Greece and Italy Odyssey - Tailor Made

Itinerary

• Day 1/2: Travel day: Welcome to Italy: Roma

  Rome, the eternal city built on the foundations of the legendary Romulus and Remus. On your arrival, enjoy a walking tour that takes in some of the most romantic and historic sites of this beautiful city. We start at Piazza Navona with its artists and fountains, before being awed by the Pantheon and gazing across Rome from the top of the Spanish Steps. We will also stop by the Trevi Fountain, to make a wish, that this won’t be your only time in Rome!

• Day 3: Ancient Rome: Roman Forum and Colisseum

  Nothing can prepare you for the first time you see the Roman Forum from Capitoline Hill – absolutely beautiful, an impressive complex that will take your breath away. Take a walk through this complex of market places, temples and triumphal arches and hear stories of Vestal Virgins and emperors like Augustus, Claudius and Nero. We then visit the Colisseum, for gruesome tales of gladiators, lions and sea battles fought in front of crowds of 80,000 plus.

  FREE AFTERNOON

• Day 4:Vatican City/Travel to Sorrento

  Today we visit a country all of its own. We start at the Vatican Museum with its unsurpassed collection of the world’s artistic treasures including apartments painted by Raphael, and the newly restored Sistine Chapel. In the afternoon, explore the inside of St Peter’s Basilica, the largest Christian church. In your free time, take a trip up the dome of St Peter’s for a view you will never forget.

  In the afternoon we travel to south to a land of south oranges, lemons and the warm blooded Mediterranean spirit. Enjoy your first views of the Mediterranean form the Bay of Naples before arriving at the romantic peninsula where a warm Sorrento welcome awaits

• Day 5:Pompeii/Overnight Ferry to Greece

  Step into a city where time stopped nearly 2,000 years ago. Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79AD completely covering the thriving Roman city of Pompeii. Our local guide uncovers it bringing the glory of this naughty and nice city back to life. In the afternoon, we travel across the “ankle of the boot” to catch our overnight ferry to Greece.

  Acommodation in cabins of 4. Shipboard dinner included.

• Day 6: Paris - Igomenitsa/Meteora Pinnacle Monasteries

  Another day - another country! Our Grecian odyssey begins at the port of Igoumenitsa. Here our tour bus will greet you and we will take the road less travelled, over the Pindus mountains to the breathtaking monasteries of Meteora. These Byzantine era communities were perched high on pinnacles of bare rock to escape the attentions of the Ottoman marauders.

  Hotel in Kalambaka. Dinner included.

• Day 7: Thermopylae/Delphi

  Drive through the heart of Greece and skirt the battlefield where King Leonidas of Sparta and his small force of Greeks held the massed ranks of Xerxes’ army at bay. In the afternoon, we visit one of the most mysterious and impressive archaeological sites from the ancient world, Delphi. Sought and trusted by people throughout the Mediterranean, the Oracle will reveal earth shattering prophecies recorded by the Herodotus, the father of history.

  Hotel and dinner in Delphi.

• Day 8:Olympia

  Start the day with a “Greek baptism” as you dip your toes in the Aegean, at the seaside village of Itea. Cross the Gulf of Corinth and you are well on the way to Olympia. Our local guide will show you around the temples and the stadium that were the site of the original Olympic games and where the competitors ran their races – naked!

  Optional gastronomic Greek Meal

• Day 9:Peleponnese/Nauplion and Palamidi Fortress

  Today our journey continues over the Peleponnese heartland to the ferocious klephts who fought against the 400 year long Ottoman Turkish occupation of Greece. This afternoon visit the impressive hill top fortress of Palamidi built by the Venetians and later used as a prison to one of Greece’s great national heroes – Kolokotronis. Nearby the quaint harbour of Nauplion awaits with its collection of sea front cafes and fish restaurants.

  Hotel in Tolo

• Day 10: Travel day: Epidaurus and Mycenae

  A day of historical highlights! Visit one of the best preserved ancient Greek theatres at Epidaurus. Greek tragedies are still performed here, meaning the show has been going on for the best part of 2,500 years! Next it’s off to Mycenae with its gob-smacking beehive tomb. In a place where history and myth merge, learn the story that led to the war with Troy and the bitter fate of king Agamemnon!

  Hotel in Athens

• Day 11/12:Athens

  Bus tours will take you around Athens’ top city sites, including the extraordinary parliamentary guard change of the “Evzones” – soldiers with the best legs in Greece! The highlight is a visit to the Acropolis and the world famous Parthenon temple dedicated to the goddess Athena. Your tour director will also help you discover the delights of Monistiraki Athens’ bustling flea market area.

  Hotel in Athens. Farewell Dinner.

Dates

Upon request, please contact us for more information.