GARDEN OF THE GODS A Springtime Journey to the Greek Islands

The sacred island of Delos May 9 – 20, 2020 journey to Greece and the Greek islands in spring is a magical experience, for it’s the time of the year when Greece becomes a vast Anatural garden. Many do not know that Greece is home to a stunning number of plant species, comprising the richest flora in Europe. More than 6,000 species thrive in the country, of which about ten percent are unique and can be found nowhere else in the world.

On this fascinating tour, co-sponsored with alumni from Vanderbilt Uni - versity, we will witness the beautiful display of wild flowers that cover the land as we explore the countryside, ancient sites and old villages. We start in Athens, the city where democracy and so many other ideas and concepts of the Western tradition had their origins, and where we will tour its celebrated monuments and witness its vibrant contemporary culture. The illuminated Parthenon on the Athenian Acropolis From Athens, we will continue to Crete, home of the Minoans, who, dur - ing the Bronze Age, created the first civilization of Europe. Our three days in this great island will give us the time to discover leisurely its famed Minoan palaces, see the treasures housed in museums, explore the magnificent countryside and taste the food, considered to be the source of the widely sought Mediterranean diet. Crete is also famous for its flora and medicinal plants, which have been in high demand since antiquity.

From Crete, we will sail across the blue Aegean Sea to crescent-shaped Santorini, perhaps the most spectacular island in the entire Mediter - ranean. Inhabited by a sophisticated society in deep antiquity, half of the island subsided after a cataclysmic volcanic eruption in the late 17th century BC. Some archaeologists and others have seen this event as the origin of the legend of the lost continent of Atlantis. During our Palace of Knossos two-day stay in this exceptional island we will explore incredible Akrotiri, the Bronze Age town that was entirely covered with pumice and ash from the volcano’s eruption.

Continuing our journey in the Greek archipelago, we will reach beautiful Naxos, the largest of the Cycladic islands, known for its impressive main town, ancient monuments that include Byzantine churches with exqui - site frescoes, varied landscape, picturesque old villages and sandy beaches. From Naxos, we will visit Delos, the sacred island where the divine twins Apollo and Artemis were born, now a UNESCO World Her - itage Site, and Mykonos, the quintessential Cycladic island, known for its white-wash architecture and cosmopolitan atmosphere.

To explore fabled Greece and its islands when the ancient sites and the Delos surrounding countryside are carpeted with a profusion of wild flowers and aromatic herbs is a rare and memorable travel experience. Join us in the Garden of the Gods.

