Classic Art Tour
DAY 1
Arrive at the airport of Athens, where our representative will meet you and transfer you to your hotel.
In the evening a “welcome” cocktail party will take place. Dinner and overnight in Athens.
DAY 2
This morning, you get acquainted with the city of Athens, starting with the world-renowned Acropolis,
where you see the architectural miracles of the Golden Age of Pericles and Pheidias: the Propylea, the
Nike Temple, the Erechtheum and, above all, the Parthenon (Temple of goddess Athena). In the
New Acropolis Museum, marvel at the exquisite examples of Archaic and Classical sculpture including
the original Caryatids (Maidens) from the Erechtheum and the Panathenaea Frieze from the
Parthenon. Walk down to the picturesque district of Plaka (the old town of Athens) and enjoy your
included lunch at a traditional Greek restaurant just beneath the Acropolis hill. After lunch take a walk,
first with your guide, around the famous Plaka which is full of small neoclassical buildings and ancient
ruins, and then have free time to explore it on your own. Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 3
Your acquaintance with the Greek art forms (old and new) begins today, with a visit to the National
Art Gallery, where you see representative works of important Greek painters of the 19 th and 20 th
century (Lytras, Gyzis, Lakonides, Parthenis, Tsarouchis, Mytaras etc), European paintings (some as old
as 14 th or 16 th century) comprising works by Veneziano, Caravaggio, El Greco, Delacroix, Picasso and
more, and a collection of engravings by leading artists like Duerer, Rembrandt, Lorrain and others. Take
a break in the area of Constitution Square (Syntagma), the heart of the city, for lunch and a stroll
around and continue with a visit to the Byzantine and Christian Museum, which presents the course
of Greek art from the 4 th to the 19 th century. Its collections include sculptural works, paintings (wall
paintings and icons) and small works of all sorts (manuscripts, carvings, coins, pottery and more).
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
DAY 4
The 2-day journey to the region of Argolis starts as you follow the coastal road to the legendary Canal
of Corinth, where you make a short stop for pictures. Drive on the Homeric city of Mycenae to see the
remains of this prehistoric Acropolis, the Grave Circles and the famous beehive Tombs. This was the
kingdom of Atreus and his son Agamemnon, the leader of the Greeks in the Trojan War. In the new
Museum, you will be taken by the artifacts on display: architectural remains, wall paintings, jewelry
and, especially, Mycenaean pottery and clay idols which were produced in the local workshops and
exported to other regions of Greece and other Mediterranean countries. This tradition is still alive in the
present-day village of Mycenae, where you will visit a Pottery Workshop producing excellent replicas
of the ancient vases, statues and modern pottery. Later, go south to Nafplion, one of the most
attractive towns in the country, and wander around the town with your guide to get a first taste of its
neoclassical architecture and interesting monuments like the old churches and mosques. Dinner and
overnight at the hotel in Nafplion.
DAY 5
The first half of the day is dedicated to visiting the most impressive Venetian Fortress in Greece,
Palamidi (which rises above Nafplion), in order to enjoy the superb view of the town and Aegean Sea,
and the Museum of the Komboloi (worry beads), a traditional pastime you can find only in this
country. Take the opportunity to see how the komboloia are made from different materials and learn
about their functions and symbolisms. In the afternoon, travel to Epidaurus (Epidavros), the site of the
most popular and respected Sanctuary of Asclepius (god of medicine), which is nowadays visited by
thousands of people who want to admire its spectacular Theater. Test the astonishing acoustics and
imagine the performances of ancient Drama (one of the oldest and most celebrated forms of Greek art)
which used to take place there in honor of Asclepius. Return to Athens for dinner and overnight.
DAY 6
Begin with a bus tour of Athens to see the landmarks of our capital: Constitution Square with the
House of Parliament and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Old Olympic Stadium, the
Temple of Olympian Zeus and more. Spend the rest of the morning at the National Archaeological
Museum, one of the finest in the world, whose collections offer a great overview of the long Greek
history and the arts that flourished during its various periods. The elegant Cycladic Figurines, the
dazzling Mycenean Treasures, the abstract Neolithic Idols, the perfect Classical Statues and the
colorful Santorini frescoes are not to be missed. Afterwards, take time to get acquainted with the art of
Iconography (the art of painting icons) at the Studio of a specialized artist (hagiographer), who will
reveal to you the secrets of “icon writing”, a form of religious art that is extremely important and dear
to the Greeks. Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 7
Today, feel the charm of the Greek islands by visiting three of the most attractive isles near Athens:
Aegina, Poros and Hydra. Aegina has a lovely town full of neoclassical buildings and a well-preserved
classical Temple, dedicated to the local goddess of antiquity, Afea. Poros is a small green island, closer
to the Peloponnese than to Attica, which offers a pleasant walk on the promenade and great views of
the opposite coast. Finally, Hydra is a magnificent place because of the unique architecture of its
fortress-mansions and its rocky and dry terrain. This specific island is a paradise for painters, who
spend hours drawing its landscapes, buildings and friendly locals. Back to Athens in the evening and
overnight at the hotel.
DAY 8
In the morning, return to the area of Plaka to visit the Museum of Traditional Pottery, which
presents an overall picture of traditional Greek functional pottery of the 19 th and 20 th century. Combine
this experience with a visit to an Athenian Pottery Workshop, where a well-known artist shares her
skills with you and shows you how to make your own ceramics. After a break for lunch, a visit to a
second workshop follows. This time it’s a Goldsmith’s Place, where they show and explain to you how
they are inspired to make magnificent jewellery. This is a very helpful and interesting lesson in view of
the museum you will see the following morning. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
DAY 9
The visit to the Lalaounis Jewellery Museum this morning completes the picture. Stroll around the
small exhibition and study the creations of the famous Athenian jeweler and goldsmith Ilias Lalaounis,
who draws his inspiration from a number of sources: prehistoric art, Byzantium, the art of Persia,
modern technology and science, even space travel. Then, drive to the area of Paiania, not far from the
center of Athens. Find there the Vorres Museum, whose collections (over 6,000 items) span a period
of 4.000 years of Greek history and art. In the first section of the museum, admire the works of art and
sculptures of artists of the second half of the 20 th century. In the second, called “Pyrghi” (tower), see
folk objects of everyday use, rare pieces of furniture, hand made rugs, ceramics, oil-paintings and
more. The rest of the day is free. In the evening enjoy your farewell dinner at a nice traditional tavern
in the Plaka district. Overnight in Athens.
DAY 10
Fly back home with wonderful memories from your journey and a better understanding of ancient and
modern Greek art.
