Sparta

Tours

See the Gates of Fire, deriving from the hot sulphur springs and the cavernous entrance to Hades. Experience the monument of King Leonidas, erected in 1955 and created by the sculptor Vasos Falireas. At the Thermopylae Museum, learn about the 480 BC battle that changed the course of Greek history and western civilization before seeing the baths of Thermopylae. In Delphi, see the Temple of Apollo, the Ancient Theater, the Stadium, the Athenian Treasury, the Gymnasium, and the Sanctuary of Athena Pronaia. The Naxian Sphinx, which dates to 560 BC, is a fascinating stop before seeing the Metopes of the Athenian Treasury, Omphalos, Kleobis and Biton, Statue of Antinoos, and the famous Charioteer. Enjoy a traditional lunch on the Caldera at Delphi, overlooking fabulous Itea and Amfissa before driving back to a designated location in Athens.

1. Corinth Canal, Isthmia, Loutraki 201 00 Greece, 20 minutes The Corinth Canal is a waterway that crosses the narrow isthmus of Corinth to link the Gulf of Corinth to the Saronic Gulf. As such, the canal separates the Greek mainland from the Peloponnese, turning it into an island 2. Ancient Corinth (Archaia Korinthos), Argous 105 Corinth was a city-state on the Isthmus of Corinth, the narrow stretch of land that joins the Peloponnese to the mainland of Greece, roughly halfway between Athens and Sparta. The modern city of Corinth is located approximately 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) northeast of the ancient ruins. For Christians, Corinth is well known from the two letters of Saint Paul in the New Testament, First and Second Corinthians. Corinth is also mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles as part of Paul the Apostle's missionary travels. 3. Ancient Korinthos village, Corinth 200 07 Greece, 1 hour 30 minutes 4. Akrokorinthos, Corinth 200 07 Greece, 30 minutes Acrocorinth, "Upper Corinth", the acropolis of ancient Corinth, is a monolithic rock overseeing the ancient city of Corinth, Greece. With its secure water supply, Acrocorinth's fortress was repeatedly used as a last line of defense in southern Greece because it commanded the Isthmus of Corinth, repelling foes from entry by land into the Peloponnese peninsula. 5. Archaeological Museum of Corinth, Old Corinth, Corinth 20010 Greece, 30 minutes 6. Archaeological Site Mycenae, Mycenae 21200 Greece, The fortified citadel of ancient Mycenae, the seat of the mythical and mighty King Agamemnon. An impressive and well-preserved site, the city of Mycenae gave its name to an entire civilization 7. Mycenae, Mycenae, Argolis Region, Peloponnese, 1 hour 8. Lion Gate, Mycenae Greece, 29 minutes Archaeological Museum of Ancient Mycenae, 9. Mycenae Greece, 45 minutes Citadel and Treasury of Atreus, Mycenae Greece, 15 minutes 10. , Nafplio, Argolis Region, Peloponnese, 1 hour 30 minutes Nafplio is a seaport town in the peloponnese in Greece that was expanded up the hillsides near the north end of the Argolic Gulf.The town was an important seaport held under a successsional of royal houses in the middle Ages as a part of the loardship of ARGOS and NAUPLIA 11. Palamidi Castle, Eikostis Pemptis Martiou, Nafplio 211 00 Greece, 30 minutes One of the most well-preserved castles in all of Greece, Palamidi offers spectacular views of the city from its loopholes, wonderful routes inside and terrifying terrain in the hole-prison of Kolokotronis 12. Akronafplia Fortress, Nafplio Greece, 10 minutes 13. Bourtzi, The Harbor, Nafplio Greece, 10 minutes Nafplio, Nafplio, Argolis Region, Peloponnese, 1 hour A) Shopping B) Free time C) Lunch Greek Traditional Taverna

