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Home , Dendra, Gournia, Hagios Demetrios, Harriet Boyd Hawes, Nafplio, Pylos

GREECE TO ALEXANDER

MAY 5-22, 2018 TOUR LEADER: DR JOHN TIDMARSH Overview AGAMEMNON TO ALEXANDER During our travels we shall visit many of the great sites of ancient and medieval Greece while focussing on two vital eras in its rich history, Tour dates: May 5-22, 2018 namely the world of the Aegean Age and that of the Macedonian rulers Philip and his son Alexander (the Great), whose exploits altered the Tour leader: Dr John Tidmarsh ancient world forever.

Tour Price: $8,975 per person, twin share It is during the Aegean (c.3000-1000 BC) that we see the rise and fall of two of the most remarkable (and enigmatic) civilizations— Single Supplement: $1,245 for sole use of Minoan and Mycenaean—of the ancient world. In we explore the double room sprawling palace of King Minos at , home to the legendary Minotaur, along with the lesser known but equally fascinating Minoan Booking deposit: $500 per person palaces of Mallia and Phaestos and the charming and well-preserved Recommended airline: Emirates Minoan village of Gournia, unearthed by the extraordinary American Harriet Boyd Hawes, the first woman to lead an archaeological excavation in the Aegean. Maximum places: 20 From Crete we then travel to , home to the , ancient Itinerary: (3 nights), Athens (2 nights), Agora, and a host of superbly laid out museums. From Athens (also a (2 nights), (2 nights), Olympia (1 Mycenaean stronghold, the remains of which are still visible) it is on to the night), (2 nights), Volos (2 nights), , where we enter the world of Agamemnon and the warrior (3 nights) Mycenaean kings who dominated Greece from their awe-inspiring palaces at , , and Pylos (all of which we visit) until their civilization Date published: May 31, 2017 mysteriously collapsed at the end of the Bronze Age.

We then head north, via the imposing medieval castle of Methoni, the iconic classical sites of Olympia and Delphi (both of whose origins reach back to Mycenaean times), the picturesque port of Volos situated on the wooded slopes of Mt. Pelion, and , with its stone pinnacles crowned precipitously by Byzantine-era monasteries, before arriving at Thessaloniki, gateway to ancient Macedon.

It is from Macedon that Alexander set out from his birthplace Pella, with its palace, opulent peristyle houses, and fine , to conquer the world after Philip had fallen victim to the assassin’s blade at (ancient Aegae) and was buried in a monumental tomb whose spectacular contents are now on display.

Join us for this fascinating 5,000-year journey through Greece, the most timeless of lands.

Your tour leader

Dr John Tidmarsh was previously Tutor and then Part-Time Lecturer in Greek and Roman in the Department of Archaeology Enquiries and at the University of Sydney, and is the former bookings President of the Near Eastern Archaeology Foundation. He is a Co-Director of the For further information and to University of Sydney’s excavations at Pella in secure a place on this tour Jordan (where he has worked since 1979) and please contact Jemma York at is also Co-Director of the Australian Academy Travel on 9235 0023 Archaeological Mission at Jebel Khalid in Syria. or 1800 639 699 (outside He was previously Associate Director of the Sydney) or email University of Sydney’s excavations at Paphos, [email protected] Cyprus, and was also Senior Investigator at the university’s excavations at Torone in Greece.

Tour Highlights

MINOAN CRETE Discover the that flourished during the Middle Bronze Age on Crete from c. 2000BC to 1500 BC which through its art and architecture made a significant contribution to Western European civilization as it is known today. Visit the Palace of Minos at Knossos, home to the legendary Minotaur, as well as the lesser-known (but equally fascinating) Minoan palaces of Malia, Gournia and Phaestos.

ATHENS Experience Athens, which grew from a small Mycenean community to a city that at its height epitomised the best of Greek virtues that gave birth to democracy. Wander through the Agora, centre of city life, on our way to Greece’s defining symbol of cultural achievement — the Acropolis — dedicated to the goddess Athena and proclaiming the glory of Athens to the world.

