Nafplio, tour to Epidaurus & Mycenae

Disembark and depart from the port of Nafplion with direction one of the best preserved archaeological sites of Greece, Epidaurus. Once in Epidaurus leave the motor coach and walk through characteristic Greek landscape formed by olive groves, following your guide to the world famous Theatre, one of the most well preserved monuments of the antiquity in the world. According to Pavsanias, the ancient Greek traveller and writer, the Theatre was built in the 4^th century BC by the Argic architect and sculptor Policleitos. The Theatre with its outstanding acoustics accommodates 14.000 spectators and comes to life every summer with the Festival of Epidaurus, performing ancient comedies and tragedies. See the surrounding ruins, and then visit the local archaeological museum, where you will have the opportunity to admire unique pieces of art, some found in the Asclepeion of Epidaurus, an important structure, dedicated to the ancient god of medicine, Asclepeios. Afterwards, return to your motor coach and to drive to Mycenae.

Mycenae was one of the greatest cultural centers of ancient Greece and an entire period in history is named after it. Upon your arrival, walk up the ramp of the walled city and pass under the Lion’s Gate to enter the Mycenean acropolis. At the site are six royal tombs, excavated by E. Scleman in 1876 bringing several very important gold items to light. The acropolis is surrounded by huge Cyclopean walls whose width varies from 3 to 8 meters and were constructed from 1350 to 1330 BC. Walking around the ruins, you will remember Homer’s Iliad famous poem as you will see the Grave Circle in which the golden mask of Agamemnon was found. Following the lecture given by your guide on the site you will have some free time to explore the upper parts of Mycenae or to relax until you visit the small Archaeological Museum. The Mycenae Archaeological Museum has a splendid model of the site in Mycenae, so that the visitor can get a general grasp of what the place used to be in the past and they can relate what they will see to this model for a better understanding .The museum shows more than two thousand objects from Mycenae and its surroundings. It is possible to understand how the people of Mycenae lived, and how life in Mycenae had developed until its fall in about 2000 BC.

Continue your tour with a visit to the famous vaulted tomb, which is named “The Treasure of Atreus”, the most magnificent and well preserved vaulted Mycenaean tomb. Complete the discovery of the marvelous Mycenaean civilization by visiting the archaeological museum. Afterwards return to your motor coach to drive back to Nafplion and the ship.