Deluxe Kabine
19 m2
2
Auf dieser Kreuzfahrt ist die Bordsprache ausschließlich Englisch.
Diese Kreuzfahrt gehört zu einer besonderen Auswahl von PONANT Reisen, die speziell für englischsprachige Gäste konzipiert wurden. Neben den gewohnten Elementen einer PONANT Reise, umfassen die aufgeführten Preise für diese Kreuzfahrten Transfers zum und vom Schiff, Vorträge und Diskussionen an Bord mit Weltklasse-Experten, und einen Landausflug oder eine Aktivität in jedem Hafen, bei denen die Gäste die Sehenswürdigkeiten und vieles mehr entdecken und in die unbekannte Kultur eintauchen können.
Auf dieser außergewöhnlichen Reise mit PONANT genießen Sie eine wunderbare Auszeit bei der Entdeckung der kulturellen und natürlichen Schätze der Kykladen und des Dodekanes. In Athen beginnt die 8-tägige Kreuzfahrt an Bord der Le Bougainville zu den schönsten griechischen Inseln der Ägäis. Lassen Sie sich von den Reichtümern der Geschichte und erfrischenden Momenten im türkisblauen Wasser des Archipels verzaubern.
Entdecken Sie Patmos, die unter dem Namen „Jerusalem der Ägäis“ bekannt ist. Diese Insel, wo Johannis die Apokalypse niederschrieb, birgt einzigartige Landschaften mit weißen Sandstränden und felsigen Buchten.
Nach einem Stopp auf der kleinen Insel Symi, die mit ihrem diskreten Charme und neoklassizistischen Häusern im italienischen Stil betört, steuern Sie die Kykladen an. Amorgos, die Insel des unendlichen Blaus, ist ein ungeschliffener Edelstein. Bewundern Sie die Vulkan- und Gebirgslandschaften, die sich in das kristallklare Wasser stürzen.
Die Le Bougainville fährt weiter zum Archipel von Santorini. Die unvergessliche Fahrt führt am Fuße der Caldera entlang, die sich um 1600 Jahre vor Christus bei einem Vulkanausbruch bildete. Hoch oben auf den steil ins Meer abfallenden Felsen liegen wunderschöne weiße Ortschaften wie beispielsweise Thera und Oia.
Dann fahren Sie weiter zu der authentischen, malerischen Insel Folegandros, bevor es weiter geht nach Delos, einer winzigen Kykladen-Insel. Hier wurde der Mythologie zufolge Apollon geboren. Wie ein wahres Freilichtmuseum bietet Delos ein einzigartiges Zeugnis vergangener Zivilisationen, die in der Ägäis aufeinander folgten.
Die nächste Etappe ist Mykonos mit seinen Stränden, Mühlen und Alefkandra, seinem typischen Viertel mit direkt am Wasser gebauten Häusern. Nach einem letzten Zwischenstopp auf der Insel Hydra, die für ihr unvergleichliches Licht berühmt ist, läuft die Le Bougainville die griechische Hauptsadt an.
Die Kreuzfahrt endet in Athen, der mythischen, von der Akropolis und ihren monumentalen Bauwerken überragten Stadt, die eine wohl einzigartige künstlerische und architektonische Einheit bilden, Erbe des antiken Griechenlands.
Ref : AABB45US - G010922
Eine reine englischsprachige Reise mit direktem Austausch mit den Experten an Bord, Transfers vor und nach der Kreuzfahrt und einem inbegriffenen Landausflug oder einer Aktivität an jedem Hafen. Eine...
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Für mehr Sicherheit organisiert PONANT Ihre Reise vor oder nach der Kreuzfahrt. Dieses Paket ist im Preis Ihrer Kreuzfahrt enthalten.
Zusatzleistungen
Für mehr Sicherheit wählt PONANT Flüge aus und kümmert sich um Ihre Transfers für Ihre Reise sowie um Landbesuche vor und nach dem Ausschiffen.