This amazing tour will give you an excellent to the discovery of the history of Laconia combining Ancient Greek and Medieval Greek history. We will begin with a drive along the coast. On the way, you passing some Greek seaside villages and the heroic Salamis Island (where the historical naval battle took place between the Athenians and the Persians). Soon after will be our first stop at the Corinth Canal. Operating since 1892 dividing the Peloponnese Peninsula from the rest of Greece while connecting the Saronic Gulf to the Corinthian Sea. Walking across the pedestrian bridge will be in awe of what has been accomplished here, on some days bungee jumping is an option. Leaving the canal we will head towards Mystras driving into the southern Peloponnese Peninsula through the mountainous landscape of the Greek countryside. Reaching Mystras you will automatically understand why this location stands so unique within the Greek sites. Known as the ghost city, fortified on a citadel, Mystras is one of the two locations in Greece that preserves not only medieval churches but also ordinary houses, mansions and palaces of the Byzantine Empire in combination with Frankish elements. Walking in the site on the upper point you will reach the citadel and enjoy a magnificent view of the surrounding areas while walking downhill you will meet the palaces and the Royal courtyards. Although known as the ghost city most of the monasteries are still in use and the monks will gladly show you around their small society. Before you exit you will come across the chapel of St. Demetrios, on its floor survives a plaque depicting a two head eagle (the symbol of Byzantium). It was on this very plaque that Konstantine Palaiologos kneeled before he was crowned the last Byzantine emperor. Before visiting Sparta we will stop at a traditional Greek tavern at the small village of Mystras. Following we will spend the rest of our time in Sparta, known as the eternal rival city of the Athenian Democracy. Sparta revolved around a different Cosmo theory for the ancient Greek standards. Initially known as the birthplace of Helen of Troy and the Kingdom of Menelaus (in the Mycenaean period), Sparta was organized as a purely military society in the ancient Greek period. It was the city of the two Kings were a few aristocrats ruled and of course the city where Leonidas and his 300 Spartans marched from to face the Persian army in Thermopylae in 480BCE. The city whose one soldier counted as ten soldiers from any other Greek city. Reaching Sparta we will visit the ancient citadel of Sparta where you will have a view of the ancient theater being revealed gradually in front of your eyes. Continuing we will pass in front of the stadium where the statue of King Leonidas stands marking the ending point of Spartathlon race (Athens – Sparta 245,3 km). Lastly, we will visit the archaeological museum of Sparta and before we depart for Athens we will also visit the museum of (olive and) olive oil.

On this tour you will have the chance to visit the famous Corinth Canal, Sparta and Mystras, while you will also admire the picturesque landscape of the Peloponnese. The tour starts early in the morning. After a short stop at the famous Corinth Canal, which connects the Ionian Sea with the Aegean Sea, the tour continues to Sparta and Mystras. Sparta is one of the most historical destinations, an ancient center which is famous for its well organized ancient army. It was founded by the Dorians in the 9th century and developed into the most powerful military city by Lycurgus. Leonidas was also a warrior king of the Greek city-state of Sparta. In 480 BC the king Leonidas and 300 Spartans won the huge Persian army during the famous battle of Thermopylae. Mystras or Myzythras is located only 7 km from Sparta. It was the capital of the Byzantine Despotate of Morea the second most important city and a fortress of the Byzantine Empire as well. Finally, when the tour is over, you will return to Athens.

After a short drive through the center of Athens, your personal tour driver will take the scenic coastal road of the Saronic Gulf, towards the Peloponnese peninsula. After approx 50 minutes drive, you will reach the famous Corinth Canal, which connects the Ionian sea (West Greece) with the Aegean sea (East Greece). Stop for spectacular pictures from the canal bridge, and continue towards Sparta and Mystras. Sparta… A city-state founded by the Dorian’s in 11C BC well known for its citizen soldiers, strict military training, and powerful army with excellent skills. The most famous battle of the many in their history is the battle of Thermopylae. In 480 BC, a huge Persian army was trying to invade Greece. Barring the way at the mountain pass of Thermopylae where 300 Spartan soldiers led by King Leonidas, along with a few hundred Arcadians and Thespians. Do Not Miss To Visit: The Archaeological Museum of Sparta with its amazing artifacts and statues,- contains; Roman sculptures, small objects from sanctuaries at Sparta, mosaics, Laconian reliefs, inscribed Stella from the temple of Artemis Orthia, prehistoric collections. The Museum of the Olive and Greek Olive Oil witch is nicely set and it is very informative of the history of olive cultivation and the produce of olive oil since ancient times. Here you will find out about the many varieties of olives and all the relevant details, and see many works of art figures from over fifteen thousand years old fossilized leaves coming from Santorini. The Acropolis of Sparta is situated on a hillside just outside the town center and consists of the ancient Roman Agora, Temple of Athena Chalkionos, the Theatre, the church of the Christ Savoir, the cyclical building, and the remains of many other elements. Visiting the remains of the Acropolis, you may still see traces of the Spartan glory. The Menelaion is one of the world’s most astounding places, and you will be in a beautiful setting with the most glorious views. You look over the ancient Evrotas valley and Sparta and see the majestic peaks of the Taygetos mountains. There are two impressive monuments at this place, a bronze age palace, and a classical/Hellenistic shrine. Both are well preserved (not reachable today due to the extremely bad condition of the road). An emblem and an important monument of modern Sparta is the tomb of Leonidas. Also known as Leonidion. It is located north of Sparta’s modern city. Excavations of the previous century have brought in to light an impressive building measuring 12.5X8.30m. Mystras only 7km from Sparta, Mystras was the capital of the Despotate of Morea and the second city of the Byzantine Empire for a long period of its history. A unique site for anyone into history and the relation art/history/religion/culture. The place is mystic with Byzantine ruins and you can walk inside the ancient castle. At the end of visiting the sites, your private driver will drive you back to Athens arriving late in the afternoon.

