paul
passed and visit the famous archeological site of Vergina excavated in 1970. The incredible
wealth of the site’s finds led to the conclusion that Vergina was
actually the first capital of the kingdom of Macedonia ruled by King Phillip II, father of
Alexander the Great. Don’t miss the new small museum which contains now the “treasure of
Vergina”. In the afternoon arrival in Thessaloniki.
Overnight in Thessaloniki.
Day 6: THESSALONIKI
Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning city tour of Thessaloniki, capital of Northern Greece. The
city was named after the sister of Alexander the Great and was first settled by her husband
Kassandros in 316-315 B.C. Nowadays it possesses all the features of a large and modern
coastal city which respectfully preserves the remains of a noteworthy past. You will visit the
archaeological museum which contains finds from Prehistoric to Byzantine times, the Crypt of
Aghios Dimitrios preserved underneath the church’s transept (here in 303 A.D. Saint
Dimitrios was confined, suffered martyrdom and was buried) and several churches like the
Rotonda and Sainte Sophie. Pass also the walls and the White Tower. Afternoon at leisure.
Overnight in Thessaloniki.
Day 7: THESSALONIKI - FILIPPI - KAVALA
Breakfast at the hotel.
In the morning departure to the ancient Filippi where among other remains to see, are two
early Christian basilicas, traces of the Egnatian Way, the Roman Forum, the citadel, the ancient
Greek theater, etc… There is also the dungeon dating from the Roman times, believed to have
been the place where Saint Paul was imprisoned. At the river-side nearby, Saint Paul converted
Lydia to Christianism, thus making her the first Christian in Europe. Afterwards we drive to the
attractive seaside city of Kavala which has a notable historic past. It has been built on the ruins
of Ancient Neapolis which occupies the same site. The apostle Paul passed through the town
which is the reason why it has also acquired the name of Christoupolis. Time at leisure for
lunch and walking around. Return to Thesssaloniki.
Overnight in Thessaloniki.
Day 8: THESSALONIKI
Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to the airport.
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