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Ideal clothes for life on board:
During the days spent on board, you are advised to wear comfortable clothes or casual outfits. The entire ship is air-conditioned, so a light sweater, a light jacket or a shawl may be necessary. When moving about in the public areas of the ship and the decks, light but comfortable shoes are recommended.
Informal evening:
In the evening, you are advised to wear smart-casual attire, especially when dining in our restaurants where wearing shorts and tee-shirts is not allowed.
For women:
For men:
Officer’s evening:
Depending on the itinerary and the program of your cruise, an Officer’s Evening with a white dress code may be organized. Therefore, we encourage you to bring a stylish white outfit for the occasion (otherwise black and white).
Gala evening:
During the cruise, two gala evenings will be organised on board. Thus, we recommend that you bring one or two formal outfits.
For women:
For men:
SHOP:
A small shop is available on board offering a wide range of outfits, jewellery, leather goods and many accessories.
A laundry service (washing/ironing) is available on board, but unfortunately there are no dry cleaning services. For safety reasons, your cabin is not equipped with an iron.
ACCESSORIES:
HEALTH CARE:
OUTFITS ON BOARD:
PRECAUTIONS:
In your hand luggage, remember to bring any medicines that you need, and possibly a small spare bag of toiletries (in case of delay in the delivery of your baggage by the airline). Remember to always have your travel documents with you in case you need them: hotel vouchers, cruise vouchers, return flight tickets... Never leave them in your hold luggage.
All our cabins have a safe. We recommend not to go ashore with valuable jewellery.
PONANT Aktivitäten
Smithsonian Journeys
Smithsonian Journeys ist das Reiseprogramm der Smithsonian Institution, eine bedeutende US-amerikanische Forschungs- und Bildungseinrichtung, das aus 21 Museen, dem National Zoological Park, Bildungszentren, Forschungseinrichtungen, Kulturzentren und Bibliotheken besteht. Die Kreuzfahrten in gemeinsamer Kooperation stützen sich auf die Ressourcen von Smithsonian, die auf eine 175-jährige Geschichte zurückblicken, und bieten bemerkenswerte Experten und Erfahrungen. Diese Reisen beziehen insbesonders die lokalen Kulturen mit ein und tauchen tiefer in die Geschichte, Küche, Sprache, Umwelt und Tierwelt eines Reiseziels ein. Seit mehr als 50 Jahren ist Smithsonian Journeys in der Kultur verwurzelt und konzentriert sich auf das Eintauchen und Entdecken von Kulturen - mit dem Ziel, Gäste zu inspirieren und zu einem tieferen Verständnis der Orte beizutragen.
Nancy Harmon Jenkins
Nancy Harmon Jenkins is a widely recognized authority on Mediterranean cuisines, the Mediterranean diet and its consequences for good health, extra-virgin olive oil and its qualities, and (to her own surprise) on ancient Egyptian maritime technology. She is the author of many books, the latest of which is a collaboration with her daughter, Chef Sara Jenkins: The Four Seasons of Pasta (Avery Books, 2015). Also in 2015, she published Virgin Territory: Exploring the World of Olive Oil (Houghton Mifflin). Nancy has written countless newspaper and magazine articles on Italian cuisine for the likes of The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Food & Wine, and Bon Appetit; and she is a frequent commentator on radio and television programs, including for NPR’s The Splendid Table, Good Food, and All Things Considered, and for the BBC’s The Food Programme. Nancy has lived, worked, cooked, traveled, gardened, and raised two children in many parts of the Mediterranean, from Madrid to Beirut and back, with a long stay in Italy where she spends as much time as possible on her family’s Tuscan farm and olive oil retreat. When she’s not in Italy or traveling the world, she lives in a small town on the coast of Maine.