**Our trip starts from Athens** Join me and let's visit the most majestic archaeological sites of Greece from Athens. You will see all this monuments in A day when other operators need at least 2-3 days. Value for Money full day tour in Peloponnese. Our tour Starts early in The morning and we will return late in the night.!! On this amazing full day tour you will see the most beautiful sights and scenery. On our way I will give you a lot of information about history, mythology and culture. We will have the opportunity to visit some of the most majestic archaeological sites of Greece, such as Ancient Olympia, cave of Kaiadas, Temple of Epicurean Apollo, Ancient Sparta and Mycenae. I can adjust the schedule, duration and activities to meet your needs. You are welcome to inform us on any special requests you have. Do not waste your time in multi day tours - bus tours Book your private tour Now..!! Private - Luxury- Fast- Value for Money ONE DAY tour in Peloponnese.!!

One of our favorite tours, dedicated to those who fell in the name of freedom. This special tour was designed to accommodate those interested in ancient Greek battles, those who want to discover two major battlefields of the Persian wars, the plane of Marathon and Thermopylae. We head out from Athens to the sacred plain of Marathon driving through Attica Highway and Marathon Avenue. This is the course of the original Marathon Race, as you will see by the signs that count each kilometer. Later we will reach the Tumulus of the Athenians; the site portrays courage, bravery and finally the victory of the Athenians against the Persians in 490 BCE. Moving on we will also see the Marathon Battlefield, its Archaeological Museum and a prehistoric cemetery that produces proof of the first civilized presence in this location. Driving by the present city of Marathon our last stop in this area we will be Marathon Lake, on the slopes of Mt Penteli. It is an artificial lake operated as the main water reservoir for Athens. Besides the magnificent view, you see the Marathon Dam, a miracle of engineering, unique due to the fact that it’s the only one in the world made entirely of Pentelic marble (king of all marbles, used for the Parthenon, on Acropolis Hill). Moreover, at the bottom, you will see an excellent modern model of the treasury of the Athenians which was located in the sanctuary of Delphi. Next, we will be back on board for a drive to Thermopylae. It was here that 10 years after the Battle of Marathon, King Leonidas and his 300 brave Spartans heroically faced the Persian army. In the Historical Center, an informative 3D movie will be shown. As if traveling through time you will feel the presence of heroes who stood their ground for their freedom against a foreign conqueror. To conclude you will visit the statue of Leonidas standing exactly opposite Kolonos Hill where the persistent Spartans left their last breath. A place too sacred for words. Heading back to Athens we will stop at the coastal town of Kammena Vourla, where we will enjoy a relaxing, traditional Greek lunch by the sea. And to terminate the tour we will drive back to Athens safe and sound.

