MARTIN RANDALL TRAVEL

ART • ARCHITECTURE • GASTRONOMY • ARCHAEOLOGY • HISTORY • MUSIC • LITERATURE

Classical The , and

7–16 May 2022 (mi 339) 10 days • £3,790 Lecturer: Professor Antony Spawforth 10–19 September 2022 (mi 467) 10 days • £3,790 Lecturer: Professor Michael Squire

A comprehensive survey of the principal Archaic, Classical and Hellenistic sites in mainland Greece. Highlights include , Olympia, . In Athens, a full day on the and in the ancient .

The Ancient Greeks had far greater influence on western civilisation than any other people or nation. For two and a half millennia, philosophy and ethics, the fundamentals of science and mathematics, prevailing notions of government and citizenship, literature and the visual arts have derived their seeds, and a large amount of their substance, from the Greeks. In the words of H.D.F. Kitto ‘there gradually emerged a people not very numerous, not very Athens, watercolour by Jules Guérin, publ. 1913. powerful, not very well organized, who had a totally new conception of what human life the Mycenaeans, the Greek Bronze Age, and Day 3: Corinth, Epidauros. The site of Ancient was for, and showed for the first time what the continuing through Archaic, Classical and, to Corinth has the earliest standing Doric temple human mind was for.’ a lesser extent, Hellenistic and Roman Greece. on mainland Greece, and a fine museum with Whatever the depth of our Classical It also provides a glimpse of the spiritual evidence of Greece’s first large-scale pottery education, there is a deep-seated sense in all of splendour of Byzantine art and architecture. industry. Epidauros, centre for the worship us that the places visited on this tour are of the It is a full itinerary, but the pace is of Asclepios, god of medicine, where popular greatest significance for our identity and way of manageable. Plenty of time is available on the magical dream cures were dispensed, includes life. A journey to Greece is like a journey to our sites and in the museums, allowing opportunity the best-preserved of all Greek theatres. homeland, a voyage in which a search for our both for adequate exposition by the lecturer roots is fulfilled. Day 4: Arcadia, . There are spectacular and time for further exploration on your own. In no field is the Greek contribution to views of Nauplion from the 18th-century the modern world more immediately evident Venetian Fortress of Palamidi. Drive across than in architecture. The grip upon the Itinerary the middle of the Peloponnese, through imagination that the Greek temple has exerted Day 1. Fly early afternoon (Aegean Airlines) the beautiful plateau of Arcadia and past is astonishing, and in one way or another – from London Heathrow to Athens. Stop for impressive mountain scenery. A stunning road ranging from straightforward imitation of the dinner before continuing to Nauplion, one of leads to the innovatory and well-preserved whole to decorative use of distorted details the most attractive towns in mainland Greece. 5th-century Temple of (in a tent for – has dominated nearly all monumental or First of three nights in Nauplion. protection) on the mountain top at Bassae aspirational building ever since. A striking and (3,700 feet) and through further breathtaking salutary conclusion, however, which inevitably Day 2: Nauplion, , Mycenae. Today’s scenery to Olympia. Overnight Olympia. emerges from participation on this tour, is that theme is the Mycenaean civilisation of the the originals are unquestionably superior. This Argolid Plain, the Greece of ’s heroes Day 5: Olympia. Nestling in a verdant valley, is also true of sculpture. (16th–13th centuries bc). Visit Tiryns, a citadel Olympia is one of the most evocative of This tour includes nearly all of the most with massive Cyclopean walls of enormous ancient sites; never a town, but the principal important archaeological sites, architectural blocks of masonry, and Mycenae, reputedly sanctuary of Zeus and site of the quadrennial remains ­and museums of antiquities on Agamemnon’s capital, with the Treasury of pan-Hellenic athletics competitions. Many mainland Greece. It presents a complete picture Atreus (finest of beehive tombs) and Acropolis fascinating structures remain, including the of civilisation beginning with (). temples of Hera and Zeus, the workshop of Phidias and the stadium. The museum contains book online at www.martinrandall.com Telephone 020 8742 3355 MARTIN RANDALL TRAVEL