Language spoken: English
Photo credit: Lily Piel
Albert Leonard
Albert Leonard is a Research Associate at the Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East, and Professor Emeritus in both the departments of Classical Archaeology and Near Eastern Studies at the University of Arizona. He is an archaeologist who specializes in the social impact of interregional trade among the ancient cultures of the Mediterranean World. For more than four decades, Al has directed excavations at a number of sites in Italy, Greece, Portugal, Egypt, Cyprus, Israel, and Jordan. Throughout his career, he has been active in educational outreach, and the Archaeological Institute of America has awarded him its Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award by which it “acknowledged and applauded the invaluable service that [he] has given to the archaeological community as an educator.”
As his alter ego, the Time Traveling Gourmet, Al combines a command of archaeological, historical, and literary material with culinary skills acquired at Le Cordon Bleu as well as the Culinary Institute of America (partially supported by a Robert A. Parker Wine Advocate Scholarship) in order to reconstruct (in the classroom or the kitchen) dishes described by such ancient authors as Archestratus of Syracuse, a 4th-century BCE Sicilian cook who has often been called the “Father of Gastronomy.” Al presently divides his time between Boston and California’s Russian River Valley, where he is a member of The Society of Wine Educators and the Northern Sonoma County convivium of Slow Food International. His latest book, Mediterranean Wines of Place: A Celebration of Heritage Grapes was published by Lockwood Press in the Spring of 2020.
Language spoken: English
Vorbehaltlich des Widerrufs im Falle von höherer Gewalt
Einschiffung 01.09.2022 von 16:00 bis 17:00
Abfahrt 01.09.2022 um 19:00
Die griechische Hauptstadt liegt am Rande des Saronischen Golfs im Osten des Landes. Der Name Athen stand einst im Plural und bezog sich auf die ersten Dörfer, welche die Akropolis umgaben. Dieses Felsplateau mit historischen Bauwerken, die zum UNESCO-Weltkulturerbe gehören, ist einfach bezaubernd. Weiter unten haben Sie die Gelegenheit, eines der lebhaftesten Viertel von Athen zu besichtigen: Plaka mit seinem Gewirr aus bunten Gässchen, die am Abend nach Moussaka und Garnelen mit Knoblauch duften. Das Archäologische Nationalmuseum und das Museum für kykladische Kunst gehören auch zu den wichtigsten Sehenswürdigkeiten der Stadt und erlauben es, die glanzvolle kulturelle Vergangenheit Athens zu entdecken.
Ankunft 02.09.2022 mittags
Abfahrt 02.09.2022 am frühen Abend
Patmos stellt ein legendäres Etappenziel des Dodekanes dar: Hier lebte Johannes, der mutmaßliche Autor des letzten Buches der Bibel. Die Apokalypsengrotte und das Kloster von Johannes dem Theologen sind ihm gewidmet. Sie entdecken diese zum UNESCO-Weltkulturerbe gehörenden Stätten auf einem mit Weinreben und Obstbäumen bepflanzten Hügel. An der Küste bieten die kristallklaren Buchten von Kambos und Lampi wunderbare Badefreuden.
Ankunft 03.09.2022 am frühen Vormittag
Abfahrt 03.09.2022 am Nachmittag
Ankunft 04.09.2022 am frühen Vormittag
Abfahrt 04.09.2022 am späten Nachmittag
Es ist kein Zufall, dass Luc Besson die Insel Amorgos als Drehort für seinen Film Im Rausch der Tiefe wählte. Auch Sie werden sich dem Zauber der Insel nicht entziehen können… Diese Insel, die östlichste der Kykladen, ist bemerkenswert wegen ihrer Felsbuchten mit transparentem Wasser und ihrer kleinen, gut erhaltenen Dörfer. Sie besuchen Chora, eins der schönsten Dörfer der Kykladen mit gepflasterten Gassen und weiß getünchten Häusern, die ein Schloss überblickt. Byzantinische Kirchen, Windmühlen und bunt bepflanzte Höfe runden das typische Bild des ewigen Griechenlands ab.
