Classical Greece

SUNDAY: Piraeus (for Athens)

If you're in search of classical treasures, then Athens is the original cultural metropolis. Arriving on Sunday you can take your time to explore the city’s ancient sites, museums and modern squares, parks and restaurants. Visit the site of the agora, the market place of ancient Athens or the Pnyx, the ancient debating chamber for Athens’ citizens where speakers came forward to put their case and where some of the most important decisions that have shaped our world today were debated and agreed. Stand on top of the Acropolis at the religious and political heart of the ancient city with a view out over the whole of Athens. Take time out in Athens’ oldest modern district, Plaka, with its winding streets and brightly painted houses, or indulge in the trendy cafes and restaurants of its latest hot spot, Psirri. Find a bargain in the flea markets of Monastiraki or enjoy the high class shopping and cafe culture of uptown Kolonaki. As the sun goes down, take a seat in a cafe under the Acropolis to try a tipple of local retsina or ouzo with some ‘meze’ nibbles and watch the sun set over one of the most famous sights in the world. See the Acropolis lit up in a spectacular light display before heading to the Piraeus to get on board.

easyCruise offers an on board lecturer to help you explore the sites of ancient Greece as the cruise unfolds. Every day over breakfast the lecturer will give you a brief outline of what can be seen before the Greek site guides take you on detailed tours of the places themselves. Feel free to listen or to do your own thing. After a well deserved meal the lecturer will be on hand to help put what you have seen at the sites into context and answer your questions. In the evenings the lecturer will offer different relaxed talks in the bar on subjects as diverse as running the Marathon; sex and society in ancient Greece; the nature of Athenian democracy and modern democracy; the challenges of archaeology in Greece today; the Persians wars; the battle of Thermopylae and the creation of modern Greece. There will also be plentiful books and novels on board to browse and buy for more information and interest.

MONDAY: Corinth Canal

easyCruiseOne negotiates its way through the Corinth Canal, cut through solid rock 23 metres wide, 87 m deep and over 6 kilometres in length, linking the Ionian and Aegean seas. The canal, saving ships having to go all the way round the Peloponnese, is a magnificent feat of human engineering and has been a dream since ancient times, when crews had to drag their ships instead across the land. The canal was in fact started by the Emperor Nero in 67 AD, but not completed until 1893: it has been a labour of love through the ages! easyCruiseOne will transit the canal during daylight hours on Monday morning before arriving in Corinth and again on Friday morning on its return to Athens.

MONDAY: Corinth

The choice is yours: explore ancient Corinth, Nemea and Mycenae; explore one of the finest wine producing areas of Greece or simply relax by the sea.

The ancient city of Corinth was once the rival of Athens for supremacy in mainland Greece, before finally displacing Athens as the capital during Roman times. During this period, St Paul lived and preached here for almost two years. Visit the magnificent ancient remains of the city, including one of the oldest standing temples in Greece and see how the Romans rebuilt Greek cities to suit their own style. If you are brave enough climb the hill to AcroCorinth, an ancient settlement and now an abandoned and yet incredibly imposing fortress, which was occupied by the Byzantines, Franks, Venetians and Turks. Stand on top of the 2.5km’s of fortification walls and see the entire plain laid out before you stretching away to the sea.

Mythology has it that in the nearby sanctuary of Nemea, Heracles, the greatest of all Greek heroes, battled with a lion sent by the goddess Hera. This lion would have destroyed the sanctuary and its settlement had Heracles not defeated it, transforming it into the constellation we now know as Leo. The sanctuary became one of the four great pan Hellenic sanctuaries of ancient Greece, with its own athletic games to rival the ones at Olympia. Imagine the huge animal sacrifices carried out here as you stand looking at its 41m long altar. Take part in your own athletic competition in its well preserved stadium. Visit the museum to hear about how the sanctuary was also being constantly fought over by the two great rival powers which it lay almost directly between: Corinth and Argos.

