TRAVEL WITH FRIENDS IN 2013 Islands of Aphrodite and Zeus CYPRUS – RHODES – CRETE with Christopher Allen 21 September–5 October 2013 (15 days) Tour Islands of Aphrodite leader and Zeus Explore the history, civilisations and cultures of the most interesting of the islands of the Eastern Mediterranean: Cyprus, Rhodes and Crete. Where East meets West, these four islands are rich in history, ancient and modern, from the great Minoan states to the early Christian saints, from the Byzantine emperors to the Knights Templar, from the Venetians to the British. With Mediterranean expert Christopher Allen enjoy an in depth exploration of 10,000 years of history, civilisation, archaeology, art and architecture. At the same time, you will also discover some of Europe’s most beautiful landscapes, natural and man made, and enjoy the relaxed lifestyle, delicious cuisine and Christopher Allen warm hospitality of these glorious islands. Dr Christopher Allen is an art critic and historian who graduated from the University of Sydney and lectured at the National Art School in At a glance Sydney. He is currently Head of Art at Sydney Grammar • Leisurely stays in Cyprus, Rhodes and Crete School. Christopher is the author of many books, his • Cross the ‘Green Line’ from Greek Cyprus into Turkish Cyprus most recent Jeffrey Smart: unpublished paintings 1940- • Visit the Minoan sites of Knossos, Gournia, Malia and Gortyn 2007 (Melbourne, Australian Galleries) was published in 2008. • See the mythical birthplace of Aphrodite He was art critic of the Financial Review and is now national art • Exclusive stay at Kapsialiana Village, a historic village converted into a hotel critic for The Australian. Rhodes RHODES Lindos Chania Kapsialiana Village Heraklion Kyrenia CRETE Nicosia CYPRUS Paphos Larnaca Coach Limassol Flight Note: Map is just a guide. Itinerary Fri 20 September 2013 Depart Australia Mon 23 Sep Limassol – Nicosia Suggested departure on Emirates via Dubai. Overnight in flight. After breakfast depart Limassol and travel to Nicosia, the capital of Cyprus. The city is divided between two ‘states’ – the north under Sat 21 Sep Arrive Larnaca – Limassol the domain of ‘Turkish’ Cyprus and the south, ‘Greek’ Cyprus. Late morning arrival in Larnaca on Emirates. Transfer to the hotel En route visit the Neolithic site of Choirokitia, a UNESCO World in Limassol. Limassol emerged out of two of the most important Heritage site. On arrival in Nicosia see the Farmagusta gate and ancient city kingdoms, Amathus, to the East and Kourion to the the Venetian fortification walls. Agios Ioannis (St John’s Cathedral) West. Today Limassol is a bustling holiday resort, the second largest was built in 1662 within the courtyard of the archiepiscopal palace city of Cyprus and the island’s main port. with 18 th century murals illustrating important moments in Cypriot Tonight join Christopher Allen and fellow travellers for a welcome religious history. briefing and dinner. D After lunch in Laiki Yitonia, a traditional neighbourhood within the Sun 22 Sep Limassol/Paphos city walls, enjoy free time to explore the area. Continue with a visit to the Cyprus Museum with its priceless collection of antiquities Start your exploration of Cyprus with an excursion to Paphos. Visit from the Neolithic Age to the early Byzantine period. the medieval castle of Kolossi and the archaeological site of Kourion, which was an important city kingdom, noted particularly for its Late afternoon check-in to your hotel in Nicosia. Evening at leisure. magnificent Greco-Roman theatre originally built in the 2nd century B L BC. The House of Eustolios consists of a complex of baths and a number of rooms with superb 5th century AD mosaic floors. Tue 24 Sep Nicosia/Kyrenia Today cross the Green Line (passports required) – the border Stop at Petra tou Romiou, the mythical birthplace of Aphrodite, the between the Republic of Cyprus and the Turkish Cyprus state. The Greek goddess of love and beauty. Green Line divides the two parts of the island and is permanently On arrival in Paphos visit St Paul’s Pillar, where St Paul was manned by UN forces. allegedly tied and scourged 39 times before he finally converted his Enjoy spectacular views as the road winds its way up and over the tormentor, the Roman governor Sergius Paulus, to Christianity. Pentadaktylos Mountains. After lunch at a restaurant in the old port, see the beautiful mosaic Bellapais, one of the island’s most mesmerising villages, features floors dating from the rd3 to the 5th centuries AD, depicting scenes the fascinating ruins of Bellapais Abbey, built in the 12th century by from Greek mythology, in the villas of Dionysos, Aion and Theseus. exiled Augustinian monks. See Kantara Castle, one of three castles Finish with a visit of Agia Paraskvi, a 9th century Byzantine church thought to have been constructed by