Ankunft 05.09.2022
Abfahrt 05.09.2022
Die Fahrt im Wasser der Caldera von Santorini ist überwältigend. Die erhabenen Felsen, die diesen alten Krater umgeben, der im 2. Jahrtausend v. Chr. von den Fluten überschwemmt wurde, bilden eine gigantische Kulisse für diesen Höhepunkt der Kreuzfahrt. Vulkangestein in allen Farbschattierungen von weiß über grau bis rot, das Blau der Ägäis, das makellose Weiß der Dörfer oben am Kraterrand bilden ein einzigartiges, wunderschönes Schauspiel.
Ankunft 05.09.2022 mittags
Abfahrt 05.09.2022 abends
Folegandros ist ein verstecktes Kleinod der Kykladeninseln. Sie erreichen diese bergige Insel südöstlich von Kontinentalgriechenland. Deren Hauptstadt Chora fasziniert ohne Zweifel aufgrund der weißen und blauen, auf einem steil abfallenden Vorsprung gebauten Häuser. Sie können bis an den Rand der Aussichtspunkte gehen, um das Panorama zu bewundern, das sich auf die Ägäis und den Hafen von Karavostasi eröffnet. Der Hafendamm von letzterem führt Sie zu einem angenehmen Strand mit herrlich türkisfarbenem Wasser. Auf den Anhöhen bietet das von Terrassenfeldern umgebene Dorf Ano Meria einen wunderschönen Blick aufs Meer.
Ankunft 06.09.2022 am frühen Vormittag
Abfahrt 06.09.2022 mittags
Dieses legendäre Etappenziel der Kykladen erstreckt sich südwestlich von Mykonos. Der feierliche Anblick dieses antiken, heiligen Ortes fällt gleich bei der Ankunft auf. Es ist beeindruckend, dass die zum UNESCO-Weltkulturerbe gehörende Ausgrabungsstätte nicht weniger als die Hälfte der Insel bedeckt. Vom Antigone-Portikus bis zur Löwenterrasse mit in Marmor gehauenen Skulpturen gehen Sie von Entdeckung zu Entdeckung mit der Ägäis als Hintergrund. Am Hang eines Hügels ermöglichen Ihnen die Sitzreihen eines Theaters einen besonders weiten Panoramaausblick auf die Küste.
Ankunft 06.09.2022 am frühen Nachmittag
Abfahrt 06.09.2022 am späten Abend
Ankunft 07.09.2022 mittags
Abfahrt 07.09.2022 abends
Dieses ungewöhnliche Etappenziel der Saronischen Inseln liegt östlich des Peloponnes. Hydra ist autofrei. Die gleichnamige Hafenstadt liegt stufenförmig an den Hängen einer bergigen Bucht. Sie erstaunt durch ihre unverputzten Häuser. Diese gehören zu den Traditionen, ebenso wie die an den Kais festgemachten farbenfrohen Kaiks. Etwas weiter an der Küste haben Sie die Möglichkeit zur Entdeckung des Historisches Archiv-Museums, sowie der Sammlungen des Museums für nationale Geschichte von Athen, die in der eleganten Villa Koundouriotis ausgestellt werden.
Ankunft 08.09.2022 am frühen Vormittag
Ausschiffung 08.09.2022 um 07:00
Die griechische Hauptstadt liegt am Rande des Saronischen Golfs im Osten des Landes. Der Name Athen stand einst im Plural und bezog sich auf die ersten Dörfer, welche die Akropolis umgaben. Dieses Felsplateau mit historischen Bauwerken, die zum UNESCO-Weltkulturerbe gehören, ist einfach bezaubernd. Weiter unten haben Sie die Gelegenheit, eines der lebhaftesten Viertel von Athen zu besichtigen: Plaka mit seinem Gewirr aus bunten Gässchen, die am Abend nach Moussaka und Garnelen mit Knoblauch duften. Das Archäologische Nationalmuseum und das Museum für kykladische Kunst gehören auch zu den wichtigsten Sehenswürdigkeiten der Stadt und erlauben es, die glanzvolle kulturelle Vergangenheit Athens zu entdecken.
