Glorious Greece
With Professor Jennifer Tobin
May 12 - 27, 2012
Greece is a land of rugged beauty that includes over 2,000 islands stretching from the Ionian Sea in the west to the Aegean Sea and Turkey in the east. A geographic crossroads, the area has been a turbulent battleground for millennia. Early Greek history portrays a multitude of internal struggles, from the Minoan and Mycenaean cultures to the city-states that began to emerge three thousand years ago. The scattered states were consolidated under Alexander the Great, designated a province under the Romans, became a powerful part of the Eastern Orthodox Christian world under the Byzantines, and was part of the Ottoman Empire for four hundred years until 1821 when it became an independent country.
Far Horizons proudly presents a 16-day journey through Greece that explores both the celebrated and more remote remains of the many civilizations that have passed across this land. During the trip, view six UNESCO World Heritage Sites –Athen’s Acropolis, the Sanctuary of Asklepios at Epidaurus, Tiryns, Mycenae, Olympia, and Delphi - and enjoy specially arranged meetings with archaeologists working at two archaeological projects – the Mt. Lykaion project and Corinith. Spend three days in Athens, travel through the Peloponnese Peninsula, visit Knossos on the island of Crete, and travel to the beautiful isle of Santorini where we climb to the top of the ridge to explore Old Thera. And during each day the countless layers of Greek history will unfold.
Our study leader’s contacts in the archaeological community, and her in-depth knowledge of the history of each site allows us to not only admire visually all that we explore but also gives us a context for all that we see.
'The itinerary was excellent. Each site in its own way was a piece of a mosaic of ancient Greece and all together it created a wonderful tapestry of a world that is still part of our everyday life.' Michael and Stephanie Garber
(B) breakfast, (L) lunch, (D) dinner
DAY 1: Depart USA for Athens, Greece.
DAY 2: Arrive in Athens. This afternoon, visit the Acropolis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the great hill dominating the city of Athens. It has been occupied since the Neolithic period and in Mycenaean times there was already a palace and fortified citadel here. In the mid-5th century BC, the Athenians began an immense construction program that resulted in the erection of several extraordinary buildings that still stand today. Walk through the Propylaia, the enormous entrance to the Acropolis, and pass the Temple of Athena Nike, built to commemorate the Athenians’ victories over the Persians. View the Erechtheion, situated on the most sacred part of the Acropolis, said to be where Poseidon left his trident marks in a rock and where Athena’s olive tree sprouted. See the Porch of the Caryatids on the south side of the Erechtheion with carved statues of women used in 
place of columns; it is considered one of the most beautiful works of architecture in the Greek world. The immense and lovely Parthenon, originally built to house the 40-foot high sculpture of the goddess, Athena Parthenos, is one of the world’s most famous buildings. The splendor of its frieze and perfection of its architectural techniques makes it immensely impressive even after 2,500 years of erosion, neglect and damage from bombs. The splendid Theater of Dionysos lies on the south side of the Acropolis and is still used today. Spend time in the new Acropolis Museum built just below the Parthenon and containing the works of art found nearby. Gather this evening for our welcome dinner party with spectacular views overlooking the Acropolis. Overnight for three nights in the 4-star Hotel Divani Palace Acropolis overlooking the Acropolis and within walking distance of the Plaka and many of the historic sites. (D)
DAY 3: Athens has been a city for more than 3,500 years and much of the glory of ancient Greece can be seen in the many buildings and monuments that still survive. Begin today at the Arch of Hadrian, built by the 2nd century emperor of Rome who was a great admirer of classical Greece. The Agora formed the political heart of ancient Athens from 600 BC. In the 1930s, the American School of Classical Studies began excavations that have revealed a vast array of impressive public buildings. Nearby, see the Roman Forum and the towering Temple of Olympian Zeus, or Olympeion, the largest in Greece exceeding even the Parthenon in size. And walk to the Tower of the Winds, an octagonal structure originally built as a water clock and weathervane by an astronomer in the 1st century BC. Move forward in Athenian history and pay a visit to the 12th century Little Metropolis church, or Panayia Gorgoepikoos (“Virgin Who Answers Prayers Quickly”). Dinner is on our own to search for a perfect meal at one of the many restaurants in the nearby Plaka. (B/L)