DAY 1: ATHENS - ARGOLIS - SPARTA: Mete your driver at the lobby of your hotel at 08.30 to start your adventure with hotel pickup in Athens and drive along the mainland coast to the Peloponnese. Stop at the Canal of Corinth before reaching the Ancient Theater of Epidaurus. Stop for lunch or a coffee break in Nafplio, the first capital city of Modern Greece. Then, continue to the archaeological site of Mycenae and spend the night in Sparta. DAY 2: SPARTA - MYSTRAS - MONEMVASIA – SPARTA: The driver pick you up at 08.30 at your hotel to visit the Museum of Olive Oil in Sparta. Discover the Byzantine town of Mystras and be captivated by its medieval splendor. Visit the famous Tower Town of the Peloponnese, Monemvassia, a mystical stone-built settlement. Wander around its narrow cobbled streets and admire the beautifully restored stone buildings. Return to Sparta in the late afternoon and spend the night. Day 3: SPARTA - ANCIENT OLYMPIA: After breakfast, the driver pick you up form your hotel at 08.30 and leave Sparta and make a quick stop at the picturesque coastal town of Gythi. Then, make your way to Areopolis and Diros, famous for its subterranean caves that are part of an underground river. Visit the local museum and then continue to some of the most beautiful places of Southern Peloponnese. Visit the coastal villages of Stoupa and Kardamili for swimming or lunch. Then, arrive at Ancient Olympia to stay overnight. DAY 4: ANCIENT OLYMPIA - DELPHI: Mete your private driver at 08.30 at the lobby of your hotel to start your day with a visit to the archaeological site of Ancient Olympia and its museum. Leaving Ancient Olympia, cross over the bridge of Rio-Antirio, one of the biggest in Europe, to reach Naupactus, where you can enjoy lunch. Then, make your way to Delphi for an overnight stay. DAY 5: DELPHI - METEORA: After breakfast, the driver pick you up form your hotel at 08.30 to visit the archaeological site and museum of Delphi. Then, continue to the village of Arachova, the most bustling winter destination in Greece. Continue to Kalambaka, a small traditional town that is built at the foot of the majestic grey rocks of the Meteora Monasteries. Stay in Kalambaka for overnight. DAY 6: METEORA - ATHENS: Meet your private driver at your hotel at 009.00 to start your day early to visit the monasteries of Meteora, built on top of towering rocks. End your tour of the monasteries in the picturesque village of Kalambaka for a traditional Greek lunch. Afterwards, return to Athens with a stop at Thermopiles to admire the statue of Leonidas. End your tour with drop-off at your hotel in Athens.

Pick up from your accommodation and driving for 3 hours. We will visit the museum and the archaeological site of ancient Sparta. Later is Mystras a fortified settlement, located on a hill west of Sparta including in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites which transport you to another dimension, to the time of the Byzantine Empire. Subsequently the world-famous Diros Caves as ancients Greeks called "the gateway to Hades or to underworld ". Inside the cave, a 45-minute boat ride, an almost picturesque landscape, untouched by human hands, low lighting and sparkling crystals. Nature with incomparable art and patience carved a miracle beyond all imagination, creating an incomparable sight that takes your breath away. At the end we will stop Gytheio was the seaport of Ancient Sparta, a beautiful fishing town. We will have lunch i a seaside restaurant and we cam swim for a while as lunch prepared. In our way we will see the Mani Peninsula, a wild, rugged region the last place for the Spartans after 15 century. The pristine coastal coves, and from the tiny villages nestling amid olive groves, connected by threads of walking trails, to the arid landscapes in the south of peninsula, speckled with abandoned stone towers, the Mani has some of the most dramatic and varied scenery in the Peloponnese, much of it still wonderfully under-explored. After lunch we have to drive 3h back to Athens.

Depart Kalamata on a private tour (preferably in the morning) and journey for less than 2 hours to the historic town of Sparta. Cross the Taygetus mountain range, full of myths and traditions. Stop to take photos of the archaeological site of Keadas, where, according to the historian Plutarch, the ancient Spartans used to throw their weak and deformed infants into the cavern. Learn the dark history of Sparta as you explore the ancient site of the former city-state of Ancient Greece. See the remains of the Acropolis of Sparta and other monuments of the sixth century BC, including the Ancient Theater, Temple of Chalkioikos Athena, stores of the agora, Persian Gallery and more. Get valuable information about each monument and learn more about the everyday lives of the Spartans and their kings. Depart the Acropolis and visit the Tomb of King Leonidas, the most famous ruler of ancient Sparta. Feel the respect that the Spartans held for their kings, and get a better understanding of their frugal lifestyle. Continue to modern-day Sparta, where the Museum of the Olive and Greek Olive Oil in the South West will allow you to reflect on the importance of the olive tree to the survival of the local people over the centuries. Discover how the ancestors of today's residents collected the fruit of the olive trees, and how technology has evolved over the years. Savor traditional Mediterranean dishes at one of the local restaurants before your return journey to Kalamata.  Kindly note that the tour does not include an official tour guide but the services of a tour leader. All the information will be given to you inside the car and you will tour on your own inside the archaeological site.