MYCENAE Explore the Mycenean citadels of the Late Bronze Age in the Peloponnese. Visit the awe-inspiring palace of Agamemnon at Mycenae, with its , monumental tombs and Cyclopean walls, as well as the citadel of Tiryns (‘of the mighty walls’) as mentioned by , and the beautifully preserved ‘Palace of ’ at Pylos where the spectacular ‘Tomb of the Griffin Warrior’ was unearthed.

AMAZING MUSEUMS Investigate thousands of years of accumulated history through a dazzling array of museums that provide relevance and context to the sites visited on the tour. From the Archaeological Museum in Heraklion, displaying Minoan treasures from all over Crete, to the National Archaeological Museum of Greece with its collection of Mycenaean and classical period artefacts, and smaller site museums at Nafplio, Olympia and Delphi.

PELLA AND VERGINA Visit the premier cities of the ancient Macedonian kingdom. Explore Pella, the kingdom of the brilliant military commander, Philip II father of Alexander, with its palace complex, agora and opulent houses embellished with fine pebble mosaics as well as Vergina, burial place to the Macedonian kings, where Philip was assassinated and then buried in an unplundered tomb whose contents were revealed to the world in 1977.

Detailed itinerary

Included meals are shown with the symbols B, L and D.

Saturday 5 May Arrive The tour commences at Athens Airport where we will board a flight to Heraklion. We arrive in Crete and transfer to our hotel for an introductory talk and drinks followed by dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight Heraklion (D)

Sunday 6 May Gournia, Malia and Knossos Our day begins with a talk in the hotel before departing by coach for the Minoan town of Gournia, named for the hollow vessels found at the site. Gournia was excavated by an American team of archaeologists in the early part of the 20th century and consists of a central palace, some sixty houses and an interconnecting road system. We explore another Minoan site at Malia, the third largest palace on Crete after Knossos and . Originally constructed c. 1900 BC it was later destroyed and the ruins we see today are of the second palace rebuilt c. 1650 BC. The palace was discovered in 1915 and excavations of the entire town continue today. After lunch we visit Crete’s most famous site, the Minoan palace complex of Knossos. The area shows occupation from times but the first palace was established c. 1900 BC. This was destroyed by an earthquake 200 years later and completely rebuilt. The site is, in fact, a complex of administrative, residential, and religious structures that offers an excellent idea of what life in Above: The grand Palace of Minos at Knossos; the Phaistos Disk Minoan Crete may have been like. Overnight Heraklion. (B, L) housed in the Archaeological Museum in Heraklion

Below: the caryatides support the porch at the Erechtheion in Athens Monday 7 May Phaistos and Heraklion Archaeological Museum This morning we travel to Phaistos, a Minoan royal palace complex on a dramatic hilltop site overlooking the Messara Plain. We return to visit the excellent Archaeological Museum in Heraklion, which re-opened in 2014 following a lengthy renovation with artefacts displayed both chronologically and thematically. Its collection includes Minoan artefacts and wall paintings from Knossos and the other Minoan palaces as well as the mysterious Phaistos Disk. Overnight Heraklion. (B)

Tuesday 8 May Athens Agora and the Acropolis We depart our hotel in Heraklion and board a flight to Athens where we transfer to our hotel. After lunch in a local restaurant we walk through the Agora, centre of the ancient city where citizens assembled for a wide variety of administrative, cultural, religious and political purposes. We continue up to the Acropolis. The Parthenon, Erechtheion, and the exquisite temple of Athena Nike are the centrepieces of the ancient buildings on the Acropolis and encapsulate both the beauty and achievements of . We complete our tour with a visit to the Acropolis Museum where artefacts recovered from the site and spanning thousands of years are displayed. Dinner is in a local tavern. Overnight Athens. (B, L, D)

Wednesday 9 May Athens Archaeological Museum There is a talk in the hotel this morning preceding our visit to the National Archaeological Museum of Greece, with its incomparable collection of Mycenaean and classical period art and artefacts. Originally built to house finds from around Athens it has become a truly national museum with collections devoted to prehistory, sculptures, metallurgy and pottery. These pieces will remain with us during the tour as exemplars of many of the sites we shall visit throughout the country in the coming days. The afternoon is at leisure to further explore the museum or enjoy more of Athens. Overnight Athens. (B)