DAY 4: Visit the National Archaeological Museum, one of the world’s finest storehouses of ancient art, for an overview of the cultures we will see during our trip. In the afternoon, drive to Brauron, best known as the site of a sanctuary of Artemis, and one of the oldest sacred-places in Greece. Here, Artemis, the goddess of nature and the protector of fertility and childbirth, was worshipped. According to the myths Iphigenia, the daughter of the Mycenaean king Agamemnon, established this sanctuary. Then it’s on to Marathon, the site of the battle of Marathon in 490 BC, in which the heavily outnumbered Athenian army defeated the Persians. The tumulus, or burial mound, for the 192 Athenian dead that was erected near the battlefield remains a feature of the coastal plain. Late this afternoon, drive to Cape Sounion for dinner and to watch the sunset from the spectacular Temple of Poseidon. (B/L/D)
DAY 5: Depart Athens and drive to Corinth. Along the way, pass through the four-mile-wide isthmus with a stop to see the canal, first begun by Emperor Nero, and the reason for the ancient city’s prosperity. Excavations show that Corinth was once the largest Roman township in Greece. Visit the Temple of Octavia where three ornate Corinthian columns still stand on a platform, the Glauke Fountain and its four cisterns that were carved from a huge monolith, the theater, and the Temple of Apollo, the most striking structure of the lower city. Continue to the Sanctuary of Epidaurus, a UNESCO World Heritage site and an extensive therapeutic and religious center dedicated to Asclepius, a mortal physician deified after his death by Zeus for retrieving a patient from the underworld. Drive to the lovely seaside town of Naufplio, lying in the shadow of a huge Venetian citadel. Overnight for the next three nights at the Hotel Marianna, a charming small bed-and-breakfast inn located overlooking the picturesque town. (B/L/D)
DAY 6: Mycenae, uncovered by Heinrich Schliemann in the 19th century and another UNESCO World Heritage site, is one of the earliest examples of sophisticated citadel architecture. Surrounded by unbreachable fortification walls up to 46 feet wide, the city contained royal palaces and rich tombs. Walk through the imposing Lion Gate, erected in the 13th century BC, to reach the royal family’s shaft graves where 31 pounds of gold funerary goods were found, and then visit the tholoi, or beehive tombs, outside the city walls. Continue to the nearby UNESCO World Heritage Site of Tiryns, a 13th-century BC citadel protected by a circle of cyclopean walls. (B/L/D)
DAY 7: This morning we visit Lerna, one of Greece's most important Bronze Age sites and with impressive and intact fortification walls. According to ancient myth, the second labor of Iraklis (Hercules) was slaying the nine-headed Hydra, a water snake that lived in the marshes near Lerna, whose heads kept growing back as soon as they were cut off. Curiously, there are marshes near this ancient site replete with huge eels, and it has been suggested by some that this myth could symbolize an unsuccessful attempt to drain the marsh. The ancient Greeks believed the Lerna marshes bottomless and that they were an entrance to the underworld. The afternoon is free to explore Naufplio. Dinner tonight is on our own to enjoy one of Naufplio’s excellent restaurants. (B/L)
DAY 8: Begin the day in the Naufplio Museum, housed in a Venetian warehouse and containing pre-Mycenaean artifacts. Then we drive into the mountains to meet privately with archaeologists from the Mt. Lykaion Project. The entire mountain was considered sacred by the ancient Greeks, and the sanctuary of Zeus stands out for its great fame, mysterious rituals and wide-ranging significance. We will enjoy a specially-arranged visit to the excavations. Then it’s on to Olympia and the Hotel Europa for dinner and two overnights. (B/L/D)
DAY 9: The UNESCO World Heritage Sanctuary of Olympia enjoyed over a thousand years of esteem as a religious and athletic center. The city was famous for the Olympic Games which were held every four years at the late-summer full moon and were the most prestigious of all Hellenic competitions. In the site museum see the plethora of artifacts found during excavations including the relief pediments recovered from the Zeus temple. The rest of the day will be spent seeing the exquisite structures of the city. The massive column bases and tumbled sections are proof of the former magnificence of the Temple of Zeus. Walk through the colonnade surrounding the central court at the Palaestra (the training center for wrestlers and boxers), the workshop of Phidias, the archaic Hera Temple, and the still-standing vaulted entrance to the stadium. (B/L/D)