It was to this rugged island of Patmos that St. John the Evangelist was banished during the reign of the Roman Emperor Domitian, and it is here that he is said to have received the visions of the Apocalypse that later became the Book of Revelation.
Today, Patmos’s landscape is dominated by the fortress-like Monastery of St. John, built in the 11th century at the summit of a hill. As you explore this sacred place you will discover a veritable museum of Byzantine art — countless frescoes, precious icons, gold and silver liturgical objects, rare manuscripts and antiquities.
After the opulence of the monastery, a short drive takes you to the very different site of the Apocalypse Cave, which John made his home during his exile. Here you can see the resting place outlined in beaten silver where St John laid his head every night. Next to this bed of rock is the spot where John's disciple Prochoros sat as he transcribed the visions John dictated to him.
Inbegriffen
Named for the wife of Poseidon and said to be the birthplace of the three graces, Symi was an important part of the Roman and Byzantine empires. It was occupied by the Knights of St. John in 1373, and reached its greatest prominence under the Ottoman Empire, when shipbuilding and sponge-diving made the island quite prosperous. Enjoy an informal walk through town with your guide.
Inbegriffen
Relatively untouched by tourism, Amorgos evokes an earlier, simpler world. This excursion focuses on that simpler life by visiting two villages that continue local traditions in much the same way their families have done for generations
Arrive first at the village of Lagada, nestled among gently rolling hills on the northern end of the island. The cultivation of olives and the production of olive oil has been the primary economic activity of this region from before history. On a guided walk through the olive groves, you will learn how local growers tend their crops as well as about the importance of the olive in many aspects of Mediterranean life. Your walk ends with a demonstration of a traditional village olive press.
Your visit to Lagada is followed by a short drive north to Tholaria, a small village overlooking Aegiali Bay. Here you are welcome to explore the layout and functioning of a traditional Cylcadic private home — its cellar and wooden oven as well as the main residence. Attached to the house is a distillery for essential oils produced from herbs grown in Amorgos. Herbal medicine has been a part of Greek life since the ancients, and a local herbalist will explain the properties of the various herbs and their oils and how they are distilled.
Before departing Tholaria to return to the ship, gather on the outdoor terrace, which offers unlimited views of the sea and surrounding mountains, to enjoy a sampling of treats including olives, local cheeses, olive pies, local wine, raki, and local sweets.
Inbegriffen
Relatively untouched by tourism, Amorgos evokes an earlier, simpler world. This excursion focuses on the main attractions of the island — the Monastery of Hozoviotissa and Chora, the capital town.
Dedicated to the Virgin Mary, the Monastery was founded in 1088 and contains rare icons and manuscripts, which the monks who greet you will be delighted to explain while serving a sampling of the local sweet, loukoumi. But for most visitors it is the monastery itself, built into the side of a steep cliff and seemingly suspended some 900 feet above the sea below, that is the most vivid memory. The views both during your climb to the entrance and from within the monastery are spectacular.
Continuing your tour, you will reach Chora, one of the most picturesque villages in the Cyclades. A leisurely stroll among the whitewashed houses, small churches, and windmills that line the streets, perhaps pausing for a taste of ouzo and local sweets, leads to three small museums. The Ecclesiastical Museum contains relics and remembrances of prominent clergy, including Archbishop Christodoulos, for whom it is named. The nearby Cultural/Folklore Museum provides a glimpse into the daily life of earlier times. And the Archaeological Museum has a collection of finds from excavations of three ancient cities, some of which date to the Bronze Age.
Inbegriffen
Call at the small volcanic island of Folegandros. Take a shuttle to Hora, the charming capital of the island, and enjoy relaxing in this quaint village, built upon a 650-foot cliff, with its smart cafes and delightful tavernas.
Inbegriffen
The island of Delos was sacred to the ancient Greeks — the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis, and home to countless shrines and temples. Today, it is a veritable open-air museum.
