Athens – Loutraki – Kalavryta – Patra

Departure from Athens for the first destination Loutraki. Pilgrimage to Panagia Giatrissa and to Geraniums Mountain. We will visit the hermitage of Saint Patapios who in 1904 discovered the relics through the pits of a cave. Also we will pilgrimage to the Byzantine Church of the Assumption. We continue to Lake Cave where you can choose to visit the unique area of 16 interconnecting lakes with individual cost. Then we proceed to the martyred city of Kalavryta and visit the Place of Martyrdom where the Germans, on 13/12/1943, executed all the men of the village and burned the city. We continue to Agia Lavra. Pilgrimage to the Church Paliomonastirion, where in 1821 the historical flag of the Revolution was raised to the curtain of the Beautiful Gate. With this swore the lads initiated the Greek Revolution.

On this religious site we will find historical relics, then visit and worship, the Great Cave. It is one of the most remarkable monasteries of Greece, on the Aroania inside a huge cave. The image of Panaghia holding Christ on the right side when you enter. Icons are made of wax and mastic and they are masterpieces of the Evangelist Loukas. Inside the museum we will visit the rich collection of rare relics, sacred images, holy remains, crosses, golden seal, sigils, embroidered pictures and priestly vestments. Then we return to Kalavryta for lunch. Then pilgrimage to the Virgin in Plataniotissa at Pteri of Aigio and continue to Patras. Short pilgrimage to the Temple of the Patron Saint, St. Andrew and arrival at the Hotel. Dinner and overnight.

Patra – Olympia

Breakfast and visit to the winery of Achaia Clauss. Tour around the impressive cellars and tasting of Mavrodaphne and other famous wines of the region. Lappa Manolada – Lechaina Pyrgos. Lunch and visit of the Archaeological site and Museum of Olympia. Settle in our hotel, dinner and overnight.

Olympia – Pylos – Kalamata – Methoni

Breakfast and departure for Loutra Kaifa. Kyparissia – Filiatra – Pylos. Optional visit to the ruins of Nestor’s Palace with interesting buildings and where 50 signs with linear writing A were found. Stay in the picturesque Pylos, which is located in the bay of Navarino one of the most enchanting ports of the Peloponnese. The naval battle of Navarino on 20/10/1827 with the Turkish Egyptian fleet and the combined forces of France, England and Russia were the occasion for the signing of Greece’s freedom.

In Neo Κastro, at the port, there is a small museum where you can find a presentation of the famous battle. Short stop in Methoni, a small town on a promontory, on the edge of which there is a Venetian fortress. You will be impressed by the excellent condition and size of the castle. Stay for lunch. In Kalamata we will worship the church of Our Lady of Ipapanti and the Monastery of Kalograion which is a center of silk handicraft. Settle in our hotel. Dinner and overnight.

Kalamata – Diros Caves – Gytheio – Sparta

Breakfast and departure for the Messinian Mani. Stop at Kardamili for a short coffee and then, from the picturesque glen of Taygetos, we will arrive at Diros Caves. With individual costs we will visit the Alepotrypa, Katafygi and Glyfada. They are among the finest in the world with rich stalactites and stalagmites. You will be impressed by the beauty and force of nature, the throne room, Calvary, curtains, jellyfish, pink tails fox and the cave with the golden rain. Land and lake tour in an underground river of 1600 meters length. Lunch at Gytheio. In the afternoon we will arrive in Sparta. Settle in our hotel, dinner and overnight.

Sparta – Monemvasia – Mystras – Malevi – Tripoli

Breakfast and departure for Monemvasia, a picturesque town built on a cape that has turned into an islet. After passing the picturesque bridge with 12 arches we arrive in Monemvasia Old Town with its picturesque cobbled lanes and streets, birthplace of the famous poet Yannis Ritsos. You will have free time to stroll around the city, visit the Byzantine churches, the quaint shops, restaurants and admire the folk art. OUr suggestion is to savour the famous macaroons and try the wine MALVASIA with local specialties. Later we continue to Sparta. We will visit Mystras, the unique Byzantine city of the 14th and 15th century. The capital of the Byzantine, Turkish and Venetian Moria, with dilapidated ghost houses, unique churches and palaces, Monastery Perivleptou, Pantanassa 15th, 14th Evaggelistrias, Ag. Theodoroi 13th, Ag. Nikolaos 17th, Hodegetria, Afentiko etc.

Also we will visit the Metropolis which is dedicated to St. Demetrius and the Byzantine Museum. In the double-headed eagle of the floor, the last emperor – Constantine Paleologos was crowned. We will continue to pilgrimage to the holy mountain of Parnonas since here is the oldest monastery of Parnonas, the Monastery Malevi built in the 8th century. We will worship the monastery that was founded in 1116, where the image of the Virgin Mary is stored, work of the Evangelist Luke. The image form 164 streams myrrh and is celebrates on August 23 although it is dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin. We continue to Tripoli. Settle to our hotel, dinner and overnight.

Tripoli – Dimitsana – Vytina

After breakfast we depart for Stemnitsa – else called Ypsous – with the traditional stone houses, built over the gorge of the river Lousios. It is a beautiful village at 1015 m of height, on a slope of Mount Mainalon. In the summer of 1821 Stemnitsa was the capital of liberated Greece and held the first meeting of the newly elected Peloponnesian Senate. During the Byzantine period Stemnitsa was a manufacturing center of bells and its craftsmen were called to give voice to bell towers across the Peloponnese.

After a short stop for coffee we arrive in Dimitsana. There you can visit (with individual costs) the In-Water Museum powered by the waters of the Lousios river, gunpowder mills, tannery etc. Following Nea Moni Philosophou, pilgrimage to the Church of the Assumption and the Secret School, where the Patriarch Gregory V and Palaion Patron Germanos studied. Further we will visit the library of Dimitsana, which houses patriarchal gospels, manuscripts, codes, the stamp of Patriarch Gregory V and the shrine with the bones of Palaion Patron Germanos. We continue to the firry village Vytina and stay for lunch. You will have the opportunity to purchase local products, cheese, herbs, wood carvings, traditional sweets, honey etc. With a short stop at the Isthmus – Corinth Canal – we return to Athens.