DAY 10: This morning, transfer from Olympia to Delphi, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Cross from the Peloponnese to mainland Greece via the new Rion-Antirion Bridge. This bridge, completed in 2004, has reduced travel time across the Corinth Gulf from 45 minutes to a mere 5 minutes. According to ancient legends, Delphi was the center of the world. This was the home of Apollo and for more than 1,000 years in antiquity people came here to consult the oracle of the god. Walk to the Castalian Spring, where citizens who entered Delphi for religious reasons were required to purify themselves. Water from these springs provided the cold baths in the Gymnasium for athletes who were in training. Enter the Sacred Way through the agora and pass the Bouleuterion, or Delphic Council House, and the Rock of Sibyl marking the place where the first prophetess of Delphi pronounced her oracles, into the heart of the sanctuary. Here lies the stunning Sanctuary of Apollo and one of the finest theaters of the ancient Greek world. Continue to see the marble quarry and the Sanctuary of Athena Pronaia, and the 656-foot long stadium partly hewn out of the rocks that would hold 7,000 sports enthusiasts. Overnight at the Hotel Nafsika Palace in the nearby village of Itea overlooking waters of the Bay of Itea. (B/L/D)
DAY 11: Experience the Temple of Athena as the sun rises and covers the temple with color. Then visit the Delphi Museum, which houses a collection second in importance only to the Athenian Acropolis Museum. Leave Delphi and drive to Pireaus in time for our overnight high-speed ferry to Crete with dinner on our own onboard. (B/L)
DAY 12: For approximately 2,000 years, from 2800 BC to 1000 BC, Crete was the center of a brilliant civilization of mythical origin. According to Homer, Zeus was born here, and his son, Minos, is credited as the great king of the Minoans. The city of Iráklio, or Herakleion, is the island’s largest city. It was the port for Knossós, and has been under the control of the Romans, Arabs, Venetians, and Turks, and each has left behind spectacular cultural remains. Remains of the Venetian Arsenal are to be found at the end of the colorful old port along with the 16th century fortress still bearing the Lion of St. Mark. The city walls are three miles long. Reinforced by seven large bastions, these bulwarks were designed by the same man who built the fortifications of Padua and Verona. In the outstanding Iráklio Archaeological Museum, view the magnificent finds from the palaces and houses of Knossós and other nearby Minoan cities. (Please note that the Iráklio Museum is currently undergoing renovations and only a portion of its collection may be on display.) Later, visit the Rhithymna Museum, which is housed in a 16th century Venetian villa and contains a notable coin collection. Overnight for two nights at the elegant Hotel Galaxy. (B/L/D)
DAY 13: An all day tour takes us along twisting mountain roads to the Lasithi Plain. Stop to see Lato where traces of an ancient town lie scattered over the slopes with an breathtaking view down the mountainside to the sea beyond. The setting is extraordinary, in a saddle of land between two mountains each crowned by an acropolis, with the agora in the open space between. Next, proceed to Knossós. A maze of corridors, passages, 1300 rooms and stairways make up the Palace of Knossós, and although there is controversy concerning the reconstruction done one hundred years ago, the complex illustrates the richness and complexity of the former civilization. Stunning painted frescoes covered the walls, light wells allowed air circulation, and the royal 
apartments were adorned with paintings and private bathrooms. Parts of the Royal Road, the paved thoroughfare from the harbor to the palace, are still visible. Dinner this evening is on your own to sample the local cuisine. (B/L)
DAY 14: Board a ferry this morning to cruise across the sparkling indigo Aegean Sea to Santorini, the southernmost island in the Cyclades, shaped by geological turbulence that has created its dramatic appearance. The island exploded in 1500 BC, and what remains are broken pieces of the volcano’s rim encircling a deep lagoon. The picturesque whitewashed villages cling to the volcanic cliffs above beaches of black sand. Our explorations take us to several sites. In the capital village of Fíra, or Thíra, visit the Archaeological Museum and the Mégaron Gýzi Museum, housed in a 17th century mansion with collections about the island including photographs taken before the devastating 1956 earthquake. If open, explore Santoríni’s Pompeii, the Minoan town of Akrotíri, preserved for millennia under volcanic ash. This evening, gather to watch the spectacular sunset over the remains of the island’s cauldron. Overnight for the next two nights at the stylish boutique El Greco Hotel. (B/L)
DAY 15: Begin the morning with an exploration of Ancient Thera, named after the mythical ruler of the island, Theras, and inhabited from the 9th century BC until 726 AD. The remains of the city are positioned at the top of one of the island’s ridges, with gorgeous views in all directions. Here, see the Agora, the main square of the city, the stoa with a huge portico extending along the agora and with a roof supported by a row of ten Doric pillars, and the theatre constructed in the 2nd century. Drive by the Monastery of Profitis Ilias, crowning the mount of the same name, and dedicated to the prophet Elijah. Dating back to 1711, the solid facade of its exterior walls is reminiscent of a fortress. In earlier times, the monastery possessed considerable wealth. It even owned its own ship that conducted private business for the benefit of the monastery. And finally, visit Boutari, well-known as one of the most exported labels of wine from Greece. This Boutari vineyard produces several delicious and distinct white wines which are typical of Santorini. Lunch is on our own. Enjoy a free afternoon to explore the winding streets of Thira. Tonight's gala farewell dinner will be in an elegant local restaurant. (B/D)
