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Three Day Tour
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Delphi - Meteora
Levadia,
Arachova, Delphi, Meteora, Thermopylae.
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1st day: Greece private tour drives through the
fertile plain of Beotia through the town
of
Thebes which is connected with
the tragedy of king Oedipus. On to Levadia, a busy town
and an important junction in the road network. The town is also an
industrial centre, its textile mills treat the cotton
grown in the Copais valley. The upper town is graced by white
houses with jutting wooden balconies dating from the 18th C.
The upper town is graced by white
houses with jutting wooden balconies dating from 18c. We'll
stop for a drink by the beautiful river Krya. Over the
spot where the water springs out, lies the Municipal Cafe "XENIA".
During the ancient times, Krya is said to be the
location of the Oracle of Trofonios Zeus which included the
springs of Mnemosyne (Remembrance) and the spring of
Lethe (oblivion). The
oracle was used as a stage before visiting the oracle of Delphi
and as such, through the times, it acquired great power and
riches.
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Visit
Castalia
Spring and the Sanctuary of
Athena Pronaea then in the afternoon the Sanctuary of
Apollo
Pythios and the Museum. Overnight
in
Delphi or Arachova which is one of the most traditional villages in Greece.
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2nd day:
After
breakfast depart for
Meteora from the east side of Mount Parnassus, alongHeracles'
road - this is a superb mountain road running between Bralos and
Iraklia (21km/13mi about 1 hr) with an impressive landscape and
extensive views.
The road descends into Lamia,
passing through typical towns and
numerous picturesque mountain villages of Central Greece. We'll
arrive in
Meteora which lies
North of Kalambaka in the northwest corner of the Thessaly plain
,a group of fantastic grey rocks rising up out of the trees in
the Pinions Valley. Perched on the top of these huge and precipitous
columns of rock, (there are some 60 of these columns of rock, a
favorite haunt for climbers) are the famous coenobitic monasteries
known as the Meteora which means "in the air" where you can see
exquisite specimens of Byzantine Art.
Of the 24 monasteries that were
built between the 13th and
16th centuries only six are still inhabited: The Great Meteoron, Agia Triada, Agios Nikolaos and Varlaam
by monks: Agios
Stephanos and Roussanou by nuns. Stay overnight in the
closest village to Meteora with the best view of the giant rocks and
monasteries (photo below). Opportunity
for photo shoots with the sunset.
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3rd day:
Visit the Monasteries: Agios Nikolaos daily, summer 9a.m to 5.45p.m
Closed in winter. Poussanou daily except Wensdays, summer 9a.m
to 6p.m Winter 9a.m to 1p.m and 3p.m to 5.pm Entrance fee2 Euro.
Megalo Meteoron daily except Tuesdays 9a.m to 1p.m and 3p.m to 6
p.m (5p.m in winter) entrance fee 2 Euro. Varlaam daily except
Fridays (and Thursdays in winter), same times as for the Megalo
Meteoro. Agia Triada daily except Thursdays 9a.m to 12.30p.m and
3p.m to 5p.m Entrance fee 2 Euro Agios Stefanos daily except
Mondays 9a.m to 1p.m and 3p. (5p.min winter)
Depart before noon
to return to
Athens via Trikala (short stop),
Lamia.
We will stop at
Thermopylae (where in 480 B.C. a
battle between the
ancient Greeks and Persians took place) to visit Leonida's Monument
and then on to Kammena Vourla
(last stop for coffee break or lunch by the sea). Arrive in
Athens in the evening.
All the
information & photos on this website is updated
continuously. I myself visit all sites at least once the
month. You can view
my portfolio of photos at
www.panoramio.com/user/45649/tags/Meteora-Monasteries
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DEPARTURE |
PRICE |
HIGHLIGHTS |
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Daily:
Sanctuary of Apollo:
Summer 8a.m to 7.30p.m (winter to 3p.m) Entrance fee 9
Euro including the museum.
Closed on Holidays: January 1st., March 25th, May 1st, Easter Sunday, Christmas Day
and Boxing Day. On Good Friday, the sites are open 12.00- 17.00
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Levadia (spring of
Lethe & Mnemosyne)
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Delphi
Museum
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Sanctuary of Apollo
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Sanctuary
of Athena
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Arachova, Mountain
Parnassos
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Byzantine
Monasteries of
Meteora
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Pass of
Thermopylae.
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