Nemea is also one of the finest wine producing regions of Greece – particularly of red wine. Here the Agiorghitiko grape is used and produces wines famous for their deep red colour, complex aroma and long, velvety palate. Take some time out to enjoy a glass or two. One of the most up and coming is Domaine Skouras. Over the last fifteen years, the Burgundy trained winemaker George Skouras has brought his Domaine to the forefront of Greek Estates producing wines with native and international grapes. Skouras has built one winery near Argos, another in the bucolic village of Gymno, in the AOC region of Nemea and a third is under construction. Other well-known and excellent producers include George Kokotos's Domaine Helios at Koutsi, near Nemea; Yannis Paraskevopoulos's Gaia Estate, also at Koutsi; George Palivos's Ktima Palivou at Ancient (Archaia) Nemea; and the Papaioannou winery (Athanasios Papaioannou) also at Ancient Nemea.

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But a visit to this part of Greece would not be complete without a visit to one of its most famous places: the ancient fortress citadel palace of Mycenae, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This site dates to between 1600 and 1100 BC and was the centre of a powerful succession of rulers – so famous that, today – the city has given its name to the entire civilisation of Greece at that time: the Mycenaeans. Originally thought to have been the home of one of the famous warriors of the Iliad, Agamemnon, we are now less sure about who exactly lived here. But their power is all too real. Walk through the Lion gate entrance to the city and feel the shivers run up and down your spine. Visit the brand new museum to see the complex, rich and sophisticated culture of these people and marvel at the effort they went to in building imposing tombs for their rulers.

TUESDAY: Ithaci

Just where was Odysseus’ home? This is the centre of a new debate currently raging between geographers, geologists and classicists. easyCruiseOne takes you to the very heart of the debate: the island of Ithaki. Take stock in its main town of Vathy and judge for yourself where you think Odysseus may have lived. Enjoy the idyllic scenery of sea, cypress trees and rocky mountains. Relax on the beautiful nearby beaches at Sarakiniki and Filiatro or take an excursion to the mystical Cave of the Nymphs, possibly a setting for a scene in Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey.

WEDNESDAY: Patras (for Olympia)

The ship will be docking in the port of Patras, which is one of the major Greek ports. Patras is the 3rd biggest city in Greece, with a rich historical heritage. The city is divided into upper and lower parts connected by broad flights of steps, as well as streets. The upper part is the older and more picturesque, but the lower part is attractively laid out, with plenty of squares in a geometrical pattern. The reconstructed Roman Odeon and the replica of the Original Patras lighthouse are some of the interesting attractions of the city. From here we will journey to Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympic Games.

The Olympic Games, it is said, first began in 776 BC and their foundation marks the beginning of recorded history. Throughout the ancient world, they stood as the pinnacle of athletic achievement and civic rivalry. Every 4 years envoys would be sent out from the sanctuary to announce the Olympic Games to the whole Greek world. All wars were stopped during the time of the games and everyone was allowed to travel in safety to participate and to watch. This place witnessed one of the largest gatherings of Greeks known to the ancient world and was also popular with the Roman emperors who liked to show off their prowess (Nero even built a house here). You can visit the stadium where they had the foot and chariot races (and race yourself). You can see the massive investment and preparation that went into hosting an event open to all the corners of the ancient world – the inns, gymnasiums and training grounds. Take a tour around the sanctuary of Zeus to see some of the most imposing remains in Greece: the heavy dark stone columns of the Temple of Zeus raised high off the ground; the stoas and treasuries lining the sides of the sanctuary and the museum with its incredibly well preserved ancient sculpture, armour and athletic finds. Hear the stories of the altar to Zeus which grew so high with the ash of sacrifices in his honour that in the 2nd century AD it stood over 20ft high! The sanctuary was full to bursting with expensive treasures and offerings. It was home to hundreds of statue of athletic victors and dedications by cities and states keen to shout loud about their achievements to the rest of the Greek world. The sanctuary was a notice board, a talking shop, a place of intense competition and prestige and over it all presided one of the seven wonders of the ancient world: the gold and ivory statue of a seated Zeus, placed inside his temple, made by the great sculptor Pheidias. The statue was said to be so tall that if Zeus ever decided to stand up, he would take the roof of his temple up with him into the sky.

