Argolis Sparta Mystras - 2 Days Tour

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A two-day private tour to Argolis, Sparta and Mystras perfectly combines the visit to four UNESCO archeological sites along experiencing the pleasure of the beautiful land of Peloponnese. Travel from the Mycenaean Times (14th Century BCE) to the Glorious Byzantine Times (14th and 15th Century AD) and the Modern History of the liberation of Greece (early 19th Century AD). Visit the Corinth Canal, Ancient Corinth, Mycenae, Epidaurus, Nauplio, Sparta and Mystras in two wonderful days!

Itinerary

1st Day

Starting early in the morning from Athens and after an hour of driving we will be stopping at the Corinth Canal, a great piece of work completed in 1886, which connects the Aegean with the Ionian Sea and technically transforms the Peloponnese peninsula into an island. Originally, what used to be an isthmus, meaning a narrow strip of land connecting Peloponnese to Mainland Greece, is now a canal, which joins these two regions through several bridges. As our trip continues, we will be arriving at the site of Ancient Corinth. Ancient Corinth, due to its strategic location next to the Isthmus, exceeded Athens in terms of wealth. Ancient Corinth played an important role at the Persian and the Peloponnesian Wars and was also an important city-state from the classical times to the Roman Times, as a capital of the Roman province of Achaia, and until the Byzantine period.
At the site you can see the temple of Apollo (7th Century BCE), the ruins of the Roman city (44 BCE) and the Acrocorinth, a fortress, which was continuously fortified from the Neolithic times until the end of the Ottoman occupation (1822).
After a 30’ scenic drive through orange groves and vineyards we will be arriving at Mycenae, the kingdom of mythical Agamemnon, first sung by Homer in his epics. Mycenae was the richest and most important palatial centre of the Late Bronze Age (14th century BCE) in Greece. Its name was given to one of the greatest civilizations of Greek prehistory, the Mycenaean civilization. During your stay, you will have the chance to walk through the “Lions’ Gate” and live the myth of a powerful kingdom, which started a war against Troy in order to take the beautiful Helen back. Your experience will be enhanced as you visit the amazing royal tombs of Mycenae.
After Mycenae we will be travelling for 30’ to the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus, the most amazing and best preserved of all the ancient theatres, widely admired for its phenomenal acoustics. There you will also visit the Sanctuary of Asclepius, a healing centre which dates back to the 4th century BCE.
Leaving Epidaurus, we will be traveling for 20’, to finally arrive at the picturesque seaside town of Nauplio, the first capital of independent Greece. This was the place where the hero of the Greek revolution, Theodoros Kolokotronis, who liberated the city from the Ottomans, was imprisoned by the Greeks and where the first governor Ioannis Kapodistrias, who dedicated himself to the country’s progress, was assassinated by one of the leaders of the war of independence. While in Nauplio, you will have the chance to wonder around the old city and see the three highlights of Nauplio, which are the three castles: Acronauplia, Palamidi and Bourtzi. You can also enjoy lunch at a local Greek restaurant in the traditional centre of the town, or at one by the coast.
As planned, we will be spending the night in Nauplio.

2nd Day

The next morning, we will be leaving Nauplio and after driving for an hour and a half, we will enter the region of Lakonia, heading to the city of Sparta. At Sparta you can visit the archeological museum where you can see statues and other findings of the glorious past of one of the most important cities of classical Greece.
You can also visit the Museum of Olive and Greek Olive Oil, where you will get familiar with the culture and the technology of the olive oil production.
Only 15 minutes away from Sparta you can see the hill of Mystras rising above the valley of Eurotas. As we will be driving up the hill we will also be travelling back in time to the medieval times.
Once we enter the fortress of Mystras, we will observe the so-called ghost city. This abandomed wall city was the most powerful Frankish castle 800 years ago and later the most important and glorious byzantine fortress of Greece. Castles, byzantine churches (Pantanasa, Perivleptos, Panagia Odigitria), private houses and mansions as well as the palatial complex, bear witness of the bygone greatness of this byzantine stronghold of the last byzantine emperor, Konstantine Palaiologos.
Once this tour comes to an end, you will have the chance to have lunch at a traditional local restaurant which uses pure Laconian products.
In the end, we will be returning to Athens while driving for two hours through the national highway.