St. Paul’s footsteps in Greece

Duration: 8 Days / 7 nights
Valid from: all year
Program Schedule: Daily
Places visited: Athens, Corinthos, Mycenae, Phillipi, Amphipolis, Kavala, Thessaloniki, Veria, Kalabaka, Meteora and Delphi

1st day: Athens

After your arrival in Athens our representative will meet you and assist with your transfer to your Hotel in Athens. Enjoy the rest of the day free to have a first impression of the City.

2nd day: Visit of Athens – Sightseeing

Acts 17:22-31
“Then Paul stood up in the Aeropagus and delivered this address” Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along, and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, “To an unknown God” What there you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you…”

Athens Sightseeing – In the morning we begin our visit of Athens showing the highlights of the city with a panoramic tour in the center. We will see the Hadrian’s Arch and the Temple of Zeus and after to the Constitution square called “Syntagma” where the presidential guard, called “Evzonos”, is in front of the Greek parliament and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Then we will pass by the Presidential Residence and the Panathinaikos stadium that was originally built in 329aC, where the first Olympics of the modern era in 1896 were held. After the drive through the center, we will visit the Acropolis and Parthenon, this magnificent monument built during the Golden age of Pericles at the time of 447BC dedicated to the Goddess Athena. Finally, we will visit the new Acropolis Museum, a building of a modern architecture, with the unique antiquities from the Acropolis.
After the tour, enjoy a free afternoon to explore the center of Athens which lies around Acropolis, passing through Plaka, Monastiraki and Thissio with a pleasant atmosphere of the ancient city.

3rd day: Corinthos

Acts 18:1
After that Paul left Athens and went to Corinthos
Acts 18:4-6
And he argues in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded Jews and Greeks. And when they opposed and reviled him, he shook out his garmets and said to them, “Your blood be upon your hands! I am innocent. From now on “I will go to the Gentils…”

In the morning we leave Athens to Corinth Canal. The Corinth Canal connects the Aegean Sea with the Ionian Sea. In the city of Corinth, visited by St. Paul for 18 months (51-52 AD), who was mentioned in the letters to the Corinthians, we see the excavations, the Bema and the museum. We continue to Cenchra, the harbor east of Rome which connects the Aegean Sea to Corinth. After lunch we continue to Mycenae, the Homeric city of King Atreides, the city “rich in gold” of the ancient poets, where we will see the tomb of Agamemnon, the “lions gate” and Cyclopic walls among other interests of antiquity. By late afternoon, return to Athens

4th day: Phillipi, Anfipolis, Kavala and Thessaloniki

Acts 17:1-3
When Paul and his companions had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue.

After breakfast transfer to Athens airport for a short flight up to Thessalonica or Kavala. We will then go to the city of Kavala (biblical city of Neapolis, where Paul, Silas, Luke and Timothy first stepped in Europe after Troy.

Acts 16:12-18
From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district[a]of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days.

We will go along the Via Egnatia (old Roman road), Philippi (Acts 16) where Paul preached his first sermon and “baptized a woman named Lydia,” the first European convert to Christianity. See the city Roman Forum, ancient basilicas and where Paul was whipped, imprisoned and later released. In the late afternoon we travel to the cities of Amphipolis and Apollonia, like Paul, arriving in Thessalonica for lodging at the Hotel.

5th day: Veria and Kalabaka

Acts 17:10-14
As soon as it was night, the believers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea.

The city of Thessaloniki, the city of the letters of Paul (Acts 17), was built around 315 BC. We pass by ancient walls, the White Tower, Church of St. George (fifth century) and we’ll also see two of the most beautiful basilicas of the city, St. Demetrius and St. Sophia. Early afternoon we depart to Veria (Acts 17), to visit the center where Paul preached. We will continue to stay in the city of Kalambaka.

6th day: Meteora

Kalambaka is at the foot of this astonishing complex of Meteora, an impressive backdrop of gigantic rocks that appear to be suspended in the air, formed over 60 million years ago. On top of these rocks, the monks who settled after the 12th century, despite being almost inaccessible, built 24 monasteries in the hermit ideal time of the 15th century. Today six of these are kept which enjoy excellent specimens of Byzantine art. Meteora is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Depart in the afternoon from Kalambaka passing through the plains of Thessaly, Lamia and Thermopylae, where the monument of King Leonidas of Sparta is, and Thiva. Arrival at our destination Delphi the center of the ancient world.

7th day: Delphi

In the morning we will visit the archaeological site and museum of Delphi, where we see the Omphalos which was the “navel / center of the universe” and whose fame extended far beyond the borders of Greece, kept in the temple of the wrath Apollo. Inside the museum enjoy some masterpieces of ancient Greek sculpture as the famous athlete Aghias and the Brass Charioteer. The Oracle of Delphi acquired great influence in the world. The predictions of the priestess of Apollo called Pythia, influenced the decisions and had a great impact on the history of the cities of ancient times. Walk the Via Sacra which arrives at the temple of Apollo. After visiting and getting to know this legendary location, we will continue our journey to our final destination Athens in the late afternoon.

8th day: Return

Transfer from your hotel to the airport for your onward flight.

Included:

4 nights in Athens at your chosen Hotel category
1 night in Thessaloniki at your chosen Hotel category
1 night in Kalambaka at your chosen Hotel category
1 night in Delphi at your chosen Hotel category
Daily breakfast
7 dinners during the Classical tour at the hotels
Arrival and departure transfers
Orientation meeting with representative on arrival in Athens for a local guidance and assistance in the transfer.
City tour in Athens, Acropolis and the museum with official English speaking guide, including entrances.
Tour of St. Paul’s footsteps in Greece with professional English-speaking guide and modern air-conditioned motor coach (Days 2-7)
Entrances as per itinerary
Flight from Athens – Thessaloniki
Hotel and flight taxes

Excluded:

Porterage fees
Tips
Optional tours
Everything that is not specifically stated on the itinerary and inclusions