THURSDAY: Itea (for Delphi)

easyCruiseOne stops at the modern port of Itea, which is not far from the ancient port where visitors to the oracle of Delphi used to arrive and make their way up the mountainside to the sanctuary. Near Itea is the seaside town of Galaxidi, with relaxed bars, restaurants and beaches. But not to be missed is the journey through one of the largest olive groves in Europe up into the Parnassos mountains to the sanctuary of Delphi.

The sanctuary is in one of the most mountainous areas of Greece, cut off in winter by the snow and at the end of a long and arduous journey at all other times. Yet despite its marginality, it was known as the centre of the ancient world. Myths tell us that Zeus let go of two eagles at opposite ends of the world and they met over Delphi. It was a sanctuary dedicated to the god Apollo and contained his most famous oracle: the Pythian Priestess who would, when consulted, go into a frenzy inspired by the God and give his pronouncements on the future. It was said that mystical vapours appeared from a chasm underneath the ground of the temple – a chasm which has been found today and tested by geologists. There is fierce debate about its use. But the power of the oracle in the ancient world was never in doubt. The richest and most powerful rulers of the ancient world came often to Delphi to seek the advice and wisdom of the God. Thanks to this oracle wars were started or stopped; famines were cured; rulers were deposed and set up; colonies were founded and Gods were created. See what you think when you stand in one of the most magical landscapes of Greece and in one of its richest sanctuaries. See the hundreds of rich and imposing dedications that were brought from all over the Greek world in honour of the God. Walk along the sanctuary’s sacred way, re-enacting the processions that took place during the sanctuary’s 900 year history and compete in its stadium, where it hosted games to rival those at Olympia. Delphi was an international political centre, where Greeks came to commemorate their victories and celebrate their cities, states and culture. Several bitter wars were fought over its ownership and eventually a compromise was reached in which it was supposedly neutral and independent. As such, it has been called the proto-type EU and UN – a talking shop for the ancient world’s diplomats and politicians – and as such, not least also for its beauty, grandeur and importance to the ancient world, it has earned the ranking of UNESCO World Heritage Site.

FRIDAY: Aegina

easyCruiseOne takes you to one of the most beautiful islands lying close to the port of Athens. Aegina has long harbour walkways, idyllic fish restaurants, cafes and splendid scenery, not least towards Athens and Attica’s most southern tip: Sounion. From the harbour side you can just see the few remaining columns of a temple of Apollo on the Hill of Kolona. But a bus ride away, at one of the island’s highest points, is the sanctuary of Athena Aphaea containing one of the best preserved temples in ancient Greece. The island was incredibly politically active in ancient times, as it lay on important naval and trade routes, and was for a long time the enemy of Athens (something it made clear through its dedications at Delphi). Indeed its Temple of Athena was supposed to outdo anything Athens had to offer and on a clear day, it is possible to compare the temples at Aegina and the Athenian temple of Poseidon at Sounion. This was not so much religion as pure gamesmanship. The sanctuary’s temple sculpture is also very well preserved and the vibrant colours on the sculptured pieces still survive: contrary to traditional belief temple sculpture was not white marble in the Greek world but incredibly bright blues, reds, yellows and greens.

SATURDAY: Piraeus (for Athens)

There's plenty of time on Saturday to explore the city - most of the ancient sites are within easy reach, and when you've had your fill of culture, there are always the local tavernas, cafes, bars and clubs!

In the afternoon there will be an opportunity to join a tour to Sounion. You will have seen Sounion from Aegina: the southernmost tip of Attica and a beacon for all ships heading to the ancient Athenian harbour at Piraeus. As such, it was an important political marker for the Athenians, at which they established a sanctuary to the sea god Poseidon. In the 5th century, as part of a major elaboration of Athenian monuments – a building campaign that included the Parthenon on the Acropolis – a new temple to Poseidon was built in the sanctuary. It has been a favourite visiting point for tourists throughout the ages and many have etched their names onto the temple columns including Lord Byron. Enjoy a coffee overlooking the bay, take in the sanctuary to Poseidon and the nearby sanctuary to Athena, the ancient ship docking yards and then settle back for one of the most magical sunsets in Greece.

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