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Taste of Italy &
Greece
from a Christian Perspective
13
Day First Class Tours
Available Year-round for Groups
Day 1 - Depart USA
Overnight flight to Rome.
Day 2 Arrive Rome & Walking Tour
Arrive at Rome airport, meet motorcoach and tour manager. En route to the hotel, stop at the ruins of Ostia Antica, which provides an idea of life in classical times. You will also see the Ostian Gate, today called the Gate of St. Paul, before arriving at the
hotel for check in and some relaxation time before dinner. There will be
a welcome reception before dinner at a local restaurant, followed by a
guided walking tour to discover Rome by night. (Rome 2 nights)
Day 3 Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter Basilica
After breakfast you will begin a full day of site seeing. First visit Vatican City where you will see the Basilica at St. Peter, the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museums with stunning works of art at every turn. After some free time for lunch, you will visit the 4th century Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, the traditional site of Pauls tomb, and the Scala Santa, Luthers Holy Steps. Dinner will be at another local restaurant. The spiritual and historical insight gained from this tour will be invaluable to you, not only in your understanding and application of truths, but also in your daily walk with the Lord.
Day 4 Catacombs & Coliseum
In the morning there will be a guided walking tour in the Antic Rome where you will see many marvels of this ancient city including a tour of the Roman Coliseum, the Catacombs where thousands of Christians were buried in a remarkable tiered series of galleries, and the Caracalla Baths dating back to the early AD 220s.
This afternoon we transfer to the hillside walled city of Assisi for the
evening.
Day 5 Frescoes, Assisi & Overnight Ferry to
Greece
After breakfast, enjoy a guided tour of this beautiful, medieval town,
which will include the Basilica San Francesco, decorated with some of
the most renowned frescoes in the world. Later this morning we turn
toward the east to Anacona and board an
overnight Ferry for the land of antiquity - Greece.
Day 6 Meteora
Monasteries
This afternoon we visit the
world famous Byzantine monasteries that are perched precariously on
summits of gray rock pinnacles of varied and beautiful shapes. Their
history goes back to the 14th century when the monks sought refuge in
the cliffside caves then fled higher to build the original wooden
shelters, later transformed into monasteries.Our lodging this evening
will be in Meteora.
Day 7 Athens & Plaka
We begin our guided tour
today in the city of Athens, the birth place of democracy. Visit the
Acropolis, the Parthenon, and Erectheum before viewing Athens atop Mars
Hill where Paul stood and preached the truth to the Gentile nation.
Additional sites include the Agora (ancient market place and center of
Athenian public life), the House of Parliament, the Tomb of the Unknown
Soldier, Olympic Stadium, and Presidential Palace. We are then free to
shop in the famous flea market of Athens. You will find the finest of
jewelry, leather, pottery and marble, or the fun souvenirs all
"tourists" enjoy. Be sure to taste the Greek almonds and
pistachios from the street
vendors.
Day 8 Corinth
Mycenae
This
morning we leave Athens by motor coach and travel to the ancient city of
Corinth, another treat for the New Testament scholar. Corinth is the
city that inspired many of St Paul's most familiar letters. See the
Archaeological Museum, the Market Place, the Bema, and the Temples. To
stand in the midst of the ruins of the church of Corinth and see the
pillars, steps, and public worship place where Paul preached will
enhance your understanding and love of I & II Corinthians. The ruins
of this important cultural center are fascinating as we walk along the
stone path that the Apostle Paul walked. The engineering skill and
intellect of these people are evident in the water systems that still
flow from ancient to modern day. After the visit to ancient Corinth we
travel to Mycenae where the remains of the ancient city date back to the
Bronze Age to see the famous Lionesse Gate, the Tomb of Agamennon in the
shape of a Beehive, and many other sites before returning to Athens for
the evening.
Day
9 Cruising Mykonos
We sail
this morning from Athens to the quaint isle of Mykonos, called the
island of windmills. Experience the waterfront lined with shops and
cafes and then stroll the charming walkways through a maze of
whitewashed buildings before returning to the ship for dinner and
evening activities.
Day
10 Rhodes
After
breakfast we will visit Rhodes. This ancient fortified city was built by
the knights of St. John and is rich in Roman and Greek culture. Stroll
down the Street of the Knights to the market area for shopping and a
wonderful Greek lunch. You may enjoy an optional tour to the ancient
city of Lindos. Magnificently situated between two bays with sandy
beaches, an ancient acropolis and medieval castle, Lindos is famous as a
most striking and impressive city. Again we return to the ship for
dinner.
Day 11 Patmos &
Kusadasi, Turkey
This morning we visit the
Isle of Patmos, under statutory protection as a historic monument. See
the fortified monestary of St. John and the cave claimed to be where
John received the Revelation. Docking in Turkey, we tour Ephesus, the
city of the Bible and one of the largest restorations still in progress
with miles of ancient treasures. Ephesus was once a thriving port town
of 250,000 people. Today you can still see the spectacular excavations
of the major streets in this ancient city. We'll view the Library,
Agora, Temple of Artemis and visit the Basilica of St. John. The
basilica is believed to be the site of the grave of St. John. From here
we'll also enjoy a panoramic view of the area. Our lodging this evening
will be nearby.
Day 12 Cape Sounion
This morning, after
breakfast, we will have a tour of the city of Athens, seeing the Tomb of
Unknown Soldiers, the Olympic stadium-home of the first modern day
Olympic competition and future site of the Olympic Games of 2004. Of
course, a tour of Athens is not complete without a visit to the
Acropolis and Parthenon. On Mars Hill, Paul was brought before the
council and delivered his great sermon. There is so much to see that
this will only wet your appetite to explore on your own. This afternoon
we will travel along a coastal road past many wonderful beaches to the
southern most point of Attica, Cape Sounion, where the white marble
pillars of the Temple of Poseidon stand. After visiting the temple ruins
we have time to walk along the rock promontory of Sounion or sit at the
cafe and sip the most scrumptious hot chocolate you can imagine.
Day 13 Homeward
An early morning flight
will bring us home by this afternoon.
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