Northern Greece Itinerary:
September 16th to 24th 2008 *
Alexander
| Journey through Ancient Greece Northern Greece Itinerary: September 16th to 24th 2008 * |
Alexander |
 Turkish bath house in Thessaloníki |
For 2008 we plan to visit the North
west region of Greece. It has a distinct character,
landscape and history making it a quite different
experience to the Peloponnese. The different climate
(wetter in spring!) means the area is altogether greener,
the land more cultivated, with fruit trees more common
than olives. This part of Greece is much less visited than the South & we often have the sites almost to ourselves. The tour will begin in Macedonia, the land of Philip II & Alexander. We fly from Gatwick to Thessaloníki where we will spend 3 nights. There is so much to see in this vibrant city with a wealth of Roman remains, Turkish baths, two fine museums, mosques, dozens of churches, both Byzantine & modern, a large bazaar & many excellent restaurants. * Please note that due to problems with flight availabiliy the tour is now from Tuesday 16th to Wednesday 24th September. |
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The sanctuary of Isis at Dion, |
Thursday is a 'free' day in Thessaloníki visiting
the Palace, magnificent triumphal Arch & Rotunda of Galerius
Caesar, the Roman Agora, the Turkish Baths, White
Tower, bazaar, St Sophia, & much more, leaving time
to enjoy a drink on the sea front! The museum has a
magnificent display of Macedonian gold. On Friday we go first to Veryína;(ancient Aigai), now confirmed as the old capital of the kings of Macedon. It is a breathtaking experience: the Great Tumulus contains Philip's tomb & two others, together with a staggering array of articles found in them. Here is the gold casket, which contained the bones of Philip. We will also visit the site of Philip's palace & the theatre where, in 336 BC, he was murdered & Alexander crowned king. Next we go to Dion another idyllic site, ( nightingales, hoopoes and rollers here) at the foot of Mount Olympos. Sanctuaries to Demeter, Dionysos, Isis, & Zeus were built here in the C6th BC & Alexander held a massive party & gave supplication to Zeus, before his campaign to India. There are also substantial remains of the Roman city including a theatre, odeion, public baths & the House of Dionysos which has a fine mosaic floor. |
| From Dion we will go on to the
village of Kastraki where we will spend the night in
sight of the
Meteora and
on Saturday visit some of the
extraordinary monasteries built improbably on the weird
pinnacles. A drive west through the dramatic Pindhos mountains, with a lunch stop near the traditional mountain village of Metsova, takes us to the region of Epiros and its capital Ioannina where we will spend two nights. |
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| There are remnants of Ioanina's Turkish past everywhere including the kastro and the excellent folk museum set in a mosque. The town is set on the shores of a large lake with an island on which are 3 churches and the room in which Ali Pasha was killed. While in Ioanina we can visit the spectacular Perama caves nearby, or go up to the Zagoria region to the village of Monodhendri and walk through masses of wild flowers to a tiny monastery from where there is a breathtaking view of the Vikos Gorge. |
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On Sunday we will go to Dodona, site of the oldest Oracle (consulted by Philip's wife Olympias before the birth of Alexander) with a well preserved 3rd century BC theatre. This is a really lovely site with the Pindhos mountains as a backdrop, another perfect picnic place! |
| On Monday we will
set off south, visiting a remarkable waxworks museum en
route, for Preveza, a pleasant fishing
port where we stay two nights. Near here Caesar Augustus built Nikopolis to celebrate his victory over Mark Anthony and Cleopatra at the battle of Actium in 31 BC. We can visit the remarkable and extensive remains including an odeon, a theatre, a stadium two basilicas and hundreds of yards of Roman and Byzantine walls. On Tuesday we will go to the Nekromanteion of Ephyra, the 'gates of Hades', an extraordinary place where devious tricks were played on pilgrims, including Herakles, take a boat trip up the Aheron River (the ancient River Styx), and have a swim at a nearby beach. |
Gateway at Nikopolis |
| Then on Wednesday
it's back up to Ioannina and home on the mid day flight,
via Thessaloniki to Gatwick, or on the bus to Igounemitsa
and ferry to Corfu!
The cost for this 8 night tour is Ł795 per person, based on 2 sharing, (single supplement Ł125) including flights from Gatwick, 8 nights B&B en-suite accommodation & comprehensive information about the region & its history. It does not include entrance to sites & museums or lunch and dinner for which you should allow about Ł200. |
| Optional extension to the tour:
David and Jane will be going to Corfu from Preveza by bus and ferry and staying for a week in the charming Hotel Konstantinoupolis on the waterfront in Corfu Town, before flying back to Athens and London. Travel to Corfu costs €12 (Ł8!) and the hotel €68 per night for a double/twin room including breakfast.. Corfu is a really lovely town with elegant Venetian and British Regency houses, many churches with campaniles, two forts, two excellent museums, archaeological remains, and the only cricket pitch in Greece!. Superb beaches are not far away. We can organise a day trip to Albania! You are very welcome to join us. By September the photographs of old Corfu taken by John Davenport Shakespear (Jane & Mary's Gt Gt Grandfather) will be on display at Mon Repos. Clock tower of Saint Spiridon |
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for more information or to check availability phone Mary Kehoe ( 01934 832786 or email: maryekehoe47@yahoo.co.uk
or Jane Maw Cornish (029 20 704314 or email: rockhouse-penarth@supanet.com
For more details on staying in Corfu contact Jane
