SOCIAL PROGRAM FOR ACCOMPANYIG PERSONS

Saturday 13 Sep 2008

ATHENS CITY TOUR

This tour gives you an opportunity to observe the striking contrasts that make Athens such a fascinating city. Our expert guides take you to see the centre of the city, Constitution Square (Syntagma), the House of Parliament, the Memorial to the Unknown Soldier and the National Library.

Driving down Herodus Atticus Street, you will see the Evzones in their picturesque uniform and the Presidential Palace. On your way to the Acropolis, you will see the Panathenaic Stadium (where first Olympic Games of the modern era were held in 1896), the Temple of Olympian Zeus and Hadrian’s Arch.

Depart for the Acropolis and the Parthenon. Guided tour of the Parthenon (Temple of Athena), the city’s divine patroness, Propylea (Monumental entrance gate), Temple of Wingless Victory and the Erechteion. From the Acropolis we see and comment about the theatre of Dionysus (the first of all western theatres). Continue to the Aeropagus, the open-air meeting place of the highest legislative and judicial body in Ancient Greece. Continue to the Ancient Agora, the civic, commercial and religious centre of the Athenian life.

Visit the temple of Hephaestus and the restored Stoa of Attalus, erected by Attalus II, King of Pergamos and now used as a museum. Out of Greek Agora in the same area, is the Roman Market and the Clock of Andronikos Kyrhestes, the so-called Tower of the Winds.

As you are near the Monastiraki area you will have the impression that you are entering a melting pot of sound; all kinds of music and voices of the street vendors can be heard simultaneously! The scent of the old wood and wood varnish, coming from the shops of antique furniture, predominant form Avisinias square, gives its place to that of new leather, in that part of Adrianou Street lined with shoe shops. You will surely be tempted to buy something. Lunch will take place in a traditional Greek restaurant near the area of Acropolis.

After lunch you will have the chanve to visit the Olympic Satdium, where the Olympic Games 2004 took place. You will admire the curve line “identical to a bow and a lyre” as per Heracletus – which combines competition with music and culture, the body with the soul and the spirit – takes form and becomes the main architectural element in a modern facility of sport and culture, where the past and the present aim toward the future, where the visible and imaginary curve unites Greek antiquity with contemporary Olympic reality.

After your visit at the Olympic Stadium you will have time to visit the well known shopping area of Athens, Kolonaki. This area is full of luxury boutiques with European and American famous brands, shops with collections of foreign and Greek famous designers, cafes and restaurants.

After shopping you will ne transferred to the hotel.

Monday 15 Sep 2008

Delphi Full Day Tour www.delphi.gr “ ... Now the serene sense is supping with the Gods”

This was the sense of the poet Angelos Sikelianos who between 1927 and 1930 revived the Delphic Festival, in Delphi the centre of earth, wishing to “instill the forgotten Delphic watchword in all human souls”.

Driving through the mountains we reach the little village of Delphi. We will visit the museum of Delphi with its spectacular findings including the world famous Charioteer, the Naxian Sphinx, the statue of Antinoos. We will wonder at the ancient sanctuary of Apollo, a place with history coming from Mythology with the oracle and the prophecy. The guided visit to the archaeological site and the museum will travel us to ancient times. Lunch will take place in a local traditional restaurant in Arachova or Galaxidi, depending on the time schedule and then we will return to Athens.

ARACHOVA - www.arachova.gr This is a traditional Greek village, 10 minutes far away from Delphi. Arachova is very well known for its ski center (Parnassos ski center). Many Athenians visit this village during weekends not only for skiing bus also for night life. Arachova has many good Greek restaurants which serve Greek specialties, cafes and night clubs.

GALAXIDI - www.hellastourism.gr/galaxidi.html

Galaxidi is a picturesque village right next to the sea. It has 1400 inhabitants and it is builded on the ruins of ancient Greek city Iantheia. It is a naval village which carries a long history of 4.000 years.