Classical Highlights of Greece

A full-day walking tour takes in the ancient wonders on our doorstep, as a local expert introduces the sublime collection of temples – most famously the Parthenon – that comprise the Acropolis, and the extraordinary antiquities now on display in the state-of-the-art Acropolis Museum.

This morning we head on foot to Agora – once the city’s market centre, seat of government, mint, trial courts, and site of the best-preserved temple of Hephaistus, as well as the beautifully reconstructed Stoa Attalos, which is now the Agora Museum. After a light lunch, we proceed to the port of Corinth to be welcomed aboard MY Galileo. There is time to settle in and get acquainted with our new surroundings before a welcome dinner is served. The ship sails overnight to Itea.

Today’s included excursion takes us to Delphi, one of the most sacred sites of the ancient world. Unlike other archaeological sites in Greece, Delphi is built on the side of a mountain. First time visitors are awed as much for the stunning natural beauty that surround the ruins as for the ancient buildings themselves. In its prime, Delphi was revered for its wealth and reputation, attributes which grew from the site’s location as hosting the most important oracle in the classical world. Indeed, because everything in Greece is connected to mythology, Delphi became the premier site for the worship of the god Apollo. The oracle had the ability to prophecy the future and give advice. Visitors from across the Greek world travelled here to consult with the oracle and responded by offering thanks to Apollo in the form of treasure. We return to the ship for lunch and evening sailing towards Katakolon.

Early morning arrival in port of Katakolon, in Pyrgos, which in ancient times was the natural harbour for Ancient Olympia and in the Middle Ages was the site of the so called ''Pontikokastro'', or ''Beauvoir'' or ''Bel Vedere'' Castle. An optional excursion awaits today, driving to Olympia, the legendary site of the original pan-Hellenic Olympic Games. Visit the ancient stadium, the temples of Zeus and Hera, and the museum dedicated to the Olympic Games of antiquity. Late evening the ship departs for Pylos.

There is an optional excursion to Pylos today. Pylos is a picture-perfect seaside town on the southwest corner of the Peloponnese. In 1827 a fleet of Venetians and other city states defeated an Ottoman fleet in one of the most important naval battles in history. This defeat led to the independence of Greece, which occurred in 1829. We sail overnight to Gythion.

In the morning MS Galileo arrives in Gythion. Ancient Gythion was inhabited during prehistoric times and later the Spartans used as a port, enlarging the natural harbour they made Gythion their naval base. There is an included Mani excursion today. Mani is Greece at its wildest and most beguiling. Few land tours can access this peninsula, immortalised by Patrick Leigh Fermor (and where the writer set up home), but small ships can. Our excursion takes in the natural splendour of Cape Tenaro and the Dirou Caves, along with the charming town of Areopolis. Late evening, we set sail for Monemvasia.

An optional Mycenae excursion awaits, or you can spend the morning as you wish. After lunch on board, we sail to Nafplion reaching the port in time for dinner and an overnight stay.

Today is our included Epidaurus excursion. Early this morning, we drive to this ancient site, renowned throughout the Greek world as a healing sanctuary. It was reputed to be the birthplace of Apollo’s son Asclepius and for its theatre, which is once again in use today. The sanctuary was looted by the Roman general Sulla by pirates and later by Goths and very little remains of it today. The prosperity brought by the Asclepieion enabled the residents of Epidaurus to construct civic monuments, including a 4th century BCE theatre is breath-taking and acoustically so perfect that even today 13,000 spectators can view performances without any amplification. This evening we enjoy the Captain’s Farewell dinner and sail overnight to Marina Zea in Athens.

After breakfast we disembark and can make our independent onward journeys.