Road trip from Athens through the varied Peloponnese, to the beautiful North-West coast and the magnificent Aoos-Vikos National Park. Then to the special Meteora, the Oracle of Delphi and back to Athens.
Athens
We stay three nights in Athens, in Urban Nest, a very nice apartment/hotel with a spacious room, friendly staff and delicious breakfast. The hotel is located in Monastiraki, close to the sights, in a cozy neighborhood. It has a small roof terrace where we eat twice with a view of the Acropolis.
We arrive on Saturday evening, the next day is Easter. As a result, all sights and museums are closed, but this also means that it is very quiet on the streets.
On Sunday we walk via various churches (Large and Small Metropolitan) to Syntagma Square, where the changing of the guard in front of the Parliament building takes place. A huge crowd! After the changing we seek refreshment in the National Garden.
Walking through the Zappeion and the Zappeion garden past the Temple of Zeus, which is being restored. The imposing Zappeion is now used as a conference centre, but was built in 1874 for the modern Olympic Games. The Arch of Hadrian is impressive and stands casually along a busy street…. This gate was built in 131 AD and led from the Greek old city to the newer Roman part.
view on the acropolis
We walk through the Plaka district, the older part of the city, which is now very touristy. Fortunately, much is closed now, which makes it a bit quieter. Via Dionysiou Areopagitou, we walk towards the Acropolis. Here we admire the Odeion of Herodus Atticus (161 AD) a beautiful Amphitheatre. which is located against the Stoa of Eumenes (197-159 BC). We climb the Filopappou hill, for a beautiful view of the city and the Acropolis.
Acropolis Museum and site
The next day we can visit the most important sights. We walk through the old Anafiotika district, which is located north of Plaka, to the New Acropolis Museum (2009).
This impressive museum houses all the archaeological finds in and around the Acropolis hill. The finds can be seen per building and are explained in detail. During the construction of the museum, a lot was also found on the site itself and now you can also visit this ‘underground’ city.
After the museum we go to the Acropolis itself. Acropolis means ‘the highest point of the city’ in Greek and was often used to build a castle or a palace. In this way the surrounding area could be well controlled and protected. The Acropolis in Athens was rebuilt in the fifth century BC as a complex of sanctuaries. It is very crowded there and the buildings make a little less impression on us.
The Parthenon (447-432 BC) is unfortunately in scaffolding. It served as a church and mosque, the marble roof was lost in an explosion in 1687. It was once the temple of Athena, the patron goddess of the city. The Erechtheion, a sanctuary from 421 BC, was rebuilt in 1827. The Portal of the Caryatids, where six women are sculpted as pillars is beautiful. Behind this building is an olive tree. It is said that the first olive tree sprouted here. Since 1917 there has been an olive tree as a symbol of that miracle.
Agora, the center of the city
After the Acropolis we visit the Agora. The Agora was a market square with a number of important buildings. It was the center, literally the gathering place of the city. Here the citizens gathered for sports competitions, festivals, but also for justice and popular assemblies.
The Stoa of Attalus has been completely restored and houses a small museum. Originally, the Stoa functioned as a market, with shops in the colonnade. The original Stoa was built in the 2nd century BC by Attalus, but the building burned down in 267. The building was restored in 1953.
The most beautiful building is the Temple of Hepahaistos (449 BC). This looks like a mini Parthenon, without the busy crowds. Its construction heralded the beginning of the Golden Age, in which Athens flourished. It is one of the best preserved temples in Greece.
Roadtrip through the peloponessos
We pick up the car at the airport and drive via the Corinth Canal to Epidaurus.
Epidaurus is the place where the best preserved theater (4th century BC) in Greece is located. It is located in the sanctuary of Asclepius, demigod of medicine. The small museum also contains medical objects.
The theater is impressive. 14,000 spectators can enjoy the performances. There are other buildings on the site, where patients were received, for example. Asclepius, four-yearly games for athletes and poetry competitions were also held.
