Greece Tour 2019
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GREECE FROM ANTIQUITY TO BYZANTIUM WITH A SEVEN-NIGHT CRUISE ABOARD THE MS GALILEO NOVEMBER 3-19, 2019 TOUR LEADER: DR JOHN TIDMARSH GREECE Overview FROM ANTIQUITY TO BYZANTIUM Discover the extraordinary world of ancient and Aegean Bronze-Age Greece, from the sprawling palaces of Minoan Crete and the citadels and Tour dates: November 3-19, 2019 monumental tombs of the Mycenaeans, to the incomparable museums of Athens and the emergence of the Byzantines at the end of Antiquity. Get Tour leader: Dr John Tidmarsh to know the deep history of the cultures that made Greece the cradle of western civilisation on this 17-day tour by land and sea, travelling from Tour Price: $9,645 per person, twin share Crete to the Peloponnese, Olympia, Delphi and Athens, visiting (based on category B-grade cabin) archaeological sites and museums, and enjoy the dramatic landscapes – mountains, spectacular coastlines and rocky islands – of the Greek world. Single Supplement: $1,785 (based on category B-grade cabin) In Crete we explore the sprawling palace of King Minos at Knossos, home to the legendary Minotaur, along with the lesser known but equally Booking deposit: $500 per person fascinating Minoan palaces of Archanes and Phaestos and the charming town of Chania with its historic links from Minoan, Byzantine and Venetian Recommended airline: Emirates or Etihad cultures through to its occupation by the Germans in World War II. Maximum places: 20 In Athens we board the 25 cabin Motor Sailer Galileo for an eight-day cruise circumnavigating the Peloponnese region. Docking in port each day Itinerary: Athens (1 night), Heraklion (3 nights), we are able to delve into the most important archaeological and classical Chania (1 night), Cruise (7 nights), Athens (4 sites on mainland Greece at Epidauraus, Mycenae, Venetian Pylos, nights) Ancient Olympia and mystical Delphi. Date published: November 29, 2018 After traversing the spectacular Corinth Canal, we disembark in Athens for our final four days. We explore the Acropolis and the superb Acropolis Museum, walk through the ancient Agora, investigate the finest Greek art and sculpture at the National Archaeological Museum and the collections at the privately owned Benaki Museum and Museum of Cycladic Art. Your tour leader Dr John Tidmarsh was previously Tutor and then Part-Time Lecturer in Greek and Roman archaeology in the Department of Archaeology at the University of Sydney, and is the former President of the Near Eastern Archaeology Foundation. He is a Co-Director of the University of Sydney’s excavations at Pella in Jordan (where he has worked since 1979) and is also Co-Director of the Australian Archaeological Mission at Jebel Khalid in Syria. He was previously Associate Director of the University of Sydney’s excavations at Paphos, Cyprus, and was also Senior Investigator at the university’s excavations at Torone in Greece. Enquiries and His main areas of interest are the archaeology of Alexander the Great’s bookings conquests, the Hellenistic period in Greece, the Near East and Asia, and the Islamic world. He travels widely in the Middle East, especially in Iran, For further information and to and has now led approximately 20 tours to that country as well as secure a place on this tour numerous tours to Oman, Syria, Jordan, Turkey, and Greece. please contact Rebecca Fussell on 9235 0023 “I enjoyed the tour very much and John’s insights and breadth of or 1800 639 699 (outside knowledge were very interesting. I enjoyed the small towns we toured, lots Sydney) or email of fun.” – Feedback from John’s Greece tour, May 2018. [email protected]. au The MS Galileo In November 2018 Academy Travel’s London Manager, Grace McLean, travelled on the M/S Galileo around the Peloponnese. We asked Grace about her experience. How is M/S Galileo different from large cruise ships? The M/S Galileo can enter the smallest of ports, which means mooring right in centre of towns on the itinerary. Due to its size, the Galileo can also access more unusual experiences such as the medieval town of Monemvasia and pass through the Corinth Canal – impossible in larger vessels. With a small ship such as the Galileo there is no waiting to get on or off, so you have more time to enjoy your onshore visits. And with a maximum of 50 passengers on board, you’ll also get to know your crew and fellow passengers. What are the cabins like? Is it a luxury cruise? The cabins are small, so passengers are encouraged to minimise their luggage. You won’t find luxury amenities but everything is neat and clean. Each cabin has air-conditioning, a fridge and a compact ensuite bathroom with shower and is serviced twice daily. Most