Upper Travel

Delphi | An immersive private trip at the Navel of the Earth

<p><strong>Delphi, The Navel of the Earth</strong></p><p>Nowadays a Unesco monument, the mythical “center of the earth”, hosted antiquity's perhaps most sacred site: The Mediterranean’s supreme Oracle in which the legendary Pythia delivered her cryptic predictions to men and states alike. A place of intense beauty and magic, Delphi beckons contemporary visitors to join in the steps of ancient pilgrims:Discover the Castalian Spring- allegedly created by Pegasus and favored by the Muses- in which oracular priestesses bathed. Walk on the Sacred Road leading to Apollo’s Temple; marvel at the elaborate voting offerings and the Treasury of the Athenians on the way. Admire the sanctuary of Athena Pronaia, a most photogenic masterpiece of Classical architecture. Explore the Theater and Stadium of Delphi, where the Pythian Games honoring Apollo were held:After the Olympics, these were the 2nd most important games in ancient Greece!</p><p><br></p><p><strong>The Archaeological Museum of Delphi</strong></p><p>One of the most fascinating museums in the country, it is laden with treasures excavated on the site. Spot the differences on the bronze Charioteer of Delphi: Created in memory of a Pythian Games victory, this masterpiece’s face seems completely different, depending on which side you look! Make sure to admire the haunting Naxian Sphinx, once guarding Apollo’s Temple; and the friezes from the Siphnian and the Athenian Treasuries: Music fans will be fascinated to discover that the latter contains what seems to be the first recorded melody ever!</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Delphi, Myths and Monuments</strong></p><p>As he makes his way to Delphi, Pausanias complains that the road ‘is precipitous and difficult even for an active man’. This does seem a remote location for such a major sanctuary, yet it ensured that Delphi was in neutral territory, away from the political power brokers. Furthermore, the sanctuary is peripheral but not isolated. It could be reached by sea and was just off one of the main routes north. The Greeks believed that Delphi was the centre of the world and from their point of view this is quite understandable.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>What you see</strong></p><ul><li>Archaeological Site of Delphi, UNESCO World Heritage Site</li><li>Archaeological Museum of Delphi</li><li>Sanctuary of Athena Pronaia</li><li>Treasuries of the Athenians</li><li>Theater and Stadium of Delphi</li><li>Kastalian Spring</li><li>Temple of Apollo</li><li>Oracle of Delphi</li><li>Arachova Village or Monastery of Hosios Loukas</li></ul>

Offer valid until: 30 November 2023

Temple of Poseidon & Cape Sounio Private Excursion | The Upper Sunset Experience

<p><strong>ATHENS RIVIERA (Pass By):</strong> Some 20 minutes from the Acropolis the urban setting gives way to an endless summer vibe. Discover a shiny, sunny wonderland lined up with palm trees, upscale beach clubs, secluded coves, and a natural Spa lake. Listen to tales about the Athenian Riviera’s epic nightlife, its glitzy lifestyle and A-lister inhabitants. Take in the scenery, alternating between the bucolic and the resort-like. Gaze at the Aegean’s blue waters gleaming along the way and the nearby islands dotting the horizon.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>LAKE VOULIAGMENI</strong></p><p>The first stop is a 2.000-year-old brackish-water lake blending a stunning, peaceful scenery, with healing properties and a spot of mystery. Sitting beneath the remains of a limestone cavern, it is fed by underground springs coming from the depths of Mount Hymettus. They actually reach as far back that they’ve never been fully mapped. Perhaps that’s why rumors claim that people have disappeared in these underwater tunnels. Truth or fiction, the fact is that the lake’s unique blend of salt and mineral-rich freshwater affords a most therapeutic experience. For this reason, the lake, nowadays a Natura protected area, has been a renowned spa center since the 19th Century. Wash away those aches and pains, or enjoy a natural pedicure as the little doctor fish nibble on your toes. With a balmy 25 degrees Celsius temperature, the lake’s waters are ideal for swimming at any time of the year.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>THE TEMPLE OF POSEIDON, CAPE SOUNIO</strong></p><p>Revived and refreshed from your visit to Lake Vouliagmeni, you’ll head to Sounio: Antiquity’s Sacred Cape, where history is intertwined with myth.</p><p>Attica’s southernmost tip is also the site of the Temple of Poseidon. Dedicated to the God of the Sea it was erected on top of a 60-meter steep cliff, around the same time as the Parthenon (440 BC). A feat of architecture, the temple’s white marble Doric columns still stand greeting sailors exiting and entering Athens. Bask in the one of a kind Attica light, feel the energy, get a sense of history. Don’t forget to search for Lord Byron’s 19th- century graffiti in one of the pillars. A sight indelibly stamped in one’s memory, the Temple of Poseidon has always attracted the interest of travelers. Even before the onset of the onsite excavations. Opt to visit in the morning to beat the crowds or go in the afternoon to enjoy a (considerable) extra bonus: This is where you’ll witness one of the most spectacular <strong>Sunsets in Greece</strong>; so get your cameras ready! <strong>This is the Upper Sunset Experience! </strong>Round off your experience with a seafood feast in a local taverna which is the well-kept secret among connoisseurs.</p>

Offer valid until: 30 November 2023