Thursday 10 May Mycenae and Tiryns Above: The well preserved Ancient Theatre at known for its We depart for the Plain of and arrive at Mycenae, the seat fine perfect acoustics and fine structure of Agamemnon who served as leader of the Greek coalition at

Troy and a site that gave its name to a whole civilization. This morning we walk through the famous Lion Gate, see the Shaft Below: The museum at Nafplio houses an exquisite find of Bronze Age Graves of Circle A and climb through the site to the crowning armour from the Mycenaean Tomb in the region dating from the Palace where the Mycenaean king would have held end of the 15th Century BC sway over much territory. Blending back into the rocky hills, the ruins of this ancient powerhouse are in a spectacular location atop the citadel and ringed by well-preserved Cyclopean walls. This afternoon we stop at the smaller Mycenaean citadel of Tiryns. Celebrated by Homer for their strength, the walls of Tiryns still impress as does the well-preserved acropolis, entrance ramp and gate house. We arrive at our hotel and settle in before dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight Nafplio. (B, D)

Friday 11 May Nafplio and Epidaurus This morning we walk through the narrow-cobbled streets of the old town of Nafplio, characterised by Venetian architecture, through to the Archaeological Museum to see the finds discovered from Tiryns, Mycenae and Epidaurus. We visit the baroque fortress of , standing 216 metres above the town and named after , the son of Nafplio and hero of the . This afternoon we visit the impressive site of Epidaurus, the location of the Asclepeion, one of the most famous healing centres of the Classical world. The well-preserved 4th century BC theatre is regarded as the best in Greece for its fine structure and perfect acoustics. Overnight Nafplio. (B)

Saturday 12 May The at Pylos Departing Nafplio we pass through - the second largest town in the Peloponnese and famous for its olives and olive oil - on our way to Pylos, located on magnificent Navarino Bay, stopping at the Mycenaean period ‘Palace of Nestor’, seat of power for wise king Nestor in Homer’s . This recently restored site contains one of the best-preserved Mycenaean palaces ever excavated and the small area allows easy interpretation. We arrive in Pylos and freshen up before dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight Pylos (B, D)

Sunday 13 May Pylos Using the small town of Pylos as our base, we explore our immediate surroundings in order to examine the role of Pylos during the , as well as its role in hastening the end of Ottoman rule in Greece. The protecting island of , where 440 Spartan were trapped during the Peloponnesian War, forms a backdrop to a beautiful scene as we remember the decisive engagements that have taken place at this isolated location. In the afternoon we head to Methoni, which contains one of the best-preserved Venetian castles in the area. Founded during the , this castle with its impressive sea tower was a vital staging post for traders moving between the Levant and Europe. Overnight Pylos. (B)

Monday 14 May Olympia We depart Pylos for the ancient site of Olympia, birthplace of the Olympic Games and where the Olympic flame is still lit every four years. Home to the Temple of Zeus, one of the Wonders of the Ancient World, the sanctuary at Olympia not only lies in a beautiful and peaceful setting but its largely non-reconstructed remains allow a unique opportunity to visualise how this complex would have looked during its heyday. Also within the Above: Depiction of the reception room at the Mycenaean Palace of Nestor near Pylos; the Temple of Zeus at Olympia, the largest in the sanctuary is the ancient Temple of while just outside the Peloponnese, considered to be the perfect example of Doric precinct are the gymnasium and well-preserved stadium. The architecture archaeological museum is a treasure trove of artefacts excavated from the sacred precinct including superb architectural sculptures from the Temple of Zeus itself. We

Below: Nestled on the southern slopes of Mt Parnassus is the site of arrive at our hotel in Olympia and settle in before dinner in a Delphi, seat of the oracle and the imposing Temple of local restaurant. Overnight Olympia. (B, D)