passengers spend their time on deck enjoying the sun and sailing (bring a book!), or onshore exploring the local town. How is the weather in November? Although I can’t guarantee it for 2019, the weather was absolutely perfect! Clear and sunny with an average of 20 degrees each day, the water was warm enough for swimming. The evenings were cool and you will need some warm clothes. High winds were predicted for our voyage but the Captain timed our sailing and planned the route to minimise rocking and rolling onboard. Was the itinerary good for someone interested in history and archaeology? Or was it just scenic sightseeing? This is an ideal itinerary if you are interested in history and archaeology and you will see some of the most important sites in Greece, particularly from the Bronze Age. Those with an interest in the Byzantine period will enjoy discovering the many forts and churches at each port. You will also experience spectacular scenery of mountains, olive groves and the clear blue waters of the Aegean. Detailed itinerary Included meals are shown with the letters B, L and D. Tour start & finish time The tour starts on Sunday 3 November at 6.00pm, in the lobby of the Divani Palace Acropolis Hotel, Athens. The tour ends on Tuesday 19 November at the Divani Palace Acropolis Hotel, Athens, after breakfast. Sunday 3 November Arrive The tour commences at the hotel in Athens at 6pm. Meet your tour leader and fellow travellers in the lobby of the hotel for an Above: The Koules Fortress, the symbol of Heraklion introductions and drinks followed by dinner in the hotel. Overnight Athens (D) Below: Artefacts housed in the Heraklion Archaological Museum span over 5,500 years of Cretan history; the Palace of Knossos formed the Monday 4 November ceremonial and political centre of Minoan civilisation To Heraklion This morning we transfer to Athens Airport where we board a flight to Heraklion. We arrive in Crete and transfer to our hotel before John conducts an orientation tour of the Venetian city on foot. This evening, there is an introductory talk in the hotel followed by dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight Heraklion (B, D) Tuesday 5 November Phaistos and Heraklion Archaeological Museum A brief stroll from the hotel takes us to the excellent Archaeological Museum in Heraklion, which re-opened in 2014 following a lengthy renovation. The artefacts are displayed both chronologically and thematically and its collection includes Minoan artefacts and wall paintings from Knossos and the other Minoan palaces as well as the mysterious Phaistos Disk. This afternoon we travel to the site of Bronze Age Phaistos, a Minoan royal palace complex on a dramatic hilltop site overlooking the Messara Plain. Overnight Heraklion. (B, L) Wednesday 6 November Archanes and Knossos Just outside of Heraklion is the rustic village of Archanes, a treasure house of heritage-listed neoclassical architecture. Archanes was an important Minoan hub and a likely summer retreat for the Knossos Kings. We visit the delightful Archaeological Museum which houses many significant finds from the region. This afternoon we visit Crete’s most famous site, the Minoan palace complex of Knossos. The area shows occupation from Neolithic 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 Minoan Crete may have been like. Overnight Heraklion. (B) Thursda y 7 November Rethymno and Souda Bay This morning we depart for Rethymno and undertake a walking tour of the town which flourished under Venetian rule in the 16th century and where the old quarter retains a rich elegance. Our tour includes the massive Venetian Fort, the Nerantzis Mosque (built originally as a church by the Venetians and now the city’s concert hall), the Great Gate of the town, and the Venetian mansions along Arkadiou Street. We continue to Souda Bay to visit the Allied War Cemetery, where soldiers from the Commonwealth, including many Australians and New Zealanders who lost their lives in the Battle of Crete and the First World War, are buried. Our day concludes in Chania, a strategic location that first attracted the Minoans who founded the city state of Kydonia here in the Bronze Age. Since then it has been fought over by Romans, Byzantines, Venetians, Genoese, Turks, Egyptians, and finally the German Army in 1941. We explore the layers of history the invaders have left behind including the fortified Venetian harbour and the Mosque of the Janissaries. Overnight Chania. (B) Friday 8 November To Athens Today we depart Chania and fly to Athens. Upon arrival we Above: A poignant memorial to Allied soldiers at Souda Bay; Charming transfer to Marina Zea where we board the MS Galileo, meet the alleyways in Rethymno crew and set sail for Epidaurus.