The Legacy of Alexander: Northern Greece & Athens Dear Traveler, Please join Museum Travel Alliance from June 7-17, 2019 on The Legacy of Alexander: Northern Greece & Athens. Trace the influences of Macedonians, Romans, Byzantines, Ottomans, and Sephardic Jews in Thessaloniki. Take an exclusive after-hours tour of the Acropolis. Discover early Christian sites in Philippi and Lydia, We are delighted that this trip will be accompanied by Frank Dabell as our lecturer from The Metropolitan Museum of Art. This trip is sponsored by The Metropolitan Museum of Art. We expect this program to fill quickly. Please call the Museum Travel Alliance at (855) 533-0033 or (212) 302-3251 or email [email protected] to reserve a place on this trip. We hope you will join us. Sincerely, Jim Friedlander President MUSEUM TRAVEL ALLIANCE 1040 Avenue of the Americas, 23rd Floor, New York, NY 10018 | 212-302-3251 or 855-533-0033 | Fax 212-344-7493 [email protected] | www.museumtravelalliance.com BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB Travel with June 7–17, 2019 The Met BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB The Legacy of Alexander: Northern Greece & Athens with Frank Dabell, Art Historian BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB The Legacy of Alexander: Northern Greece & Athens Dear Members and Friends of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Discover ancient wonders of the world while we retrace the footsteps of Alexander the Great and learn how his actions helped to shape the development of modern Greece and the world. Next June, please join me on this historical and archaeological tour of breathtaking spots often overlooked by most travelers. While based in Thessaloniki, visit the archaeological site and museum at Pella, the birthplace of Alexander the Great and capital of the ancient Kingdom of Macedon. Discover Vergina, home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Aigai, noted for its palace and royal tombs. Explore the ancient land of Dion, as well as the village of Litochoro, home to many textile workshops. BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB We’ll also travel to Amphipolis, where excavations uncovered the important gymnasium; Philippi, Traveling with You the first Christian city in Europe; and the Macedonian seaport of Kavala, one of the most Frank Dabell picturesque cities in Greece. Frank Dabell is a distinguished art historian Continue to Athens to see the most extensive collection of Greek antiquities in the world at the and former Fellow of The Metropolitan National Archaeological Museum, and the Antonis Benakis collection at the Benaki Museum Museum of Art. He has led tours for the of Greek Culture. No trip to Greece would be complete without exploring the Acropolis and Museum throughout Europe and North its majestic Parthenon. Conclude with an exclusive after-hours tour of the Acropolis Museum, Africa, and is a frequent traveler to Greek featuring a talk by a local expert. There is an optional extension for two days in which we’ll and Roman sites around the Mediterranean. explore famed cities around Athens, including Delphi, Epidaurus, Nafplion, Mycenae, and Corinth. Mr. Dabell was educated at Oxford University and the Courtauld Institute of Art at the I’m honored to guide this tour tracing the path of Alexander the Great, and hope you will join me University of London, and is an authority next June for what will surely be an exciting experience in Greece. on Piero della Francesca and Italian Renaissance art. He lives in Rome, where he Sincerely, teaches the history of art at Philadelphia’s Frank Dabell Temple University program. Art Historian The Metropolitan Museum of Art BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB Trip Highlights — Explore Vergina, home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Aigai, first capital of the Kingdom of Macedon — Discover UNESCO-listed Philippi, the most important archaeological site of eastern Macedonia and a center of early Christianity — Spend six days in vibrant Thessaloniki, where Macedonians, Romans, Byzantines, Ottomans, and Sephardic Jews have all left their mark — Take an exclusive after-hours tour of the Acropolis Museum, including a talk by a local expert — Meet with archaeologists in Thessaloniki and Athens specializing in Alexander the Great’s life — Learn about Greece’s ancient wonders from Frank Dabell, a former Fellow of The Metropolitan Museum of Art Arch of Galerius, Thessaloniki, photo by itravelanddance BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB Philippi Pella Kavala Amphipolis Thessaloniki Vergina Dion Litochoro GREECE Aegean Sea Athens PELPELOPONNESOPONNESE Photos clockwise from top right: Regional map; Alexander the Great statue, Pella; photo by phespirit; Gold stater, ca. 323/2–315 B.C. Gold. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1905 [05.44.384]; Arch of Galerius, Thessaloniki, photo by Dan Diffendale; Pella, photo by Andrew Dixon; Parthenon, Athens, photo by Nico Trinkhaus. Front cover: Alexander the Great. 19th century. Viktor Brodzki (Polish, Podolia 1825–1904 Rome). Head and base: white marble; cuirass and drapery: red Siena marble. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Bequest of Philip Bissinger, 1900 [00.8]. Back cover: White Tower, Thessaloniki, photo by Kevin Livesey (top); Thessaloniki (bottom). BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB The Legacy of Alexander: Northern Greece & Athens June 7–17, 2019 Thessaloniki / Pella / sanctuaries, and graves paint a picture of the everyday life of the inhabitants. Outside Vergina / Mieza the city walls are the monumental tombs of Monday, June 10 the Macedonian type that belonged to the Travel back in time on a journey to the nobles. View the lion of Amphipolis, a burial archaeological site and museum at Pella, the monument dating back to the 4th century capital of the ancient Kingdom of Macedon B.C. that probably belonged to Laomedon, a and birthplace of Alexander the Great. general and close friend of Alexander’s. B, D Continue to Vergina and the UNESCO-listed archaeological site of Aigai, notable for its palace and lavishly decorated royal tombs, Thessaloniki / Philippi / including that of Philip II, whose conquests Kavala paved the way for his son Alexander’s Thursday, June 13 expansion of the Hellenistic world. In the Travel east to the archaeological site of afternoon, visit Mieza, where Aristotle taught Philippi, the first Christian city in Europe, the young Alexander. The most eloquent visited by Saint Paul in 49 A.D. and inscribed evidence of this prosperous city is found in by UNESCO. Visit the partially preserved its burial monuments, second only to those of Roman theater, the first Christian basilica, and Vergina in their significance. B, L, D the prison of Saint Paul. Continue to the village of Lydia, named after the first woman in Europe Thessaloniki / Dion / Litochoro to be given Christian baptism. Enjoy lunch in Tuesday, June 11 Kavala, built on the slopes of Mt. Symvolo and Visit the ancient site of Dion, within view one of the most picturesque cities in Greece. of Mount Olympus. Between lush greenery Return to Thessaloniki with the balance of the are two theaters, a Roman bath complex, afternoon and evening at leisure. B, L patrician villas, and numerous sanctuaries Lion of Amphipolis, photo by Derek Winterburn where ancient gods were worshipped. After Thessaloniki / Athens lunch, continue south through the unspoiled Friday, June 14 Departure forests of the Enipeas Valley to the village of Enjoy a morning and lunch at leisure before Friday, June 7 Litochoro, dating from the 14th century and boarding an afternoon flight to Athens. Upon Depart by air for Thessaloniki, Greece on built in the style of traditional Macedonian arrival, transfer to the King George Hotel for an overnight flight. architecture. Mariners and weavers have long check-in. Dinner will be in a taverna in the resided here, and today there are still many lively Plaka district of the city. B, D Thessaloniki, Greece textile workshops in town. B, L Saturday, June 8 Athens Arrive this morning and transfer to the Electra Thessaloniki / Amphipolis Saturday, June 15 Palace Hotel. Spend the afternoon at leisure Wednesday, June 12 Uncover the treasures in the National before gathering at the hotel for a welcome Travel to Amphipolis, where excavations Archaeological Museum, containing the most reception and dinner with Frank Dabell. R, D uncovered one of the most important extensive collection