Classic Journey and Marathon Run in Athens

1 DAY

ARRIVAL AT ATHENS-CONTINUE TO OLYMPIA-SHORT STOP AT THE CANAL OF CORINTH-OVERNIGHT

Upon your arrival at Athens, we will continue towards Olympia by bus. On our way, we will have a short stop at the Canal of Corinth. Then, we will head to our hotel in Olympia. Dinner and overnight.

2 DAY

CITY TOUR IN OLYMPIA-AFTERNOON WALK TO THE ANCIENT STADIUM AND COUBERTINS’ HEART-GRAVE-LECTURE ON THE OLYMPIC GAMES-RETURN TO THE HOTEL-OVERNIGHT IN OLYMPIA

In the morning, we will have a city tour in Olympia-city of the Olympic Games, with their still-standing effect. Since 776 BC gained a panhellenic character and reached their peak in 576 BC. The Olympic Games were held every four years on the first full moon after the summer solstice for almost 1200 years. The names of every victor were written down on a chronological table. The spreading of Christianity brought radical religious and social changes, leading the Games to decay until their official banishment by emperor Theodocius. A walk will follow to the ancient stadium to Coubertins’ heart-grave and then a 40-minute lecture on the history of the Olympic Games on the slopes of the stadium. Then, we will return to our hotel in Olympia for dinner and overnight.

3 DAY

GUIDED TOUR ON THE SITE-VISIT TO THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM IN THE AFTERNOON-VISIT TO OLYMPIC ACADEMY-OVERNIGHT IN OLYMPIA

In the morning, we will have a guided tour on the site of Olympia. Short break for lunch. In the afternoon, we will visit the archaeological museum, one of the most important in Greece, initially accommodated in neoclassic Syngeion, now Museum of Olympic Games, and nowadays in a building near the excavation site, designed and erected between 1966 and 1975 by architect Patroclos Karantinos. In 1982 took its actual form and it was renovated in 2003. Its collection is arranged along ten clockwise halls in chronological order. Then on agreement with the Greek NOK, visit to the Olympic Academy. Return to the hotel-dinner and overnight.

4 DAY

TO ATHENS VIA DELPHI-VISIT TO DELPHI-ARRIVAL AT ATHENS-OVERNIGHT IN ATHENS

After breakfast, we will head to Athens via Delphi. We will visit the archaeological site of Delphi, a holy place in the honor of Apollo, god of music and poetry. We will visit Apollo’s sanctuary with the Athenian treasure house, Apollo’s temple, the theater, the stadium and the museum with the bronze statue of the Charioteer (Iniochos). Then, we will continue towards Athens, Arrival and check-in. Dinner and overnight.

5 DAY

FREE MORNING-VISIT TO THE STADIUM-ACROPOLIS

In the morning you may have a walk free of schedule. We will visit the stadium and field where the battle took place. Later, we will visit Acropolis; not only a landmark in Athens but also the national monument of Greece, standing 155 m over the sea-level and -taller than any building in the plateau- visible from far away. Athens’ Acropolis has been declared a part of the world cultural heritage by UNESCO since 1986.According to Theodore Heuss, Acropolis is a European hill beside Calvary and Capitol. Return to our hotel.

6 DAY

TOWARDS MARATHON-START OF 20 KILOMETERS MAXIMUM RUN-OVERNIGHT IN ATHENS

In the morning, we will head to Marathon by bus (about 20 km from the field where the famous battle took place) from Kallimarmaron Stadium, where the modern Olympic Games were established in 1894. This is an asphalt-paved distance. The very Marathon: Marathon is a place in the northeast of Athens, on the eastern coast of Attica, of about 8.500 inhabitants. Near this area, in 490 BC a battle between the Persians and the Athenians took place. The Athenians were victorious under general Miltiades. From this battle is inspired the legend of Pheidippides the messenger. According to the commonest version of the story, Pheidippides brought the news of victory to Athens and Areopag and died from exhaustion. As long as this distance is rather improbable to be indeed crossed by the runner and is expressed by Plutarch for the first time, about 600 years later of the battle, it must be part of the Athenian propaganda. On this story modern Marathon runners are based. It is 20 km at maximum. Return to our hotel. Dinner and overnight.

7 DAY

TO THE AIRPORT OF ATHENS-DEPARTURE

Transfer to Athens airport.