Greek Odyssey

Explore the charming seaside city of Nafplio and visit a local museum for insights into the region’s history. Meet your guide at the pier and set out on foot to explore the old town. Gaze upon the elegant neoclassical buildings that line the harbor, then proceed to Kapodistriou Park to see the statue of Theodoros Kolokotronis, a Greek independence leader who led the siege of the 18th-century Palamidi Fortress that towers over the city. Walk the narrow streets and see a succession of elegant Venetian houses before heading to one of the local museums. Explore with your guide and gain insight into Nafplion culture and the enduring heritage of past civilizations. After, you may choose to walk back to your ship or explore the old town further on your own, perhaps calling at one of its many cafés or seeking out a memento of your trip in the local shops.

Explore the ancient site of Mycenae, city of the mythological conqueror of Troy, King Agamemnon. The history of Bronze Age Greece is shrouded in myth—none more grand than that of the Trojan War. In his epic poems The Iliad and The Odyssey, Homer described how a coalition of Greek city-states led by King Agamemnon destroyed the fabled city. Embark on a scenic drive through a landscape of citrus groves and ancient sites until you reach Mycenae. Located on a hilltop dominating the surrounding plains, Mycenae reached its peak around 1350 BC, during a period of Greek history named after the city. Enter the citadel through the iconic Lion Gate. Admire the city walls, so impressive that ancient Greeks believed them to have been built by mythical one-eyed giants called Cyclops. See the beehive tomb, thought to belong to King Agamemnon himself, as well as the palace complex and other royal tombs. Conclude this informative experience with a visit to the Archaeological Museum of Mycenae, with its display of artifacts collected from the site.

Discover two different eras of Greek history at the Palamidi fortress and the ancient spa city of Epidaurus. The Venetians built the fortress during their second occupation of the area in the early 18th century. Taken by the Ottomans shortly afterward, Palamidi’s 1822 capture by Greek nationalists marked a turning point in the Greek War of Independence. Take a short drive to the hilltop where the fortress stands and admire sweeping views of the Argolic Gulf as you appreciate the strategic importance of the port of Nafplio. Reboard your motor coach for a panoramic drive through olive and citrus groves along a winding road. Arrive at Epidaurus, set in a beautiful wooded valley. Epidaurus was a popular healing center during the Classical period, and is also the mythological birthplace of Asclepius, the god of medicine. See the remains of the public baths, the gymnasium and the remarkably well-preserved theater, which can seat up to 12,000 spectators.

Learn about sporting events in ancient Greece and enjoy a tasting of local wine. Board your motor coach and drive to Nemea, where the Panhellenic Games were hosted and the mythological Hercules is said to have completed his first labor: killing the Nemean lion. Admire the Doric colonnade of the Temple of Zeus, erected around 330 BC, and see the bathhouses, homes and eateries. Reach the stadium, which was built around 320 BC. In the locker rooms, learn how athletes prepared for competition before entering the arena. Examine the walls, where you may see some of their names engraved in the stone. Visit the Archaeological Museum of Nemea and see a collection ranging from Archaic period artifacts to letters left by 20th-century travelers. After, take a short drive to a local winery. Here, enjoy a tasting of Agiorgitiko wine before returning to your ship.

Travel through 3,000 years of Greek history at three of the country’s most relevant archaeological sites. Board your motor coach for a short drive to the Palamidi fortress, one of modern Greece’s most iconic locations since its capture by Greek nationalists in 1822. Take in the views before continuing to Mycenae, city of the mythological King Agamemnon and the mightiest city-state in Bronze Age Greece over 3,000 years ago. See the impressive walls of the citadel and the beehive tombs of Mycenaean kings and visit a local museum to learn more about the lives of this ancient civilization’s inhabitants. Then, enjoy lunch at a nearby restaurant before heading to Epidaurus, a famous spa city in Classical antiquity. Its founders believed in the medicinal powers of its waters and plants and dedicated the city to Asclepius, the god of medicine. After time to explore, return to your ship.