Classical Greece continued

fragments of pediment sculpture, among the Lecturers How strenuous? This is a long tour with three most important survivals of Classical Greek hotel changes and some long journeys. You will art. First of two nights in Delphi. Professor Antony Spawforth. Emeritus be on your feet for long stretches of time, in Professor of Ancient History at Newcastle some cases on exposed sites and walking over Day 6: Delphi. Clinging to the lower slopes University. A historian and broadcaster rough terrain and therefore sure-footedness of Mount Parnassos, Delphi is the most specialising in Greek and Roman antiquity and agility are essential. Average distance by spectacularly evocative of ancient Greek and in rulers’ courts. In 2018, he published coach per day: 75 miles. sites. Of incalculable religious and political The Story of Greece and Rome, (Yale University importance, the Delphic attracted Press, paperback February 2020). Other books Group size: between 10 and 22 participants. pilgrims from all over the Hellenic world. The include The Complete Greek Temples, Greece: Combine this tour with: In Search of Sanctuary of Pythian Apollo has a theatre An Oxford Archaeological Guide (with C. Mee), Alexander, 17–23 May 2022. and Athenian Treasury, and the Sanctuary of and Versailles: A Biography of a Palace. has a circular temple. The museum is We are happy to advise on linking especially rich in Archaic sculpture. Some free Professor Michael Squire. Professor of accommodation and transport. time amidst the austere beauty of the valley. Classical Art at King’s College London. His research interests include Greek and Roman Day 7: , Athens. Visit the visual culture, the history of aesthetics, the Byzantine monastery of Hosios Loukas in a interrelations between words and images beautiful setting in a remote valley, one of and the reception of classical forms. He was the finest buildings of medieval Greece with awarded a Philip Leverhulme Prize for his remarkable mosaics. The Agora (market place) research into and Art History and led was the centre of civic life in ancient Athens, a research project on ‘Modern Classicisms’, with the small Doric Hephaisteion, the best- resulting in a major exhibition, The Classical preserved of Greek temples. First of three Now, in 2018. nights in Athens. Day 8: Athens. The Acropolis is the foremost Practicalities site of . The (built Price, per person. Two sharing: £3,790 or 447–438 bc) is indubitably the supreme £3,560 without flights.Single occupancy: achievement of Greek architecture. Other £4,220 or £3,990 without flights. architectural masterpieces are the Propylaia (monumental gateway), Temple of Athena Included: air travel (Economy Class) on Nike and the Erechtheion. At the Theatre Aegean Airlines (Airbus A321); private travel of Dionysos plays by , by air-conditioned coach (Day 8 is on foot); and were first performed. The new accommodation as described below; breakfasts, Acropolis museum has superb Archaic and two lunches and seven dinners with wine, water Classical sculpture, including some by Phidias and coffee; all admissions; all tips for waiters, and his assistants. drivers and guides; all state and airport taxes; the services of the lecturer, local guide and tour Day 9: Athens. The refurbished National manager (if applicable). Archaeological Museum has the finest collection of Greek art and artefacts to be found Accommodation. Hotel Ippoliti, Nauplion anywhere. The vast Corinthian Temple of (ippoliti.gr): small, comfortable hotel in a Olympian Zeus was completed by Hadrian 700 converted 19th-century mansion situated years after its inception. Kerameikos Cemetery close to the harbour. Hotel Europa, Olympia was where Athenians were buried beyond the (hoteleuropa.gr): characterful hotel outside ancient city walls. Some free time. the town with views across the valley. Hotel Amalia, Delphi (amaliahoteldelphi.gr): Day 10: Athens. Drive to the Temple of modern hotel with sweeping views, a short at Sounion, overlooking the sea at the coach ride from the archaeological site. Electra southernmost tip of the Attic peninsula, visited Palace Hotel, Athens (electrahotels.gr): smart by Byron in 1810. Fly from Athens, arriving at 5-star hotel near the picturesque Plaka quarter. Heathrow at c. 3.30pm (Aegean Airlines). Single rooms are doubles for sole use throughout.

book online at www.martinrandall.com [email protected]