UNDISCOVERED GREECE DISCOVER THE DIFFERENT FACE OF GREECE & ENJOY CLASSICAL CHAMBER MUSIC AT THE THESSALY CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL 15TH TO 24TH JUNE 2019 Mount Olympus from Dion Makrinitsa village reece is justly famous for its islands, but on the country’s mainland there are areas that present the traveller with Gexceptional beauty. Surprisingly, these areas remain relatively unknown and unexplored. One such place is Thessaly. Located in the centre of Greece, fronting the Aegean Sea on the east, and stretching on the west to the soaring Pindus Mountains, Thessaly presents an extraordinarily varied landscape as well as impressive archaeological and historic sites that reveal the progression of civilisation from the Neolithic period to the Early Christian era. “God-like” Achilles was a native son, and so was Jason, who led the Argonauts in quest of the Golden Fleece. We are operating this tour in conjunction with our American associates, Thalassa Journeys and the programme features the Thessaly Chamber Music Festival as well as time to explore the most significant and interesting places ofThessaly. We will begin in Larissa, the vibrant and prosperous capital of the province, settled since the earliest times. Not far away is Meteora (“monasteries in mid-air”), one of the most extraordinary sights, not only in Greece but perhaps in all Europe. Our four night stay in Larissa will give us the opportunity to take excursions to nearby places of interest, including Trikala, the reputed birthplace of Aesculapius, the god of healing. We will conclude our Thessaly journey in glorious Pelion, the legendary home of the centaurs, depicted in many ancient Greek sculptures as half-man, half-horse creatures. Thick forests of chestnut, beach and oak cover Pelion’s massif, while a profusion of herbs, olive and fruit trees thrive on the lower slopes. Scattered are villages that have changed little through the centuries. Thessaly Chamber Music Festival The Itinerary Day 1 London to Thessaloniki to Day 3 Larissa, Meteora & Trikala. Larissa, Greece. Fly by scheduled We leave Larissa in the morning flight to Thessaloniki and transfer for Meteora, one of the most to Larissa, Thessaly’s vibrant capital extraordinary sights in Greece and the main city. Check in to the and perhaps in all of Europe. centrally located Divani Palace Rising from Thessaly’s valley, the Larissa, our base for the next four Meteora Monasteries (‘monasteries nights and enjoy a welcome dinner in mid-air”) are gigantic rocks on this evening at a local restaurant. (D) top of which are monasteries built by hermits some 600 years ago, Classical Chamber Music Day 2 Larissa. Located in central now a UNESCO World Heritage Adding to the uniqueness of this itinerary is the series of concerts of Greece, Thessaly is one of the Site. Visit the monastery of St. classical chamber music we will attend that will take place at historic country’s most interesting areas Varlaam, originally founded in the sites. Organised by and operated under the auspices of the Thessaly and yet it mostly remains beyond 14th century, which is covered with Chamber Music Festival, the concerts feature mostly accomplished the usual tourist circuits. Strabo, fine frescoes. The monastery’s American musicians of the classical music repertory. The Chamber the ancient geographer and refectory has been turned into a Music Festival of Thessaly will present chamber music concerts historian, called it, “a country most museum to house the monastic in unique historic venues throughout the region of Thessaly. The blessed.” In the morning, visit the treasures. Continue to Trikala programmes, curated by the festival’s Artistic Director, composer/pianist superb Diachronic Museum, whose for lunch. The Homeric Trikke, Lowell Liebermann, will present iconic masterpieces of the chamber exhibits of artefacts chronicle the Trikala is the reputed birthplace of music literature alongside the most beautiful and exciting compositions history of Larissa and Thessaly Aesculapius, the god of healing. of Greek classical composers, as well as other neglected and unusual from the Paleolithic period to the Return to Larissa for dinner before masterworks. The internationally-recognised performers will include late Byzantine era, a span of about the concert this evening at Larissa’s violinist Bella Hristova, cellist Dmitri Atapine, violist Dimitri Murrath, 10,000 years. Enjoy the afternoon at Folklore Museum. (B, L, D) clarinetist Yoonah Kim, pianists William Hobbs, Adela Hyeyun Park and leisure and dinner at a local taverna. Lowell Liebermann. It is not often that a traveller can enjoy classical This evening we will attend the Day 4 Larissa & Dion. We depart music of the highest calibre in a 3rd century BC theatre, or an 18th opening concert of the Thessaly Larissa in the morning to visit one century church covered with Byzantine frescoes. Chamber Music Festival at Larissa’s