Macedonia: Birthplace of Alexander and Aristotle, home of the Olympian gods and of a monastic state

14 days in Macedonia and on Thasos. The largest part of the historical Macedonia, together with its most important cities and monuments, is located in northern part of modern Greece. In Macedonia, on the peaks of the Olympus, was the residence of the twelve gods of the Hellenes. In Stageira, the seaside town of Chalkidiki, the philosopher Aristotle was born, and in the 4th Century BC, Aristotle founded most of the sciences for the western world. At the same era, Alexander the Great, himself a student of Aristotle, launched from Pella the conquest of Asia. As the "spine of a donkey, wreathed in unkempt forest", the lyric poet Archilochus described Thasos in the 7th Century BC. Thasos with its beautiful beaches and partly densely forested mountains is today a popular destination of rather "soft" tourism. An exciting journey through a less known Greece, with plenty of sightseeing, some easy hikes and three relaxation days.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Welcome to Greek Macedonia

Flight to Thessaloniki. Transfer to the hotel. Depending on the time, city tour and dinner in a tavern. 2 nights

Day 2 – The capital of the North

Sightseeing tour in Thessaloniki. The city was founded by Cassander and named after his wife, the daughter of Philip of Macedon and sister of Alexander the Great. Visit the Byzantine walls, the Acropolis, the Arch of Galerius and the Demetrius Basilica. Stroll through the city: The Ancient Agora, the Panagia in the quarter of bronze workers (“ton Chalkeon”), the Church of Agia Sofia and other monuments. We are visiting as well the Archaeological Museum with an important sculpture collection, the Dionysus mosaic, the gold treasures from the Macedonian tombs and the bronze crater from Derveni, a masterpiece of ancient art of metalworking.

Day 3 - Macedonian Cities and Royal Tombs

Bus trip through the central Macedonian plain to Kastoria. At first we drive to Pella, the city of Philip and Alexander the Great. Alexander was born there and he launched his expedition to Asia. We visit the excavations, where part of the ancient city urban structure after the system of Hippodamus of Miletus was excavated, and the museum with interesting finds. Famous are above all the pebble mosaics that decorated the floors and courtyards of the noble houses. Our journey continues to Vergina, where Aigai, the ancient capital of the Macedonians, was located. In the village, the grave of Philip II was excavated: exemplary design, one of the great archaeological finds on display today. In the afternoon, through lonely landscapes, via Kozani we arrive to Kastoria, a lively district capital in the Greek Western Macedonia, built on a peninsula on the homonymous lake. 2 nights in Kastoria.

Day 4 - Aquatic birds and hermitages

Day trip to the Prespa Lakes (about 130 km round trip). This tour goes through a territory that in the 20th century, during the Greek civil war of the late 40s, saw fierce fighting. We drive through a river valley between the mountains Vitsi and Triklarino, last outpost of communist partisans before their decimated units could flee to the former Eastern block. Passing by isolated villages, with monuments that recall The Macedonian Struggle, of the beginning of the 20th, we first reach a pass with panoramic views on the Prespa Lakes, lying between three countries and surrounded by mountains at about 850m of altitude, and eventually the lakes themselves. The Greek Prespa National Park covers the greater part of the Little Prespa and a smaller part of the Great Prespa Lake. It is a nature reserve for aquatic birds. In the village of Agios Germanos stands the old church of Aghios Germanos, decorated with Byzantine frescoes, of the 19th century. The island of Agios Achilleios in the Little Prespa Lake, at the end of the 10th Century had been for a short periode the seat of the Bulgarian Tsar Samuel. The Basilica of St. Achileios, had been built by Tsar Samuel, in order to accommodate the relics of the homonymous Saint, carried from Larissa. Finally, Tsar Samuel himself was buried here. We hike to the imposing ruins of the Basilica and other churches on the island. Short drive to the fishing village of Psarades ("Fishermen"), located in the Great Prespa Lake. Threes countries share this lake. By boat we reach the aquatic birds hermitages on the banks of the lake.

Day 5 - Byzantine churches in Kastoria. Waterfalls and manufactories in Edessa

In the morning we visit the old town of Kastoria. There, some traditional manor houses, dating from the Ottoman era, are built according to a characteristic architectural style, such as in other areas of the Balkans. Several beautiful Byzantine churches, decorated with frescoes, witness the importance of the city during the Middle Ages. Downtown stand the church of Panagia Koumbelidiki and the Holy Anargyroi. On the lakeshore lies the church of Panagia Mavriotissa. In modern times, the city owes its prosperity to the fur manufactory. Afterwards we drive transversely through west and central Macedonia. First we semi-round the lake of Kastoria and then we traverse the homonymous plane. We continue on a scenic road passing through remote villages and along the slopes of the mountains of Vernon. After passing the lake Vegoritis we reach Edessa, where in former times a blooming textile industry developed using water power. We stroll through the Old Town and then to the waterfalls. Eventually we reach the sea. 2 nights at Korinos on the Olympic Riviera.

Day 6 - Dion, Macedonian city in the shadow of the mountain of gods. Hiking opportunities at the foot of Mt. Olympus

Short drive to Dion. There, in the shadow of the Olympus, the Macedonians were organizing, their own Olympic Games. We visit the excavation site of the ancient city and the archaeological museum. Afterwards, we drive to Litochoro, at the foot of the Olympus. From there we hike in the gorge of Enippeas.

