Homeric Mycenae and the Argolis Plain
At a glance
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Duration: 8 to 9 hours.
Set with a guide and a vehicle and its driver.
The itinerary includes:
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A mythological journey through the legendary citadel of Mycenae.
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A promenade around the picturesque coastal town of Nafplio, and a lunch at one of its wonderful traditional tavernas.
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A quick tour of the spectacular, ancient Theatre of Epidaurus.
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Optional G&I twist: The visit to Epidaurus can be substituted with a visit to Nemea, the wine country of Greece, for a wine-tasting session (+ 45 minutes).
Ideal for:
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Travellers who want to pack in a single day a wonderful panorama of Greek culture and history: from fascinating mythology, archaeology, and history of multiple different periods, to delicious traditional food and relaxed walks in quaint alleys.
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Travellers who have a particular interest in Greek mythology and Homer's timeless literary masterpieces of the Iliad and the Odyssey.
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Travellers who want to escape for a day from the busy city centre of Athens and sightsee while breathing the fresh air of the countryside.
In depth
When Cicero, writing c. 2,000 years ago, singled out the Peloponnese as the 'birthplace of high civilization', he was making a point which is difficult to refute - to this day, this blessed land at the south of the Greek mainland is sprinkled with innumerable ancient monuments of legendary status. Luckily for us Athenians, one of them is only a short driving-distance away, perched on a hill above the plain of Argolis.
This is of course Mycenae, a deeply ancient city whose fame is of epic proportions - and quite literally so, as it features in Homer’s epic poem ‘Iliad’, as the royal seat of king Agamemnon, the mythic leader of the Greeks in their siege of Troy. The intriguing amalgam of mythology and archaeology that emanates from every stone of the citadel's 3,300-years-old structures, creates an unforgettable experience that lies at the very heart of the Greek culture.
But the Argolis plain is not only about ancient sites – a short drive from Mycenae, lies a port town that looks like something out of a medieval fairy tale. Nafplio, with its many quaint, 500-year-old cobbled alleyways and elegant buildings, is the perfect stop to relax and recuperate with a great lunch and a charming stroll.
Our last stop – respecting the fact that post-lunch activities can be a challenge – is appropriately easy but still impressive. Concealed by lush nature, the stunning, 2,300-years-old Theatre of Epidaurus surprises its visitors, not only by its unique preservation state (it is one of the best surviving in the entire world), but also with its marvelous acoustic engineering, guaranteed to end our day with a splash of awe.
But the Argolis plain is home to another epic place: Nemea, the veritable wine country of Greece, and home to some amazing varietals. Therefore, instead of visiting another archaeological site, you can transform this last part of the tour to an indulgent exploration of the buzzing Greek wine scene.