Tuesday 15 May To Delphi This morning we travel to Delphi, chosen by the Greeks as the navel of the Earth and located on the spectacular cliff face of Mt Parnassus. This afternoon we visit the Delphi Museum and view its collection of treasures including the marble Sphinx of Naxos and the marvellous Charioteer, one of the finest extant bronze statues from the classical world. Our visit also prepares us for our visit to the site tomorrow. We check in to our hotel and enjoy dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight Delphi. (B, D)

Wednesday 16 May Sanctuary of Apollo Today we visit the impressive and mystical archaeological site of Delphi, home to the most important oracle of the ancient world whose influence on rulers and the ruled alike was profound. Political decisions were made and colonies around the Mediterranean were founded only after consultation with the Oracle. We examine the site today, exploring the Temple of Apollo, treasuries, the theatre, stadium and Altar of the Chians. Overnight Delphi. (B)

Thursday 17 May Thermopylae This morning we head east to Volos. Along the way, we make a short detour to the site of Thermopylae, the location of the famous last stand by Spartan soldiers during the 480 BC Persian Wars. Little remains at the site except for a bronze statue of Leonidas, the warrior King of the Spartans, erected in 1955. Overnight Volos. (B, D)

Friday 18 May Meteora We take a day trip to Meteora to see the amazing landscape of steep-faced sandstone pinnacles, often crowned with a Byzantine monastery. These buildings seem to fill the summit and their precarious position must have given a great sense of security, seclusion and spiritual elevation to the orthodox monks who inhabited them. Access to the monasteries was deliberately difficult, requiring long ladders tied together or large nets and baskets used to haul up both goods and people. Reaching the Above: Monastery buildings in their seemingly precarious position top required a leap of faith as it is said the ropes were only atop the steep sandstone pinnacles at Meteora replaced “when the Lord let them break”, symbolising the fragility of life. Overnight Volos (B) Below: The Derveni Krater is considered a masterpiece from the Archaeological Museum in Thessaloniki. Discovered in 1962 it is Saturday 19 May decorated with beasts, tame animals, vine and ivy branches To Thessaloniki We have a leisurely morning in Volos before departing for Thessaloniki, located on the Thermaic Gulf of the . As the second-largest city in Greece it is a major economic, commercial and transport hub for south-eastern Europe and the administrative capital of Greek . Overnight Thessaloniki. (B, D)

Sunday 20 May Thessaloniki Founded in 315 BC by Cassander of Macedon, Thessaloniki's history spans some 2,300 years. An important metropolis by the Roman period, Thessaloniki was the second largest and wealthiest city of the . The city is home to numerous notable Byzantine monuments, as well as several Roman, Ottoman and Sephardic Jewish structures. Today we start by visiting the palace, and Rotunda of Galerius, the Byzantine citadel and two incomparable museums: the Archaeology Museum and the Museum of Byzantine Culture. In the late afternoon you might like to stroll along Thessaloniki’s esplanade to one of the city’s iconic monuments, the White Tower. Overnight Thessaloniki. (B)

Monday 21 May Pella and Vergina

Today we take an excursion to visit the premier cities of the ancient Macedonian kingdom: Pella and Vergina. In this world of Alexander the Great and his father, Philip II, we visit the ancestral capital at Pella and view the beautifully executed pebble floors, the well-presented site museum and the streets and buildings of a city that, for the briefest of moments, ruled from Greece to India. At Vergina we visit the theatre where Philip II was assassinated and visit his tomb, now presented in a state-of-the-art complex that both covers his tomb and presents the beautiful objects found there in 1977 when the tomb was excavated by Manolis Andronikos. Returning to Thessaloniki we visit two important Byzantine monuments: the church of St. Sofia () and the church of St Demetrius (). These originally seventh and eighth century churches have suffered the vicissitudes of time but still retain tantalising glimpses of the fine early Byzantine wall mosaics and frescoes which survived the ninth century iconoclast movement. This evening we conclude our tour with dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight Thesssaloniki. (B, D)

Tuesday 22 May Depart We depart for Thessaloniki airport for our included flight to Athens where the tour officially ends. Jemma York will be happy to help you with options if you would like to stay on in Greece or onward connections to Europe. (B) Above: Detail of the Stag hunt mosaic by Gnosis dating from the 4th Century BC and thought to be portraying Alexander the Great from the House of Abduction of Helen at Pella