DAY 16: Transfer to the airport for our return flight to Athens and on to the United States. (B)
Jennifer Tobin received her BA in Classical Studies from Stamford University and her PhD in Classical Archaeology from the University of Pennsylvania in 1991. From 1992-97, she was Assistant Professor at Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey. In 1997, she returned to the United States and is now Associate Professor at the University of Illinois, Chicago. Professor Tobin worked on archaeological projects in Israel, Turkey and Greece including at Corinth and on Crete. She speaks Modern Greek, German, French, Italian and Turkish, and has published widely on everything from Roman architecture in Syria to Alexander the Great. She is a featured teacher for Modern Scholar, recorded not-for-credit lecture courses taught by university professors, including the Glory that was Greece. Professor Tobin’s enthusiasm for the people and archaeology of Greece is contagious and her warm personality will make the trip a memorable one.
May 12 - 27, 2012
$8,895.00 (per person, double occupancy) includes all hotels; most meals (as listed in the itinerary); entry fees; and all ground transportation.
Cost Does Not Include: Round trip international airfare from the United States to Athens, Greece and return from Santorini to Athens and the USA; meals other than those listed in the itinerary; food, alcoholic and other beverages not on set menus; a separate donation check of $150.00 per person to a designated donation project; passport and visa fees; airport fees and taxes; excess baggage charges; gratuities to guides and drivers; email, telephone, and fax charges; laundry or other items of a personal nature.
Single Supplement: $945.00. Should a roommate be requested and one not be available, the single supplement will be charged.
Note on Donation: The cost of the trip does not include the separate check for $150.00 (per person) to the "Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania" with 'Mt. Lykaion Excavation and Survey Project ' in the memo line. You may visit their web site at http://corinth.sas.upenn.edu/lykaion/lykaion.html. As a tour company that benefits from the historical, cultural and natural riches of our destinations, we have a policy of donating to scholars, archaeological and cultural projects and museums in each of our destinations. The donation is required as part of your registration and is non-refundable.
Fuel Surcharges: Far Horizons must pass on price increases when additional fuel charges are levied.
A deposit of $500.00 to Far Horizons is required upon making your reservation, along with a separate check made out to the to "Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania" with 'Mt. Lykaion Excavation and Survey Project ' in the memo line, and a completed and signed registration form is required. Final payment is due 75 days before departure. Upon receipt of your deposit and completed registration form, you will be sent a reading list and a tour bulletin containing travel information. Prior to the trip, we will send links to various websites of pertinent interest to the trip. Click here to download our Registration Form.
Changes in our itinerary, accommodations, and transportation schedules may occur. A good book to read as well as a flexible attitude and a sense of humor are essential.
Cancellations received in writing at least 75 days before departure will result in an administrative fee of $250.00. Cancellations received less than 75 days before departure will not receive a refund. If for any reason you are unable to complete the trip, Far Horizons will not reimburse any fees. Registrants are strongly advised to buy travel insurance that includes trip cancellation.
A group flight will be designated. If you do not fly on the group flight, you are responsible for all flight arrangements and transportation (including airport transfers) to join the group. If Far Horizons must change the trip dates or cancel the trip for any reason, Far Horizons is not responsible for any air ticket you may have purchased
Far Horizons must pass on price increases when additional fuel charges are levied.
Private tours of archaeological sites and talks by specialists are scheduled in advance and include a donation to each. Specialists working at these sites are excited about showing their work to interested enthusiasts. However, please be aware that there may be times when the director or a member of the staff may not be onsite when our groups arrive due to other commitments.
Remember that Greece in a part of Europe which means that hotel rooms tend to be ‘European size’ which is smaller than hotels in the USA.
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THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL TOUR TO GREECE IS LIMITED TO 14 PARTICIPANTS