Your walking tour of this sprawling site begins directly from the pier, as you follow your guide through a maze of fallen columns, sections of the mosaics which once adorned the houses of the rich, a stadium, tiers of seats from a theater abandoned long ago and much more. Atop a small hill is the Sanctuary of Zeus and Athena Cynthiens, dating from the 3rd century BC. From this vantage point, you overlook the entire site and get a sense of the grandeur of the city when it was the center of the Delian League.
Among the notable remains you will encounter is the Sanctuary of Apollo, also known as the “Temple of the Athenians," where you will see the altars and votive offerings presented by Athenians to the god so important to their civic life. You will also discover the Terrace of the Lions, among the best-preserved monuments on Delos, where five marble lions stand at the ready to protect the town as they gaze to the east, waiting for the sun to rise.
Finally, you will visit the Theater District, the most luxurious district of the ancient city with the mansions pretentiously named the homes “of Dionysus" and “of Cleopatra," among others. This is where the mosaics that adorned the floors of these great houses, as well as the streets and shops of ancient Delos will suggest the wealth of this once bustling city.
Inbegriffen
Its white cubic houses, characteristic windmills, and numerous chapels make Mykonos the quintessential Cycladic island. Formerly a quiet fishing town, Mykonos is now a sophisticated island resort with smart cafes and boutiques. Enjoy an afternoon and evening at leisure to soak in all this dazzling town has to offer.
Inbegriffen
Although it was 'discovered' in the 1950s and has been a retreat for Greek and international celebrities from Maria Callas and Aristotle Onassis to Leonard Cohen, Hydra maintains its traditional character — in large part, because no motorized vehicles are allowed on the island.
Your guided tour of Hydra's landmarks begins with the Historical Archives Museum, housed in an elegant mansion and containing manuscripts, paintings, rare books and photographs that detail the long and distinguished maritime and military history of the island and its inhabitants.
As your walk continues, you will stop at the Church of the Dormitian, which serves as Hydra's cathedral. The church boasts a 3-story bell tower made entirely of marble and houses icons and other offerings from the wealthy seafarers of the island, including one chandelier that is said to have been stolen from Louis XIV.
A short uphill climb brings you to the Koundouriotis Mansion, a splendid example of the traditional architecture of Hydra. Built in 1780 by Lazaros Koundouriotis, it now houses various items from the National Historical Museum of Athens, such as traditional costumes, jewelry, fine embroideries, pottery and wood-carvings. The opulent interior also displays the heirlooms of this wealthy ship owner and his family.
Your exploration of this special island ends with a leisurely stroll back to the port. Be sure to pause along the way to enjoy a coffee and sample Hydra's local sweet amygdaloto at a cafe on the promenade.
Inbegriffen
PONANT and Smithsonian Journeys have organised the following included programme for you, which starts the day of embarkation.
Included Features:
Not included:
Notes:
Lektor
An Bord Ihres Schiffes bieten Ihnen ausgewählte Lektoren kulturelle und historische Einblicke, damit Sie noch mehr über Ihr Reiseziel erfahren können: den Ursprung der lokalen Traditionen, die Geschichte symbolischer Orte, berühmte Persönlichkeiten und historische Helden... Die Experten begleiten Sie während der gesamten Kreuzfahrt, an Bord und bei den Ausflügen an Land, um ihr Know-how und ihre Einsichten mit Ihnen zu teilen.
Unsere Zusatzleistungen
Athens is the birthplace of democracy and philosophy and home to the most enduring symbol of classical civilisation—the Parthenon. Join this specially designed programme to explore the incomparably rich legacy of this amazing city.
Day 1 – Athens, Greece
Arrive at Athens International Airport, where you will be met and transferred to the Hotel Grande Bretagne. A local representative will be present at the hospitality desk in the afternoon to welcome you and to offer suggestions for dining and independent exploration. Join fellow travellers this evening for a welcome cocktail reception. Dinner is on your own.