Below: The discovery of Phillip II’s tomb yielded stunning treasures Hotels like this golden reliquary and a gold crown comprising of 313 oak twigs and 68 acorns Hotels have been selected principally for their central location

 Heraklion, GDM Megaron Hotel (3 nights) www.gdmmegaron.com

 Athens, Electra Metropolis Hotel (2 nights) www.electrahotels.gr/

 Nafplio, Hotel Victoria (2 nights) www.hotelvictoria.gr/

 Pylos, Hotel Karalis (2 nights) www.hotelkaralis.gr/

 Olympia, Hotel Europa (1 night) www.hoteleuropa.gr/

 Delphi, Hotel Nidimos (2 nights) http://www.farahnilecruise.com/

 Volos, Hotel Aegli (2 nights) www.aegli.gr/

 Thessaloniki, Electra Palace (3 nights) www.electrahotels.gr/

Tour Price Fitness Requirements

The tour price is $8,975 per person, twin share (land content of THIS tour only). The supplement for a single room is $1,245 per person. A non-refundable deposit of $500 per person is GRADE TWO required to secure a place on the tour. It is important both for you and for your fellow travellers that Tour Inclusions you are fit enough to be able to enjoy all the activities on this tour. To give you an indication of the level of physical fitness Included in the tour price required to participate on our tours, we have given them a  17 nights’ accommodation in carefully selected hotels star grading. Academy Travel’s tours tend to feature  Breakfasts daily, plus lunches and dinners as noted in extended walking tours and site visits, which require greater the itinerary fitness than coach touring. We ask you to carefully consider  Economy class flights from Athens to Heraklion return your ability to meet the physical demands of the tour. and Thessaloniki to Athens Participation criteria for this tour  Land travel by air-conditioned coach  Extensive background notes This Grade Two tour is designed for people who lead active  Background talks lives and can comfortably participate in up to five hours of  Services of a tour leader and national guide throughout physical activity per day on most days, including longer All entrance fees to sites mentioned on itinerary walking tours, challenging archaeological sites, climbing  Qualified local guides where appropriate stairs, embarking and disembarking trains and/or boats, and  Porterage of one piece of luggage at all hotels a more demanding tour schedule with one night stops or  Tips for all services included in the itinerary several internal flights. Not included You should be able to:  International air fares, taxes and surcharges (see below)  keep up with the group at all times  Travel insurance  walk for 4-5 kilometres at a moderate pace with only  Meals not mentioned in itinerary short breaks  Expenses of a personal nature  stand for a reasonable length of time in galleries and museums  tolerate uncomfortable climatic conditions such as cold, Air travel OPTIONS humidity and heat The tour price quoted is for land content only. For this tour,  walk up and down slopes we recommend Emirates Airlines which offers flights to  negotiate steps and slopes on archaeological sites, Athens from most Australian cities. Please contact us for which are often uneven and unstable further information on competitive Economy, Business and  get on and off a large coach with steep stairs, train or First-Class airfares. Transfers between airport and hotel are boat unassisted, possibly with luggage included for all passengers booking their flights through  move your luggage a short distance if required Academy Travel. These may be group or individual transfers. A note for older travellers If you are more than 80 years old, or have restricted mobility, Enquiries & bookings it is highly likely that you will find this itinerary challenging. You will have to miss several activities and will not get the For further information and to secure a place on this tour full value of the tour. Your booking will not be accepted until please contact Jemma York at Academy Travel on after you have contacted Academy Travel to discuss your 9235 0023 or 1800 639 699 (outside Sydney) or email situation and the exact physical requirements of this tour. [email protected] While we will do our best to reasonably accommodate the physical needs of all group members, we reserve the right to Weather on Tour refuse bookings if we feel that the requirements of the tour are too demanding for you and/or if local conditions mean Spring is a pleasant time to travel through Crete and we cannot reasonably accommodate your condition. mainland Greece and should not vary too much through the regions we visit on tour. Expect temperatures averaging between 24–26 ºC throughout with minimums between 12- 15 ºC. The is only a slight chance of rain.