of the area’s premier wineries to 3rd century BC theatre. (B, D) taste the wines and enjoy lunch in www.noble-caledonia.co.uk Prasouda Island Meteora Pelion beach the countryside. The undulating and the friendly and hospitable Golden Fleece. A replica of the Day 9 Makrinitsa. Spend the hills north of Larissa have been people make Pelion one of the Argo, the boat of Jason and the morning at leisure to explore known for their vineyards and most beautiful and welcoming Argonauts, is moored in Volos’ Portaria at your own pace. In the wine production since antiquity. places in Greece. Our home in harbour. Drive in the morning to afternoon drive to Makrinitsa, one Continue on to Dion, a cult centre Pelion will be the Xenia Palace Volos and then on to Dimini, one of Pelion’s most striking villages. in antiquity and now an important Portaria, in the charming village of of the most important Neolithic Built on the side of a hill near and evocative archaeological site. Portaria. Enjoy dinner at the hotel settlements in Greece. Settled Portaria, Makrinitsa is known as Situated on the foothills of Mount and our concert this evening will around 5000 BC, Dimini’s excavated “Pelion’s balcony” on account of Olympus, Dion was a sacred city take place on a terrace in Portaria houses, workshops and narrow its superb position that opens up dedicated to Demetra, the earth overlooking the surrounding hills streets provide a vivid picture of to wide vistas. Old timber-framed goddess, later supplanted by Zeus, and the city of Volos. (B, L, D) a Neolithic village. Continue to houses and mansions with slate after whom it was named. The Nea Anchialos, a notable early roofs are built on steep terraces. Its city became prominent in the 4th Day 6 The villages of Pelion. Christian town that was abandoned spacious square has a sculptured century BC under Philip II and his Spend the day exploring inner in the 7th century and visit the marble fountain and provides fine son Alexander the Great. Explore Pelion’s villages. Drive the forested site. Volos is known throughout views. Explore this delightful place the site, including the museum road to the village of Kissos and Greece for its cuisine of a vast before the festival’s closing concert that houses an extensive superb visit the old church of Aghia array of small dishes that are akin at Portaria’s church of Arghios mosaic found in Dion, and stop at Marina, whose interior is entirely to tapas, which we will taste during Nikolaos, after which there will be a a local taverna for dinner. Return covered in exquisite frescoes. lunch. After lunch, visit the superb farewell dinner. (B, D) to the hotel after the concert this Continue to the Aegean Sea coast Archaeological Museum of Volos, evening which will be held at Dion’s for lunch at a seaside taverna after known for its collection of painted Day 10 Pelion to London. Transfer Archaeological Museum. (B, L, D) which we will spend some free time stelae from the nearby ancient to the airport in Thessaloniki for the in this lovely spot where, weather site of Demetrias. Following the return scheduled flight to London. Day 5 Larissa to Portaria, Pelion. permitting, you may enjoy a swim. museum visit, we will continue to Today we will drive from Larissa Continue on to the lovely family- the headquarters of the Lyceum of NB. Please note that there is a to Pelion, one of Greece’s most owned Hotel Lost Unicorn, in the the Women of Volos, an educational moderate amount of walking characteristic and unspoiled areas, characteristic village of Tsangarada, and philanthropic institution, where involved in this itinerary, often over stopping along the way for lunch. for coffee and tea. Dinner will we will be hosted by its officers. uneven or relatively steep terrain. It As in antiquity, thick forests of follow our concert this evening The Lyceum’s Neoclassical building is therefore not recommended for chestnut, oak, beech olive and which will be held at Kissos’ church includes a collection of traditional those with walking difficulties. fruit orchards cover the slopes of of Aghia Marina. (B, L, D) costumes. Enjoy dinner in Volos and Pelion’s massif and, according to this evening’s concert will be held Greek mythology, Pelion was the Situated in the elegant main hall of the Volos Day 7 Volos & Dimini. PRICES PER PERSON home of the centaurs, depicted at the head of a spacious bay, Conservatory. (B, L, D) Based on double occupancy as half man, half horse creatures. Volos, Thessaly’s main port city, The profusion of the vegetation, occupies the site of Bronze Age Day 8 Cruise the Pagasitic Gulf. Twin: £4795 the magnificent scenery, the Iolcos, the home of Jason, and This morning we cruise the Pagasitic Single: £5495 surrounding blue sea, the villages the place from which he led the Gulf, the great waterway that with the preserved architecture, Argonauts in quest of the fabled borders Pelion’s west shore, on a privately chartered boat.