Presents for Listeners and Friends Led by John Labonia, General Manager, WLRN Including concerts of the Thessaly Chamber Music Festival SPECIAL GUEST HOST JOHN LABONIA Dear Listeners and Friends of WLRN, Every day WLRN takes you on adventures near and far that span the globe through our programming. Now, we are thrilled to announce a rare opportunity for you to take an adventure of your own! I invite the WLRN community to join me to explore landmark historic sites, idyllic islands and other hidden treasures of Greece. As South Florida’s Storyteller Station and your source for life-long learning, we are honored to partner with Thalassa Journeys, at the forefront of educational travel for more than 50 years. Fronted by the longest coastline of any country in Europe, Greece presents an extraordinary variety of attractions that include magnificent landscapes, idyllic islands and ancient sites and monuments that have survived through the centuries. While these attractions have made Greece a popular travel destination, there are areas and islands of this fabled land that are incredibly beautiful and important, yet they remain “hidden” and undisturbed by the usual characteristics of mass tourism. We designed this itinerary to include places that are “undiscovered”, places that will fascinate and delight you. WLRN Public Radio and Television is the Our journey of this unusual discovery will begin in northern Greece, specifically in most trusted, valued, and supported Thessaloniki, the biblical Thessalonica, also known as Salonica. Founded in the 4th century BC on the head of a spacious bay, and named after the half-sister of public media organization in South Alexander the Great, Thessaloniki has remained prosperous, vibrant and Florida. As General Manager since 2000, cosmopolitan since its founding almost 2,500 years ago. From here, we will John Labonia has overseen the vision continue to Thessaly in central Greece. Once of the country’s most surprising and and mission of WLRN, leading its interesting regions, Thessaly boarders Mount Olympus and was the home of transformation into a thriving business “god-like” Achilles, the hero of Homer’s Iliad. It was also home to Jason, who led enterprise through sense of place the Argonauts in their expedition to fetch the Golden Fleece. The legendary stories journalism and documentary storytelling. of Achilles and Jason reveal a land that has been inhabited since deep antiquity. Among the sites we will explore here are the incredible medieval monasteries of Meteora (“monasteries in mid-air”), and glorious Pelion and its old traditional WLRN has grown steadily to become an villages. From Thessaly, we will venture into the world of the Aegean Sea, where we integral part of the community it serves, will explore two of its most attractive islands, Skiathos and Skopelos. offering a rich and varied mix of news The ancient Greeks believed that music was a gift from the gods. In fact, the word and information, arts and culture, “music” comes from Muses, the nine mythological daughters of Zeus, the supreme childhood education and lifelong god of the Greek pantheon, who were the patron goddesses of the arts. It is then learning. It’s where the South Florida befitting that while we will be in the land that contributed so much to our Western community turns to experience the world tradition, we will be able to attend concerts of sublime classical music. This 13-day through its programming. journey is timed to coincide with the Thessaly Chamber Music Festival. In its third year of consecutive operation, the Festival has established a high reputation for On behalf of WLRN, John is proud to host offering superb music performed at notable venues. Combined with an itinerary that explores magnificent historic cities and sites, this promises to be an this once-in-a-lifetime experience and incomparable travel experience. brings his unique perspective to bear. This will be a journey of extraordinary beauty and culture. I am delighted to be able to offer this opportunity to our WLRN community. Please join me and members of the WLRN family to explore Hidden Treasures of Greece: Exploring Landmark Historic Sites and Idyllic Islands from September 29 – October 12, 2020. Whether you are a first-time traveler to this fabled land, or have visited Greece before, this magnificent travel and learning experience will surely reward you with innumerable memories. Sincerely, John Labonia General Manager, WLRN Cover: Skopelos Meteora, “the monasteries in mid-air” JOURNEY HIGHLIGHTS Thessaloniki Discover places in Greece that are of Vergina singular beauty and importance, yet they remain “undiscovered” and authentic. Meteora Larissa Attend chamber music concerts Pelion performed by internationally Makrinitsa Trikala Vyzitsa accomplished musicians. Milies Explore Skiathos and Skopelos, Dimini Skiathos Aegean considered to be among the most Volos Sea beautiful of the Greek islands. Sk opelos Ionian Visit Meteora, the incredible Sea GREECE “monasteries in mid-air.” Tour the sumptuous temple-like tomb Mot or r out e of Philip II, the father of Alexander the Ship r out e Athens Great. Air r out e and the Cathedral of Aghios Dimitrios, a overlooking the 3rd-century BC theater, and near ITINERARY 5th-century basilica dedicated to the guardian restaurants, cafes and boutiques. In the Tuesday, September 29, 2020 of the city. evening, attend the opening concert of the DEPART THE USA Meals: B Thessaly Chamber Music Festival, held in the Depart the United States for Thessaloniki, main auditorium of the Larissa Conservatory. Greece. Friday, October 2 Meals: B, L THESSALONIKI/VERGINA/LARISSA Wednesday, September 30 In the morning drive to Vergina, the ancient Saturday, October 3 THESSALONIKI, Greece Macedonian royal capital, where we will visit LARISSA Arrive in Thessaloniki, Greece’s second largest the incredibly sumptuous temple-like royal Located in central Greece, Thessaly is one of city. Transfer to the Hotel Electra Palace , located tombs, including that of Philip II, the father of the country’s most interesting areas, yet it in the center of the city. Founded in 316 BC at a Alexander the Great. His tomb yielded treasures mostly remains beyond its usual tourist head of a spacious bay and named after the in gold, which we will see in the Archaeological destinations. Strabo, the ancient geographer half-sister of Alexander the Great, Thessaloniki, Museum. Vergina is a UNESCO World Heritage and historian, called it, “a country most the biblical Thessalonica, is renowned for its Site. After lunch, continue through the scenic blessed.” In the morning, visit the Diachronic monuments dating from late antiquity and the countryside of Macedonia and Thessaly to Museum, whose exhibits of artifacts chronicle Byzantine era. Under Justinian, it became the Larissa, the vibrant capital of the region of the history of Larissa and Thessaly from the second most important city in the Byzantine Thessaly. Our home in Larissa will be the Hotel Paleolithic period to the late Byzantine era, Empire. Thessaloniki was also for centuries Divani , located in the center of the city, a span of about 10,000 years. Enjoy the home to a thriving Jewish community and an important center of learning and scholarship. St. Paul preached here in AD 49-50, and addressed two of his epistles to the citizens of the city. Welcome dinner at a local restaurant. Meals: D Thursday, October 1 THESSALONIKI In the morning, tour the city’s important monuments, including the remains of the Palace of Galerius, the Roman emperor who lived in the city; the Rotonda, built as an imperial mausoleum, later converted to the church of Aghios Georgios; and the Arch of Galerius. Also, visit the superb Museum of Byzantine Culture . In the afternoon, visit the city’s Byzantine churches, including Aghia Sofia, dating from the 8th century; the church of Holy Apostles, decorated with striking 14th century mosaics; Portaria, Pelion FOR RESERVATIONS AND INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL TOLL-FREE 866–633-3611 Typical street in Skopelos Larissa’s 3rd-century BC theater afternoon at leisure. Late in the afternoon, led the Argonauts in quest of the fabled Golden of Portaria. Afternoon at leisure in Volos. drive to the Folk Museum of Larissa. After Fleece. Evening concert at the Volos Conservatory. viewing its interesting exhibits, attend a Meals: B, L Meals: B, L concert at the Museum’s auditorium, followed by dinner at a local taverna. Tuesday, October 6 Wednesday, October 7 Meals: B, D VOLOS & PELION VOLOS Ascend in the morning the road to the Pelion Visit in the morning Volos’ attractive Sunday, October 4 massif. As in antiquity, thick forests of chestnut, Archaelogical Museum. Highlights of the LARISSA/METEORA/TRIKALA/LARISSA oak, beech, olive and fruit orchards cover the collection include the outstanding Neolithic Leave Larissa in the morning for Meteora slopes of Pelion. According to Greek mythology, (6500 - 3500 BC) figurines, the painted stelae (“monasteries in mid-air”), one of the most Pelion was the home of the centaurs, depicted from the Hellenistic period, and gold jewelry. extraordinary sights in Greece and in all Europe. as half –man, half –horse creatures. The profusion Continue to the neoclassical building that is the Rising from Thessaly’s valley are gigantic rocks of vegetation, the magnificent scenery, the headquarters of the Lyceum of Women of Volos, on top of which are monasteries built by hermits surrounding blue sea, the villages with the an educational, cultural and philanthropic some 600 years ago. At this UNESCO World preserved architecture, and the friendly and institution, where we will be hosted by its Heritage site, we will visit the monastery of St. hospitable people make Pelion one of the officers. Exhibited is a wonderful collection of Varlaam, originally founded in the 14th century, most beautiful and welcoming places in traditional costumes. The afternoon is free for which is covered with fine frescoes.