the Byzantines following the with beautiful wall paintings and a five-domed basilica in the form of Arab raids on the island. Kyrenia Castle dates back to Byzantine a cross. B L times and has served the Byzantines, Crusaders, Venetians, Ottomans and British. Return to Nicosia in the afternoon. B L D Floor mosaics at Theseus House, Paphos Petra tou Romiou, Paphos Wed 25 Sep Nicosia – Larnaca – Rhodes Visit the 15th-century Church of St Katherine. During the 16th and th After breakfast transfer to Larnaca airport. Stop at one of the 17 centuries, this church housed the Mount Sinai Monastery most impressive sights in the town of Larnaca, the church of Ayios School, where Domenico Theotokopoulou is alleged to have Lazaros, built in the 9th century to house the reputed tomb of studied before moving on to Venice and Spain where he became Lazarus, the man raised from the dead by Jesus. known as El Greco. The church houses a small museum of icons, frescoes and woodcarvings. Afternoon flight from Larnaca to Rhodes. Transfer to the hotel located within easy walking distance of the old town of Rhodes. B D Visit the outstanding Archaeological Museum. Unique in its record of the Minoan civilisation, the museum houses the findings and Thu 26 Sep Rhodes treasures from all archaeological sites of Crete. B L This morning discover Rhodes’ old town on a walking tour. The Mon 30 Sep Heraklion UNESCO World Heritage Site is the oldest continuously inhabited medieval town of Europe. Walk along the medieval Street of the Today’s excursion will be along the north coast road with its Knights, which was constructed over an ancient pathway that led in ‘corniche’ type landscape and stunning views to Gournia. Here see a straight line from the Acropolis of Rhodes to the port. Visit the the most complete excavation of a Minoan town. This important Palace of the Knights and the Rhodes Acropolis. site dates from 1550-1450BC and consists of a town overlooked by a small palace. There are the remains of storage rooms, workrooms After lunch visit the Archaeological Museum of Rhodes, housed and dwellings. in the mediaeval building of the Hospital of the Knights. The most interesting galleries are those containing the collection of sculptures Continue to the large Minoan Palace site at Malia. First built around from the archaic, classical, Hellenistic and Roman periods. B L 1900BC it was destroyed around 1650BC before being immediately rebuilt on the ruins of the original palace. Fri 27 Sep Rhodes/Lindos Travel up to the mountain village of Kritsa, one of the most Morning at leisure to further explore the old town of Rhodes. picturesque in Crete. The people of Krista still keep the old Cretan Afternoon/evening excursion to Lindos. See how this entire city is customs and traditions and the town is considered one of the most guarded by medieval walls which were constructed by the knights important centres of the Cretan folk and weaving art. Close by of St John in the 13th century. Within them stands the ancient is the ancient church of Panagia Kera, with its unique Byzantine Acropolis of Lindos, on the brink of a precipice 400 feet above the frescoes from the 14th and 15th centuries. B L sea. Proceed on foot uphill, to the great staircase leading from the Hellenistic Portico to the Acropolis and Temple of Athena. Tue 1 Oct Heraklion Enjoy dinner at a restaurant in Lindos before returning to Rhodes Morning at leisure followed by an afternoon visit to Knossos. city. B D The palace itself was a multi-story structure with many floors, innumerable corridors and colonnades, excavated and Sat 28 Sep Rhodes – Heraklion reconstructed by Sir Arthur Evans in 1900. It was the political, Morning at leisure. Afternoon transfer to Rhodes airport for the economic and religious centre of the glorious Minoan Dynasty. B flight to Heraklion. Crete is not just Greece’s largest island, but Wed 2 Oct Heraklion – Kapsialiana Village arguably its most fascinating and diverse. Its remarkable history is evident across the island. B D Excursion to the south of the island. Start with a visit to the remains of the city of Gortyn, which once rivalled Knossos and was later the Sun 29 Sep Heraklion chief town of the Roman province of Crete. Among the remains After breakfast embark on a walking tour of the old town of are an amphitheatre and a circus. Across the road are the ruins of th Heraklion. See the Morosini Fountain in Lion Square, the Venetian the Basilica of St Titus from the 6 century AD. Loggia (town hall) and the Church of Agios Titos, dedicated to the patron saint of Crete (Titus of the Bible), who introduced Christianity to Crete. The Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes Lindos Castle, Rhodes Kapsialiana Village Hotel In a peaceful spot in the hilly countryside of Crete, a tiny hamlet has been transformed into a stylish small hotel.