Day 2 – Athens | Embark
After breakfast at the hotel, your first visit will be at the New Acropolis Museum, opened to the public in 2009 and designed to house and showcase all of the artifacts found on the Acropolis since archaeological work at the site began. The result is the exhibition of some 4,000 objects dating from the Greek Bronze Age through the Roman and Byzantine periods. Your tour of the Acropolis itself includes the Propylaea, which serves as the entrance to the complex, the Temple of Athena Nike, or Wingless Victory, and the Erechtheum with its classical Porch of Maidens. And of course, there is the Parthenon, the most perfect example of classical architecture in the world, designed as a shrine to Athena and at one time housing a massive gold and ivory statue of the warrior goddess. At the end of this tour, enjoy time at leisure to stroll the pedestrian walkways of the Plaka, the ancient neighborhood at the base of the Acropolis, where you will find a variety of shops and cafés where you can browse and have an independent lunch before boarding your coach for the transfer to the pier to embark your ship.
Your hotel:
Located in historic Syntagma Square, the 5-star Hotel Grande Bretagne is the perfect venue for a visit to Athens. Within walking distance of exclusive shopping areas, museums, and the business district, the hotel boasts 320 rooms and suites, two restaurants, and a spa. Its views of the city centre, from the Parliament building to the Parthenon, are unrivaled.
Your programme includes:
Your programme does not include:
Please note:
Hotel contact information:
1 Vasileos Georgiou A' str.
Syntagma Square
Athens 105 64
Greece
Telephone: +30 210 333 0000
Gesamtpreis inkl. Steuern- und Gebühren : € 550
It was to this rugged island of Patmos that St. John the Evangelist was banished during the reign of the Roman Emperor Domitian, and it is here that he is said to have received the visions of the Apocalypse that later became the Book of Revelation.
Today, Patmos’s landscape is dominated by the fortress-like Monastery of St. John, built in the 11th century at the summit of a hill. As you explore this sacred place you will discover a veritable museum of Byzantine art — countless frescoes, precious icons, gold and silver liturgical objects, rare manuscripts and antiquities.
After the opulence of the monastery, a short drive takes you to the very different site of the Apocalypse Cave, which John made his home during his exile. Here you can see the resting place outlined in beaten silver where St John laid his head every night. Next to this bed of rock is the spot where John's disciple Prochoros sat as he transcribed the visions John dictated to him.
Inbegriffen
Named for the wife of Poseidon and said to be the birthplace of the three graces, Symi was an important part of the Roman and Byzantine empires. It was occupied by the Knights of St. John in 1373, and reached its greatest prominence under the Ottoman Empire, when shipbuilding and sponge-diving made the island quite prosperous. Enjoy an informal walk through town with your guide.
Inbegriffen
Relatively untouched by tourism, Amorgos evokes an earlier, simpler world. This excursion focuses on that simpler life by visiting two villages that continue local traditions in much the same way their families have done for generations
Arrive first at the village of Lagada, nestled among gently rolling hills on the northern end of the island. The cultivation of olives and the production of olive oil has been the primary economic activity of this region from before history. On a guided walk through the olive groves, you will learn how local growers tend their crops as well as about the importance of the olive in many aspects of Mediterranean life. Your walk ends with a demonstration of a traditional village olive press.
Your visit to Lagada is followed by a short drive north to Tholaria, a small village overlooking Aegiali Bay. Here you are welcome to explore the layout and functioning of a traditional Cylcadic private home — its cellar and wooden oven as well as the main residence. Attached to the house is a distillery for essential oils produced from herbs grown in Amorgos. Herbal medicine has been a part of Greek life since the ancients, and a local herbalist will explain the properties of the various herbs and their oils and how they are distilled.
Before departing Tholaria to return to the ship, gather on the outdoor terrace, which offers unlimited views of the sea and surrounding mountains, to enjoy a sampling of treats including olives, local cheeses, olive pies, local wine, raki, and local sweets.
Inbegriffen
Relatively untouched by tourism, Amorgos evokes an earlier, simpler world. This excursion focuses on the main attractions of the island — the Monastery of Hozoviotissa and Chora, the capital town.
