An incredible journey through Greece from Athens to Thessalonika. From classical Greece to modern Greece. Memory, Magic and Mastery.

Memories of our, just completed small group tour from Athens to Thessalonika.

We started in Athens, with a few day to discover this fabulous ancient city. Such a joy to visit the Acropolis and the spectacular Acropolis Museum. A visit to the Benaki was a highlight too – superb collection of art, textiles and jewellery. Not to mention the wonderful lunch on the roof terrace.

Then it was a luxurious little mini-coach (all leather upholstery), across the plains of Attica to the sacred site of Delphi. This was where the prophetess ‘The Oracle of Delphi’ lived. Here on the slopes of Mount Parnassus we visited the site of the very first Pythian Games (similar to the Olympic Games). It’s an amazing archaeological site on a hillside, a place of great importance to the Ancient Greeks. In the days of Classical Greece politicians, military commanders, kings and princesses came to Delphi to consult the oracle. To step on this ancient hillside is to step back in time.

From Delphi we headed to the coast via the military site of Thermopyles. Here the Spartans bravely fought the Persians. Even though their king Leonidas lost his life here, the site remembers his courage and heroism. Next we arrived at Volos – a port town. Here we took the ferry to Skopelos, a typical Greek island for a few days of rest and relaxation. It was here on Skopelos and nearby Skiathos that ‘Mamma Mia’ the movie was filmed.

Our Greek journey was a mixture of history and learning, great food and wine and a couple of days on the beach. We finished up our Greek journey with a drive across Thessaly, passing the foothills of Mount Olympus and then on to Thessalonika.

Our Greek journey was a mixture of history and learning, great food and wine and a couple of days on the beach. We finished up our Greek journey with a drive across Thessaly, passing the foothills of Mount Olympus and then on to Thessalonika.

Travelling from Athens northwards through Greece, spending a couple of days on an island and then finishing up in Greece’s second city was a wonderful way to really discover the country and to take in some seriously impressive archaeological sites too. My favourite site was Delphi – just so impressive and to see The Charioteer in real life – just incredible. Below you can see a selection of Delphos gowns displayed in The Met, New York. The gown was inspired by the bronze statue of The Charioteer discovered at Delphi in the 1890s.

If you’d like to join us on our next small group tour of Greece drop me a line.

Further reading:

• Greece – discovering legends
• The wines of Greece: Santorini to Thessalonika – A Tour of Greece from vine to wine
• Santorini The island of Santorini weaves her magical spell……
• Delphi – Greece – Oracle of Delphi
• Venice – Fashion, Fortuny, Silk dresses and Downton Abbey

31st May 2023

To travel with http://www.grand-tourist.com in Italy and Greece – contact us via e-mail or what’s app.