We organize flexible & tailor-made itineraries customized
to client's satisfaction and needs
Special
programs exclusive for
clients arriving by cruise ships in Greece
shore excursions
Designed for cruise passengers seeking a more personable service, or a more
upscale
Way of enjoying the shore excursions. Arrive on Oceania Cruises , Crystal
Cruises, Royal Caribbean Cruises . Princess or other Mediterranean cruises. Port
Trips , shore excursions and ground transportation in the Mediterranean. We
cater to your need and custom tailor, from 1 to 2000 passengers. If you are
among those who wish to break away from the crowd and experience more intimate
experience. Families and children are always welcomed. You'll always have
your PRIVATE air conditioned vehicle and private guide.
YEAR 2008
ITINERARIES
Things to do & places to see
from KATAKOLON
#1. Visit of
Ancient Olympia (4
hours)
#2.
Visit of
Ancient Olympia and Wine Taste (5
hours)
|
PARTICIPANTS |
UP TO 2 |
UP TO 16 |
UP TO 40 |
|
PRICE PER GROUP |
420.00 |
520.00 |
580.00 |
The above prices are in
Euro and Include A/C bus - A/C Mini bus - A/C car and professional English
speaking guide
Extra charges:
Entrance fee to Ancient Olympia € 6+6 for the museum per person (or € 9 combo
ticket)
For the final cost please calculate price + (participants X 12 or 9) = TOTAL COST
Departure from Katakolon port for the guided visit to Ancient Olympia, museum
and site.
One
of the most important sanctuaries of antiquity, dedicated to the father of the
gods Olympian Zeus. Olympia is the birth-place of the Olympic Games and also
where they were held.
The area, of great natural beauty, has been inhabited uninterruptedly since the
3rd millennium B.C. and in the late Mycenaean period it became a religious center.
The
excavations at Olympia were begun in May 1829, two years after the battle of
Navarino, by French archaeologists.
The finds (metopes from the opisthodomus and parts of the metopes from the
pronaos of the Temple of Zeus) were transferred to the Louvre where they are
still being exhibited. When the Greek government was informed of the looting of
artifacts, the excavation was stopped.
Excavations started again 45 years later by German archaeologists. The research
is being continued to this day by the German Institute of Archaeology in Athens,
and the Ephorate of Antiquities in Olympia.
The
sanctuary of Olympia spreads around the green wooded feet of the Kronion hill,
where the rivers Alpheios and Cladeos meet. The valley amongst the two rivers
was in ancient times full of wild olive trees, poplars, oaks, pines and plane
trees and it was these trees that gave the center of the sanctuary the name
Altis, meaning alsos (grove).
The Altis is the name given to the area in Olympia that comprises the main
religious buildings, temples and votive offerings of the sanctuary. Out of the
enclosure were the auxiliary buildings, priests' houses, baths, the areas for
the preparation of the athletes, guest houses along with other buildings.
The
beginning of worship, as well as the mythical confrontations that took place in
Olympia, are lost in the depth of the centuries. At the end of the Mycenaean era
there was already an installation in the area, and in the Geometric and early
Archaic periods, the first simple buildings of the sanctuary were founded.
The games began in 776 B.C. to honor Zeus. Pelops, the king of the Peloponnese
was, according to mythology, their founder. The games, that, from beginning to
end were dominated by religious character and austere ritual, were taking place
in the area in front of the temples to start with, but later as the athletes
taking part in the games, as well as the spectators increased, in well organized
installations. At the same time the events were enriched in number and variety.
The
innumerable offerings of the 7th-6th centuries B.C. were placed outside on
trees, altars or in alcoves of the sanctuary. The most important of the
offerings were bronze tripods and cauldrons of excellent quality, war loot
(hanging on poles) and other art objects and instruments for the games. In the
passing of centuries the architectural plan of the sanctuary takes shape, until
the end of the 4th century B.C. when it is finally completed.
Olympia
was always functioning as a place of political projection and the games often
fell, especially during late antiquity, victim to political exploitation from
important personalities like Philip II, Alexander the Great and his successors.
Romans, proving their authentic Greek origin, also took part in the games, after
the total submission of Greece to Rome, but by then the glamour and idealistic
spirit of the games was considerably weakened.
Directly depending on the the games and the sanctuary of Olympia was the town of
Elis, whose sole interest was the preparation and performance of the games.
Visit The tour page for the Wine taste tour
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