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INTEREST |
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Cultural
Tours |
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MACEDONIA-
THRACE-TURKEY |
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The
roads of Byzantium |
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Istanbul and Thessaloniki
Turkey and Greece under Byzance
We all know Greece for its ancient sites and
Thessaloniki for its past cosmopolitanism with
Sephardic Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Venitian,
communities, Ancient Greek, Roman, Turkish remains,
and even traces of Latin, Saracen, Norman, Bulgarian
invasions...
But the Byzantine monuments
are the most numerous throughout the country,
and the city was the Byzantine Empire's second
capital. Linked to Constantinople by the
Via Egnatia, it is the ideal companion
for the exploration of a civilization that lasted
for more than a millenium.
Both metropolises - founded in 660 BC on the Bosphorus
and in 315 BC on the Thermaikos Gulf - are still
marked by their famous Byzantine past and, although
most monuments are still in use in Thessaloniki,
Istanbul's are more inconspicuous and make it
a fascinating journey digging in the past of its
alleys.
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| Itinerary |
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| Day 1 |
Arrival in Thessaloniki
city and presentation of program during a welcoming
dinner |
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| Day 2 |
A Day walk in Thessaloniki
where we'll visit some of its more important monuments
as:
Theotokos Acheiropoiitos
(5 Century), Aghia Sophia
(7 Century),
White Tower (16 Century,
first defense, then prison)
Museum of Byzantine Culture
(awarded as best Museum of Europe 2005)
Museum of Folklore
(traditional costumes, & tools, water mills
19-20 Century). |
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Day 3
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Today we continue exploring
Thessaloniki city.
Citadel (5-19 Century),
City Walls 5-19 Century,
Vlatadon Monastery (14 century)
Ossios David (5 century),
Aghios Nikolaos Orfanos
(14 century), Aghios Dimitrios
(7 century), Roman Forum
(2 Century, market, baths, cryptoporticus - subterranean
gallery, artcraft shops, Panagia
Chalkeon (11 century). |
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| Day 4 |
A Full day excursion to the Meteora
Monasteries from Thessaloniki, where we'll
visit two monasteries. Varlaam
(14 Century, men, 16 Century frescoes, 120 steps),
Roussanou/Aghia Varvara
(16 Century, women, 16 Century frescoes, 100 steps
down only), Aghios Stefanos
(16 Century, women, modern frescoes) (Departure
at 7.30, arrival back at 19.30).
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| Day 5 |
During our last day at Thessaloniki we'll visit
Aghia Aikaterini (14
Century), Profitis Ilias
(14 Century), Aghios
Panteleimon (13 Century), Rotonda
(Aghios Georgios) (4 Century), Arch
of Gallerius (4 Century), Gallerius
Palace (4 Century, ruins
of Roman palace, floor mosaic) (Navarinon
Sq.). Than we'll have some free time before departure
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| Day 6 |
On our way to Kavala
city we'll visit Filippoi,
2 early Christian basilicas (5-6 Century), Octagonal
Church (6 Century), Byzantine baths, (ancient
theatre)
Baptistry of Saint Lydia.
A Lunch break at Kavalas harbour will follow.
Castle and Kavalas old town walk, OPTIONAL (if
time allows) Traianoupolis - Hani.
Overnight in Tychero.
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Day 7
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Today we'll visit Didymoteichon,
Ferrae - church of Cosmosoteira (former
monastery). Than we'll drive to the Greek-Turkish
border in order to be transferred to Konstadinoupolis.
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| Day 8 |
A full day expolation of Konstadinoupolis:
Milion, Mese Street, Forum
Konstantin, where once the statue of Konstantin
the Great could be seen on his Column,
Lausos and Antiochus Palaces, Hippodrom, Forum
Augusteion, Aghia Sophia, Mosaic Museum (Bucaleon
Palace), Sergios &
Bacchus Church (Little Aghia Sophia), Pera.
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| Day 9 |
Valens Aqueduct, Aetios Open Cistern,
Chora Monastery, Blachernon District
- Konstantin Porphyrogenetos Palace (Blachernon
Palace), Constantinos Lips,
Pammakaristos, Marcianos Column.
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| Day 10 |
Visit to the archaeological
Museum (incl. history of IST), Palace
of Topkapi incl. Aghia
Irene in garden.
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| Day 11 |
Marble
Tower & Yedikule, Fener and Zeyrek
districts, like the Petrion
Walls and the Pantokrator
Church.
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| Day 12 |
(Spice
Bazaar)
Boat for the Bosporus
trip to Rumeli Hissar
castle.
Early afternoon transfer to airport
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Land Cost:
14/15 pax: 2370 Euros per pax
12/13 pax: 2520 Euros per pax
10/11 pax: 2740 Euros per pax
single room supplement 370 Euros
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Services Included:
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- 3 or 4-star hotels in Thessaloniki & Istanbul
- H/B, breakfast at hotel, and evening, main
meal at hotel or taverna/restaurant
- traditional guesthouse on the Greek-Turkish
border
- all ground transportation, in-city and excursions
to Meteora, Philippoi, Kavala, Traianoupoli,
Didymoteicho, feres, and transfer Thessaloniki-Istanbul
- all drivers expenses
- all museum entrance fees
- full-time specialized Greek guide in Greece
(up to the border) and Turkish guide in Istanbul
- full-time leader, throughout the program.
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Not
Included: |
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- Personal expense
- The rest of the meals
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PROGRAM RATING: EASY |
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DURATION: 12
days (11 nights) |
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DATES:
all year |
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LAND COST:
14/15 pax: 2370 Euros
per pax
12/13 pax: 2520 Euros per pax
10/11 pax: 2740 Euros per pax |
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GUARANTEED TO RUN WITH MINIMUM
PARTICIPATION: 10 PERSONS |
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Prices are subject to change for more than 8 participants |
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