Castles of the

DAY 1 : Athens – Corinth – Palamidi – We leave Athens and head for Corinth. Arriving at the Acropolis of Ancient Corinth we discover a castle dating back from 7th century BC and the beautiful view of the Saronic and Corinthian bays. After our tour we depart for the Palamidi, one of the most well-preserved castles of the Peloponnese built in the 17th century by the Venetians, with panoramic view of the , Nafplion and the surrounding mountains. Then, we head down Nafplion for a stroll on the beach and the old town. In the afternoon you will have some leisure time and overnight stay at our hotel.

DAY 2 :Nafplio – Monemvassia We leave right after breakfast for the medieval fortress-city of built on the homonymous rock. Due to its similarity to the Iberian rock it has also been called "Gibraltar of the East". Inhabited by Laconians around the 6th century AD, it experienced a significant boom in the Byzantine times from the 12th to the 14th centuries. It also was conquered by Venetians and Turks until his release. We will tour the castle and its walls through paved alleys, vaulted arches, churches and traditional houses of the upper and lower cities and will end up in the square with its unique view. We will spend the night in a hotel in the area.

DAY 3 :Monemvassia – - Sparta Breakfast and departure for Mystras, the ruins of the Byzantine state of the Peloponnese. Its history begins in the middle of the 13th century AD. From the 14th century it becomes the capital of Byzantine Peloponnese and the focal point of the political and intellectual life of the Empire until its conquest by the Turks in 1460 and its gradual decline. We will walk amongst her deserted houses and visit the churches with their elaborate hagiographies, the monastery of Pantanassa as well as the Metropolitan Palace, where today the Museum of Mystras is hosted. Depart for Sparta where we will stay overnight.

DAY 4 : Sparta – Karytaina – Kalamata Your breakfast finished, we depart for Karytaina, the so-called "Toledo of ". There we will take a tour of the picturesque settlement and visit its Castle, built in the 13th century by Gödrengo de Vriyier, on the acropolis of ancient Vrenthe. Then we will continue our journey for the Messinian capital. Arriving in Kalamata we will visit the castle built by the mythological hero Pharis and the old town. Below the castle there is the Ypapantis Monastery and the Metropolitan Church of the city. You will have plenty of free time at your disposal in the afternoon to explore on your own and check in the hotel for the night.

DAY 5 : Pylos – Methoni – Kororni - Kalamata After a good breakfast we depart for Pylos.Upon arrival we tour Niokastrobuilt by the Ottomans in the 16th century. Then we will continue to Koroni to admire the Venetian castle before leaving for Methoni. There we will visit one of the most important fortifications of the Eastern Mediterranean built in 1205 by the Franks. Return to Kalamata.

DAY 6 : Kalamata - Kyllini Breakfast and departure for Killini. Here we will admire the castle of built by GodefridoVilleledudino in 1224, one of the most well-preserved castles of the Peloponnese with panoramic view of the Ionian Sea. During its prosperity years it was impregnable and its construction prevented any attack. Later, it came under the hegemony of Constantine the Paliologist and was successively conquered by Venetians and Turks until it passed into the hands of the after the revolution. Free time in the area and overnight in Kyllini.

DAY 7 : Patra – Athens Our first destination for today is Patras. There, we will tour the castle of the city built during the 2nd half of the 6th century A.D. by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian on the ruins of the ancient Acropolis. Then we will continue to the castle of Rio just before the famous bridge, built by Sultan Vajiazet II over the ruins of the ancient temple of Poseidon. We will end our journey in Athens having completed a historic route to the fortified and residential architecture of the most important castles of the Peloponnese.

People: 20 25 30

Prices per Person: € 690 € 620 € 570

The price includes: • Accommodation for 6 nights in 4 * hotels with breakfast • Transfer in luxury bus during all the tour • Licensed professional guide in the archeological sites • Tour guide • Insurance with liability coverage • All taxes

The price doesn’t include: • Entrance fees in the archeological sites • Anything not mentioned in the above schedule