Typical street scene, Naxos Knossos palace fresco GREECE refinement of the Minoan civilization. Walls decorated with frescoes illustrate life as it was some 4000 years ago. Continue to the Ionian Aegean Sea Sea superlative Archaeological Museum, home to the Athens world’s finest Minoan artifacts. Spend the afternoon at leisure to explore Heraklion on your Mykonos own. Enjoy dinner at a restaurant specializing in Sounion Delos Cretan cuisine. Naxos Meals: B, D Day 7 ~ HERAKLION/SANTORINI Sail in the morning across the blue Aegean Sea Santorini to volcanic crescent-shaped Santorini, perhaps the Mediterranean’s most spectacular island. Be on deck as the ship approaches Santorini to Rethymnon admire the spectacle of Phira, the island’s Mot or r out e Crete Heraklion white-washed main town, perched on the 1,000- Ship r out e Knossos Air r out e foot-high volcanic caldera. After checking in at Phaistos Gortyn the Santorini Palace Hotel, visit the Museum of Prehistoric Thera, whose exhibits provide a fine Day 1 ~ DEPART THE USA about 2200 plant species, of which 170 are introduction to the island’s Bronze Age Depart the United States for Athens, Greece. endemic, outstanding archaeological sites and civilization. Then drive the short distance to Oia, museums, a population renowned for its the picturesque small town that is sited at the Day 2 ~ ATHENS, GREECE friendliness and hospitality, and a cuisine that northern tip of the ridge. Arrive in Athens and transfer to the elegant King has been studied by the world’s nutritionists for Meals: B, L George Hotel, located on Constitution Square, the its health benefits, Crete is a beguiling place to heart of the city and within walking distance to visit and explore. In the afternoon, tour Heraklion, Day 8 ~ SANTORINI many of Athens’s attractions. In the evening, enjoy including the enormous Venetian walls (Crete was Known in classical antiquity as Thera, the island a welcome dinner. under Venetian rule from 1204 to 1669), the was a flourishing trading center inhabited by a Meals: D church of Aghios Titos, the Venetian City Hall and sophisticated society during the Bronze Age. In its loggia, and the Historical Museum, whose the late 17th century BC, a massive volcanic Day 3 ~ ATHENS and SOUNION exhibits offer an examination of Cretan history. eruption collapsed half of the island and buried One of the world’s most venerable cities, Athens Meals: B, L, D Akrotiri, its main town, in a thick layer of ash and is the capital of Greece and Europe’s oldest city. pumice, preserving its houses, streets and Its ancient monuments are testimonies to its Day 5 ~ EXPLORE CRETE squares as they existed 3,700 years ago. Some glorious past that gave birth to democracy and Today’s exploration of Crete will reveal the island’s have connected the disappearance of half of the many other ideas and concepts that form an beautiful and varied landscape, some of its island to the legend of Atlantis. Starting in the integral part of the Western tradition. In the ancient sites and the charming town of late 1960s, excavations by Greek archaeologists morning, tour the Acropolis. Occupied since Rethymnon. Leave the hotel in the morning for brought Akrotiri to life, becoming one of the prehistoric times, the rocky plateau of the Gortyn, the ancient city that rose to power during world’s most important archaeological sites. Acropolis rises dramatically out of the plain and the 1st century BC when it became the capital of Akrotiri conveys a powerful lifelike picture of a dominates the modern city as it did in antiquity. the Roman province of Crete and Cyrenaica well-organized and prosperous Aegean The incomparable Parthenon and other temples (North Africa). Gortyn is noted for the Law Code, prehistoric city. Spend the afternoon at leisure and structures built in the 5th century BC repre - laws inscribed on columns, in 450 BC. Nearby is to explore and enjoy Phira on your own. sent the highest achievement of architecture and the Minoan palace of Phaistos, dating from the Meals: B art of the Classical period. Visit also the Acropolis second millennium BC, beautifully situated in the Museum, which houses an outstanding collection fertile plain of Messara, overlooking Mount Ida, Day 9 ~ SANTORINI/NAXOS of sculpture and other artifacts. In the afternoon, the birthplace of Zeus. Continue to the seaside Leave Santorini in the morning and sail to Naxos, drive along the Athenian Riviera to Sounion to resort town of Aghia Galini for lunch, and then arriving early in the afternoon. A major center of visit the Temple of Poseidon, magnificently set drive through the scenic Amari Valley to the prehistoric Cycladic culture and the birth - above the sea. Dwarf bearded irises and other Rethymnon, one of Crete’s most atmospheric place of Dionysus, the god of the grape harvest, flowers carpet the site. Dinner will be served at a towns, known for its well preserved architecture local taverna. from the Venetian and Ottoman periods. Explore Meals: B, D the old town’s narrow alleyways before returning to Heraklion. Day 4 ~ ATHENS/HERAKLION, Crete Meals: B, L Fly in the morning to Heraklion, Crete’s largest city and main commercial center. Upon arrival, transfer Day 6 ~ KNOSSOS and the HERAKLION to the Arion Hotel, located near the old harbor MUSEUM and the Venetian fortress. The largest of the Greek In the morning explore the magnificent palace of islands, Crete is the reputed birthplace of Zeus Knossos, the largest Minoan palace in Crete. and home of Europe’s earliest civilization, the Mi - Clustered around a spacious courtyard, the noan, which dominated the Aegean world and palace contains a maze of rooms and passages parts of the Mediterranean, starting at. around that probably generated the concept of the 2000 BC, the period when the celebrated labyrinth, home of the mythological monstrous palaces began to be built. With an incredibly Minotaur, half-man, half-bull. More than any other beautiful and varied landscape that harbors palace, Knossos reveals the brilliance and Houseleek in Mykonos winemaking, wine and ecstasy, Naxos is known for its varied landscapes, ancient sites, picturesque PROGRAM INCLUSIONS old villages, Byzantine churches decorated with high quality frescoes, and fertile soil that supports ■ Two nights in Athens at the King George Hotel; three nights in Heraklion, Crete, at the a vibrant agriculture. In the 6th century BC it ex - Atrion Hotel; two nights in Santorini at the Santorini Palace Hotel; and three nights in Naxos celled in marble-sculpting. In the afternoon, ex - at the Nissaki Beach Resort. plore picturesque Chora, the island’s main town, ■ American breakfast each morning at the hotels its narrow streets spread below the Kastro, a ■ Four lunches and seven dinners at local restaurants, with wine or beer. citadel built by the Venetians, who held the island ■ Ship passage from Heraklion to Santorini and on to Naxos. from 1207 to 1537. Visit the archaeo logical area ■ All tours and excursions by private motor coach and professional English-speaking guides. of Mitropolis, which displays habitation from prehis - ■ Program of lectures and discussions by the accompanying expert guest lecturer. toric times to the Roman period, and the Archaeo - ■ Airport/hotel/pier transfers and handling of luggage in Greece. logical Museum. Facing the town is a small islet, ■ Entrance fees to ancient sites and museums. connected to the town by a causeway, on which ■ Gratuities to drivers, guides and porters. are the remains of a temple built in the 6th cen - ■ The services of an experienced Thalassa Journeys trip director. tury BC. Our home for the next three nights will be ■ All local taxes and service charges. the Nissaki Beach Resort. ■ Comprehensive pre-departure material. Meals: B, D NOT INCLUDED: Airfare to Athens and within Greece; travel insurance; expenses of a personal nature; Day 10 ~ NAXOS/DELOS/MYKONOS/NAXOS any meals and other items not mentioned in the itinerary and the Program Inclusions. Cruise to uninhabited Delos, the small island that was sacred to the ancient Greeks, on account of its being the birthplace of the divine twins Apollo RATES and Artemis. The group of islands in the center of $5,780 per person, double occupancy; Single supplement: $680 (Rates are subject to change) the Aegean Sea are called Cyclades because they form a circle around Delos. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Delos is a vast archaeological site and a veritable open air museum. Walk the Sacred Way to see the remains of sanctuaries, FOR INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT temples, the celebrated Terrace of the Lions and houses, some of which contain exquisite mosaics. OUR TOUR OPERATOR Adding to the unique beauty of the place is that at this time of the year Delos is awash with flowers. After exploring Delos, sail across the short channel to Mykonos, the quintessential Cycladic island, known for its white-wash houses and chapels, cosmopolitan atmosphere and smart JOUR NEYS cafes and shops. Spend time at leisure to explore Mykonos on your own before returning to Naxos. Beyond the or dinar y Meals: B, D

Day 11 ~ NAXOS TOLL-FREE 866-633-3611 In the morning, explore Naxos’s interior, known for its ancient sites, green valleys, historic churches www.thalassajourneys.com and picturesque villages. Naxos was sacred to Dionysus, and we start our exploration at his Sanctuary, a cult center since the 8th century BC. Continue to the Temple of Demeter, which was constructed in 530 BC, and then to the village of Chalki, with its distinctive architecture and the church of Protothronos, dating to the 6th century. Nearby are the villages of Moni, home of the equally early church of Panaghia Drosiani that contains important frescoes; Apeiranthos, perched on a high cliff; and Flerio, site of an ancient marble quarry, where we see two unfinished monumental statues from around 570 BC. Lunch will be served at a village taverna before returning to the hotel and an afternoon at leisure. Enjoy a farewell dinner. Meals: B, L, D

Day 12 ~ NAXOS/USA Morning transfer to the airport for the flight to Athens to connect with the flight home. Meals: B Oia, Santorini