Academic 10 days Northern Greece
DAY 1
You arrive in Thessaloniki where you will be met by our representative and escorted to your hotel. Dinner and overnight.
DAY 2
Today you can get acquainted with the city of Cassander, brother-in-law of Alexander the Great, which was built in 315 B.C. and named
after his wife, the princess Thessaloniki. Drive around the center of Thessaloniki to see some of the most famous monuments of the city
like the White Tower, the Arch of Galerius, the Acropolis area with the Byzantine Walls and others. Visit the excellent Archaeological
Museum to see splendid treasures from excavations all over Northern Greece and one of the majestic early Christian churches of
Thessaloniki, the basilica of St Demetrious (5 th century A.C.). The afternoon is free and you can explore more of the ancient or classical
sites of the city. Dinner and overnight.
DAY 3
You leave Thessaloniki and drive to Pella, the birthplace of Alexander the Great and second capital of the ancient Macedonian kingdom,
where you see the fantastic Hellenistic mosaic floors made of natural pebbles in the museum and the excavational site. From Pella you
continue to Lefkadia to get a first taste of the impressive Macedonian tombs and then on to Vergina (ancient Aiges), the first capital of the
ancient kingdom of Macedonia. Here you see the tombs of Vergina and the breathtaking collection of golden artifacts that were found
inside the two unlaundered tombs of Philip of Macedon and the Young Prince. Return to Thessaloniki for dinner and overnight.
DAY 4
This morning drive south to the area of Olympus, the legendary mountain of the twelve Gods of the ancient Greeks. On the northern
foothills of Olympus you find the sacred city of the ancient Macedonians, Dion, where they worshipped Olympian Zeus and the other gods.
The impressive ruins include the Theater, the public baths, the villa of Dionysos, a number of sanctuaries like those of Demeter and of
Isis, two early Christian basilicas and much more. Findings from these places are on display in the interesting single museum of Dion. After
the visit drive to Litohoro, a little town in the shadow of Olympus, and get a taste of this beautiful mountain. Back to Thessaloniki for
dinner and overnight.
DAY 5
Continue your journey in the land of Alexander the Great with a drive through the countryside of Western Macedonia. You will be amazed
at the natural beauty of the places you’ll visit, the picturesque towns, the tall mountains and, of course, the monuments you’ll find
everywhere, most of which go back to the Byzantine era. Drive first to the well-known town of Kozani, which flourished in the Ottoman
period, and visit the newly excavated site of Aiani, one of the principal cities of ancient Macedonia. Then follow the new Egnatia highway
and arrive in Kastoria, one of the most attractive towns in Greece, located on a small peninsula surrounded by a lake. Dinner and overnight
in Kastoria.
DAY 6
You spend the morning exploring the town of Kastoria, its Byzantine museum, numerous churches and the lovely monastery of
Mavriotissa next to the Kastoria Lake. In the afternoon, you travel to the area of the Prespa Lakes near the borders between Greece,
Albania and Bulgaria. This is an area you have to see in order to believe the awe it inspires and the abundance of natural beauty and
serenity it is famous for. Dinner and overnight.
DAY 7
Enjoy a boat trip in the Prespa Lake and watch the pelicans, cormorants and other birds that live near it, but also see the Christian paintings
and ruined chapels near the lake. After this, you leave for Thessaloniki passing through the towns of Florina and Edessa, both known for
their traditional architecture and natural charm. In Edessa you visit the famous waterfalls and then return to Thessaloniki. Dinner and
overnight.
DAY 8
Today you explore eastern Macedonia and especially the ancient cities of Amphipolis and Philippi, both of them associated with the royal
dynasty of Philip II and his son Alexander the Great. Follow Via Egnatia, the Roman highway, and arrive at Amphipolis where you visit the
lovely small museum, the Lion of Amphipolis and the excavations. Continue to Philippi, the city that was named after Philip of Macedonia.
See the Forum, the Christian Basilicas, the Theater and the Acropolis. Back to Thessaloniki for dinner and overnight.
DAY 9
This morning you drive to a well-known region of ancient Macedonia, the region of Chalkidiki, a peninsula of a very distinctive shape which
is famous as a resort area. In the center of Chalkidiki you find the remains of Olynthos, a city destroyed by Philip with some of the best-
preserved Hellenistic houses in the world. You can also visit the area of Ancient Stageira, the birthplace of the philosopher Aristotle who
was the tutor of Alexander the Great for three years. Return to Thessaloniki for dinner and overnight.
DAY 10
You bid farewell to the homeland of Alexander the Great and fly back home.
