Mycenae & Epidaurus (2 day tour)

DAY 1

Starting from Athens we drive westwards along the scenic coast, until we reach the CORINTH CANAL with its breathtaking views (Short Stop). The Corinth Canal is a junction of international sea transport and serves ships coming from the western Mediterranean and Adriatic en route to eastern Mediterranean and black sea ports and vice-versa. The Corinth Canal intersects the Isthmus of Corinth and has a length of 6.343m. The minimum width of the canal at sea level is 24.6m and bottom width of 21m at 8m depth. Continue along the coastal road of the Saronic Gulf to MYCENAE (Visit). Mycenae ‘Rich in Gold’, the kingdom of mythical Agamemnon, first sung by Homer in his epics, is the most important and richest palatial center of the Late Bronze Age in Greece. Its name was given to one of the greatest civilizations of Greek prehistory, the Mycenaean civilization. Then depart for NAUPLIA 1st capital of Greece in 1829 – Lunch and afternoon at leisure – Overnight in Nauplia. (L)

DAY 2

NAUPLIA – Morning at leisure and then depart for EPIDAURUS (Visit) – On the headland called “Nesi” at Palaia Epidaurus, the theatre of the ancient city is quite well-preserved, in the shape it acquired during the latter years of its function. Apart from a few rows of seats, the cavea is made of limestone with poros staircases. Until now, nine cunei with eighteen rows of seats have been excavated, which originally could accommodate about 2000 spectators. All the benches and thrones of the theatre carry inscriptions with the names of the donors while implying a direct relationship of the monument with the cult of Dionysus. The theater is marveled for its exceptional acoustics, which permit almost perfect intelligibility of unamplified spoken word from the proscenium or scene to all 12,000 spectators, regardless of their seating. In the afternoon drive back to Athens (B).