Best Of Greece - Tour 5B

Atop the Acropolis, the serene Parthenon sails above the commotion of the modern city. Packed with busy shops and lively tavernas, modern Athens is a colorful counterpoint to classical Greece.

After breakfast, transfer to Delphi, the religious center of ancient Greece, and explore the UNESCO World Heritage-designated sanctuary. Built on the slopping hillsides of Mt. Parnassus with amazing scenery, this was the immensely rich and powerful home of the oracle. See the remnants of the treasuries of the temple of Apollo. Then you will visit the Museum next to the sites filled with the treasures unearned in the site. Pride of place is the bronze statue of the charioteer whose serene and amazing beauty has made it one of the most famous statues in the world. Head to the Hotel Amalia for dinner and an overnight stay in Delphi. (B, D)

After breakfast, drive through the mountains to the central part of Greece the Meterora which means ?in the midair?. On the other side in the fertile valley visit what is considered by many to be the 8th wonder of the world; The Meteora Monasteries. The medieval monasteries were built by monks over 500 years ago. Enjoy dinner and overnight in the nearby town of Kalambaka at the Divani Kalambaka Hotel. (B, D)

Atop the Acropolis, the serene Parthenon sails above the commotion of the modern city. Packed with busy shops and lively tavernas, modern Athens is a colorful counterpoint to classical Greece.

Did the catastrophic volcanic eruption that ravaged Santorini circa 1600 B.C. destroy Crete's ancient Minoan civilization - and give birth to the myth of Atlantis? In 1967, archaeologists on Santorini unearthed the remains of a Bronze Age city that may have been home to as many as 30,000 people. Whether the Lost Continent of Atlantis is rooted in myth or reality, an undisputed fact remains. The eruption created a caldera - and one of the most dramatic land and seascapes in the entire Mediterranean. On Santorini, whitewashed buildings cling to vertiginous cliffs that plunge to a turquoise sea. Part of the Cyclades Archipelago, the three-island group of Santorini, Thirasia and uninhabited Aspronisi present the traveler with unforgettable vistas.The island has had a number of names throughout history - from Strongyle or "Round" to Thera in honor of an ancient hero. Santorini is more recent and stems from the island church dedicated to St. Irene - Santa Rini to foreign sailors. Note: Santorini is an anchorage port: passengers transfer to shore via shore tender.

Athens (Piraeus), Greece

Crete (Heraklion), Greece

Day At Sea

Bar, Montenegro

Corfu, Greece

Sicily (Messina), Italy

Day At Sea

Barcelona, Spain

Mallorca (Palma), Spain

Marseille (Provence), France

Genoa (for Cinque Terre), Italy

Corsica (Ajaccio), France

La Spezia (for Florence/Pisa),Italy

La Spezia (for Florence/Pisa),Italy

Civitavecchia (for Rome), Italy