Dedicated to the Virgin Mary, the Monastery was founded in 1088 and contains rare icons and manuscripts, which the monks who greet you will be delighted to explain while serving a sampling of the local sweet, loukoumi. But for most visitors it is the monastery itself, built into the side of a steep cliff and seemingly suspended some 900 feet above the sea below, that is the most vivid memory. The views both during your climb to the entrance and from within the monastery are spectacular.
Continuing your tour, you will reach Chora, one of the most picturesque villages in the Cyclades. A leisurely stroll among the whitewashed houses, small churches, and windmills that line the streets, perhaps pausing for a taste of ouzo and local sweets, leads to three small museums. The Ecclesiastical Museum contains relics and remembrances of prominent clergy, including Archbishop Christodoulos, for whom it is named. The nearby Cultural/Folklore Museum provides a glimpse into the daily life of earlier times. And the Archaeological Museum has a collection of finds from excavations of three ancient cities, some of which date to the Bronze Age.
Inbegriffen
Call at the small volcanic island of Folegandros. Take a shuttle to Hora, the charming capital of the island, and enjoy relaxing in this quaint village, built upon a 650-foot cliff, with its smart cafes and delightful tavernas.
Inbegriffen
The island of Delos was sacred to the ancient Greeks — the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis, and home to countless shrines and temples. Today, it is a veritable open-air museum.
Your walking tour of this sprawling site begins directly from the pier, as you follow your guide through a maze of fallen columns, sections of the mosaics which once adorned the houses of the rich, a stadium, tiers of seats from a theater abandoned long ago and much more. Atop a small hill is the Sanctuary of Zeus and Athena Cynthiens, dating from the 3rd century BC. From this vantage point, you overlook the entire site and get a sense of the grandeur of the city when it was the center of the Delian League.
Among the notable remains you will encounter is the Sanctuary of Apollo, also known as the “Temple of the Athenians," where you will see the altars and votive offerings presented by Athenians to the god so important to their civic life. You will also discover the Terrace of the Lions, among the best-preserved monuments on Delos, where five marble lions stand at the ready to protect the town as they gaze to the east, waiting for the sun to rise.
Finally, you will visit the Theater District, the most luxurious district of the ancient city with the mansions pretentiously named the homes “of Dionysus" and “of Cleopatra," among others. This is where the mosaics that adorned the floors of these great houses, as well as the streets and shops of ancient Delos will suggest the wealth of this once bustling city.
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Its white cubic houses, characteristic windmills, and numerous chapels make Mykonos the quintessential Cycladic island. Formerly a quiet fishing town, Mykonos is now a sophisticated island resort with smart cafes and boutiques. Enjoy an afternoon and evening at leisure to soak in all this dazzling town has to offer.
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Although it was 'discovered' in the 1950s and has been a retreat for Greek and international celebrities from Maria Callas and Aristotle Onassis to Leonard Cohen, Hydra maintains its traditional character — in large part, because no motorized vehicles are allowed on the island.
Your guided tour of Hydra's landmarks begins with the Historical Archives Museum, housed in an elegant mansion and containing manuscripts, paintings, rare books and photographs that detail the long and distinguished maritime and military history of the island and its inhabitants.
As your walk continues, you will stop at the Church of the Dormitian, which serves as Hydra's cathedral. The church boasts a 3-story bell tower made entirely of marble and houses icons and other offerings from the wealthy seafarers of the island, including one chandelier that is said to have been stolen from Louis XIV.
A short uphill climb brings you to the Koundouriotis Mansion, a splendid example of the traditional architecture of Hydra. Built in 1780 by Lazaros Koundouriotis, it now houses various items from the National Historical Museum of Athens, such as traditional costumes, jewelry, fine embroideries, pottery and wood-carvings. The opulent interior also displays the heirlooms of this wealthy ship owner and his family.
Your exploration of this special island ends with a leisurely stroll back to the port. Be sure to pause along the way to enjoy a coffee and sample Hydra's local sweet amygdaloto at a cafe on the promenade.
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