We spend the night at camping Lefka, on the beach
Highlight Mani
Via Nafplio, Tripoli and Sparta to the Mani peninsula. Here the landscape becomes rougher. We enjoy this tour. The road leads along a beautiful coast, but also along Kita and Vathia, where the residential towers have been well preserved. The clans that lived here (15th century) fought over the best pieces of land and built towers for defence.
Olympia
Almost three thousand years ago, the Olympic Games were held here, the first during the Persian war in 480 BC. The peace lasted three months so that athletes from all over the country could train here and prepare for the competitions.
The Games were held every four years, in the beginning they were mainly intended to honor Zeus. In the beginning mainly wrestling and boxing, later more athletics events. If an athlete cheated, a statue was placed at the entrance of the stadium and the athlete was put on display with his name and surname…. There are also three museums in the complex, including one about the origins of the Games.
We spend the night at Aginara Beach Camping, a nice place with a nice beach with palm trees. A good place to have a day of rest.
On Saturday we drive north and leave the Peloponnese. Via the beautiful Amvrakikos NP we drive to Sofas camping on the coast. In Amvrakikos we see flamingos and peli
.
The ionian coast
Unfortunately the weather is not as good as we hoped, but luckily it stays dry and we can enjoy a beautiful Ionian coast and nice beaches. Sofas camping is a nice place, with a relaxed atmosphere.
The Mountains
Via the town of Parga and the beautiful mountains we drive to Vitsa.
We stay in Vitsa, in the Aoos Vikos NP, a beautiful mountain range including the Vikos gorge. The region is famous for its many Zagoria villages and special bridges. There are 46 villages and we stay in a beautifully restored building, called archontika, by The Land Beyond.
During the Ottoman rule, the region was given self-government and the people often worked abroad and sent money to their families. This money was used to build beautiful houses and these have mostly been preserved.
There are many hiking trails in the region, connected by bridges. These bridges were also built by wealthy citizens. It took until the 1970s before most roads were built. Walking here is wonderfully quiet, along paths strewn with spring flowers.
Most beautiful hikes
Today we walk from Kapesova, via the Vradeto steps to Vradeto and then to the Beloi viewpoint over the beautiful Vikos gorge. About 11 km in excellent conditions: blue skies and sun! A beautiful walk, with beautiful views over the Messaria gorge, the Tymfi mountain range and many special flowers.
The second walk we make starts from Makro Papingo to the bottom of the Vikos gorge. The gorge is 1000 m wide and 1 km deep. A tough walk with wonderful cooling from the Voidomatis river. This river is one of the cleanest in Europe.
In the evening we eat deliciously at Frosos Pies in Monodendri.
Special Meteora
Via the mountains and the town of Metsovo we drive to Meteora. The name of this special place means ‘rocks in the sky’. These rocks were formed 30 million years ago when the sea retreated. The sandstone rocks remained standing.
The rocks were seen as places of refuge and in the Middle Ages hermits retreated there. In 1336 a monastery was founded. The Great Meteora was the first monastery, on a rock 543 m high. At one point there were 24. It is remarkable how these monasteries were built, because paths were only recently cut out of the rocks. In the past, goods and people were hoisted up using ropes and baskets and ladders were used.
We visit Saint Trinity Great Meteora and Varlaam. We find the latter monastery the most beautiful. In some monasteries, much has been preserved and can be seen about monastic life, such as the kitchen in Great Meteora. In Varlaam there is also a museum where much is explained about monastic life
The Oracle of Delphi
We spend the night at the Delphi campsite and are at the museum in ten minutes. A beautiful exhibition. Many special items have been found here because many sacrifices have been made. Three thousand years ago, pilgrims went to this place to ask the Pythia, the most famous Oracle, for advice and counsel. Small and large problems were presented to her. The oracle was not one person, but a woman who was gifted with prophetic gifts by the god Apollo.
We walk through Ancient Delphi via the Sacred Way. The Temple of Apollo, (4th century BC) is beautifully situated with the Parnassos Mountains in the background. Above the temple is the theatre and the stadium with stands.
After Delphi we drive back to the airport of Athens. The Peloponnese, the coast but especially the mountains in the north, the beautiful nature and the friendly inhabitants have pleasantly surprised us!