 Day 7 - Sithonia. Circumnavigation and hike to the "Village of the Virgins"

We travel to the peninsula of Chalkidike, where, in Nikiti, we will stay for the next two days. Nikiti is located on the isthmus of the peninsula of Sithonia, the middle "leg" of Chalkidike. On a panoramic road we round Sithonia (approx. 110 km). For those who wish to do a beautiful hike: at about 20 km to the southeast of Nikiti is located the seaside resort of Neos Marmaras and above it lies the almost abandoned village of Parthenon with the traditional houses, most of them rebuilt in the same style. One promising path leads there, through pine forest and olive groves (about 500 m up, 2hrs, medium). Return to the main road, either on the same path or via an alternative route. 2 nights in Nikiti.

Day 8 - Athos Cruise

The Mount Athos peninsula is the easternmost "leg" of the larger Chalkidiki peninsula; like emerging from the sea, Mount Athos. with its summit of 2033 m, dominates its southwestern tip. The "Holy Mount" (Athos) is an autonomous monastic state; women are not allowed to access his territory. From Ouranoupolis, we travel by boat along the coastline, from where women also can observe and take pictures. Our boat goes as close as possible to the south coast of the Athos “leg”, allows a great view to several monasteries and reaches almost the southwestern tip of the peninsula below the summit of Mount Athos. The return to Ouranoupolis is done in a more direct way (about 3 hours).

Day 9 - Stageira, birthplace of Aristotle. The Lion of Amphipolis. “We shall meet at Philippi!”. Kavala, the ancient Neapolis

Near Stavros had been excavated ancient Stageira, birthplace of the philosopher Aristotle, teacher of Alexander the Great, teacher and rival of Plato, founder of the peripatetic school of philosophy. Perhaps no one else has influenced the Western thought as radically as he did. At the mouth of Strymon river was located ancient Amphipolis. Short stop at the Lion of Amphipolis, the impressive monument, perhaps dedicated to the Macedonian veterans. We continue further to Philippi, founded by the Athenians and later named after the father of Alexander the Great. A decisive battle between two Roman armies had taken place there: On the one side, the Republicans Casius and Brutus, on the other the legions of Octavian and Antonius. In St. Paul's days, the city was located on the Via Egnatia, and was the capital of a Roman province. There St. Paul experienced his first adventure in Europe and also had his first success. Sightseeing: the Agora, the early Christian churches and the ancient theater. Then we drive to Kavala, the ancient Neapolis, where Paul had entered for the first time the European mainland. We stroll through the old town. Eventually, late in the afternoon, we are crossing to the island of Thasos. 5 nights

Day 10 - Island tour of Thasos

Along with the first Greek colonists from Paros the poet Archilochus also came to Thasos. He described the island as "the promised land; the island like the spine of a donkey, wreathed with wild forest; a life in the fight with the Thracian hounds trying to conquer it".Τhe Thasians exported wood for shipbuilding, marble and gold. The island is still today famous for its white marble. During the island tour, we get to traditional villages and picturesque coves. On the peninsula of Aliki are located the ancient marble quarries, almost 1500 years in production, though in the immediate vicinity an archaic sanctuary of the Dioscuri and an ensemble of basilicas. Hiking opportunity.

Day 11 – Sightseeing tour in Limenas, the capital of Thasos

Few ancient Greek cities are so well explored, as the capital of the island of Thasos, now called Limenas; the French Archaeological School has been working there: The ancient city wall develops for kilometers, until high up on the Acropolis hill, though in the Archaeological Museum the important archaeological finds are housed. After lunch break a beautiful seaside walk is possible.

Day 12 – Thasos, at leisure

At leisure,with swimming and hiking opportunities.

Day 13 – Thasos, at leisure

At leisure,with swimming and hiking opportunities.

Day 14 – Goodbye!

Transfer to the airport of Kavala and flight back home.

HIGHLIGHTS

- Thessaloniki, the Balkan metropolis with the Palaeochristian and Byzantine monuments

- The grave of Philip of Macedon at Vergina

- Pella, the capital of the Macedonians

- The Prespa Lakes National Park with Byzantine churches

- Kastoria, the lakeside city with its frescoed churches

- Olympus, the mountain of the gods of the Old Religion

- Dion, where the Macedonians celebrated their Olympic Games in the shadow of the Olympus

- Mount Athos, a monastic state dedicated to the Mother of God, where women have no access

- Philippi, where Christianity gained a foothold in Europe

- Thasos, the marble exporting resort island in the northern Aegean

TRAVEL NOTES

SIGHTSEEING, HIKING AND RELAXATION

- Our program includes the most important sights of Macedonia.

- Programmed hikes: five hikes of 1-3 hours, easy to moderate

- Possibility for more hikes: 3 more hikes are possible during the three relaxing days at the end of the journey

SERVICES

- Transport as indicated in the program

- 13 overnight stays with breakfast in well maintained hotels of middle-class (2 nights in Thessaloniki, 2 in Kastoria, 2 at Korinos on the Olympic Riviera, 2 nights in Nikiti of Chalkidiki and 5 on Thasos)

- 13 dinners at the hotel or in taverns

- Competent guided tours by a qualified Greek hiking and tourist guide

- Excursions as described in the program

- NOT included in the price: Other meals; entrance fees to museums and excavations sites; travel insurance

PRICE

- In double room: € 1255 per person

- In single room: € 1445 per person

Number of Participants: Min 15, Max 25 Persons.