The Cross Road Travel Excursions in Greece

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Zefxidos 1

Thessaloniki 546 22 Greece

www.thecrossroad.gr

Suggested Program for Individuals and Groups Culture

Classical Greece Discovery of ancient Greece is goiyng back to the roots of Western civilization through the exceptional remains the antiquity has left us. Most of the monuments we are suggesting you to visit during this trip are listed as World Heritage by UNESCO. Beyond the exceptional cultural and historic character of this journey, you will have the opportunity to witness landscapes of exceptional beauty, and enjoy the unparalleled hospitality of the Greek people. You will visit:

� The picturesque Plaka area, at the foot of the Acropolis

� The Greek parliament

� The cities famous neo classical monuments

� The marbel stadium, where the first Olympic games where held

� The Acropolis, with its monuments and its Parthenon at the summit.

� The new Acropolis museum, where you can admire the friezes of the Parthenon and the famous Kore.

� The Epidaurus theater

� Mycenae, the ancient kingdom of Agamemnon surrounded by cyclopean walls.

� Olympia, where you will find the workshop of Phidias, the Temple of Zeus, of Hera and the stadium.

� The magnificent site of Delphi

� Meteors, a true surrealist decor where Byzantine monasteries stand perched on rocky peaks

Notes: � Most of the sites listed above, are listed by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites.

� Our suggested program is flexible, and can be adjusted.

� Custom tailed programs designed according to your needs and preferences.

Suggested Program for Individuals and Groups Culture

Thessaloniki City Break

Thessaloniki is a modern and young city where life is always vibrant. In this city you can stroll around the shopping streets or enjoy the waterfront and its horizons that end at the feet of Mount Olympus. Visiting Thessaloniki is not only discovering a long history of more than 2000 years and taking on the journey back in the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire and the Ottoman Empire, but also understanding the Balkans and contemporary Greece. Discovering Thessaloniki is discovering a particular culture of its own, the result of all the centuries of history it has gone through and the peoples that have inhabited it. Its monuments:

� The White Tower � The city walls and the acropolis of the city, the Eptapyrgion � The Saint Dimitris church, originated in the 4th Century � The Rotonda, originally a roman sanctuary, then a mosque and a church through history � The remains of the ancient agora � Galerius Arch � Its countless Byzantine churches

Its exceptional museums Its one- day excursions near the city Its waterfront Its kitchen Its night life

Suggested Program for Individuals and Groups Culture

Rhodes Holiday destination and place of discoveries. Situated in the Southeast of Greece, the island Rhodes is the capital of the Dodecanese Islands and one of the jewels of the Mediterranean. Its natural environment is one of exceptional beauty, its countless beaches are caressed by the Aegean sea, its sun rules 300 days a year. And traces of more than a thousand years of history are found everywhere. All of this makes Rhodes one of the most renowned holiday destination in the Mediterranean. More than 3000 years of history, magnificent sites and monuments make this island a magical place. In this sweet/soft climate, Rhodes invites you to explore its pathways, to smell its groves of jasmine, to discover its whitewashed villages, its gorgeous medieval city and its deserted creeks. Choose your hotel and beach according to your taste, and enjoy the pleasures of the Aegean Sea. If you are fond of water sports we will comply to your desires. Discover:

� The remnants of ancient Rhodes � The medieval city that has been listed as UNESCO heritage � The inns of the Knights of Saint John � The grand hospital � The stately palace of the Grand master of the order of the Knights � The port of Mandraki � The archaeological site of Kamiros � The site of Filerimos � The valley of the butterflies � The magnificent archaeological site of Lindos and the picturesque villages around it

Optional visits to the surrounding islands of Chalki and Simi.

Suggested Program for Individuals and Groups Religion Mont Athos the Holy Mountain The mountainous peninsula of Mount Athos, which is a self-administered and independent area of 360 km2, houses 20 Orthodox monasteries which history goes back to the Middle Ages and which are linked by the requirements of the Byzantine ancestral rites. Visiting this magnificent peninsula surrounded by the blue of the Aegean Sea, is taking on a journey out of this world and out of this time. You will share the life of the Orthodox monks that follow the rhythm and the rituals related to the first centuries of Christianity. Programme 1 :

The monasteries of Mount Athos and the ascent of Mount Athos

You will visit: � Karyes, the capital of the Atonic peninsula � The monastery Koutlournousiou, founded

in 988 � The monastery Iviron of the 10th century

where you can admire the icon of the Portarissa Virgin

� The monastery Philotheou � The monastery Karakalou, with the most

beautiful tower of Mount Athos � The monastery of Megisti Lavra, the first

monastery established here in 963 � You will climb the summit of Mount

Athos (2033m) through exceptional scenery

� You will discover Thessaloniki

Programme 2 : The monasteries of Mount Athos

You will visit:

� Karyes, the capital of the Atonic peninsula � The monastery Koutlournousiou, founded

in 988 � The monastery Iviron of the 10th century

where you can admire the icon of the Portarissa Virgin

� The monastery Philotheou, founded at 300 metres above sea level by Saint Philothé in the 10th century

� The monasteries: Karakalou, Megisti Lavra, Saint Paul, Dionysus, Gregorius and Simonos Petra

� Megisti Lavra, the first monastery established here in 963

� You will discover Thessaloniki

Suggested Program for Groups History

Discovering the Byzantine Thessaloniki – Istanbul During its nearly 1000 year existence, the Byzantine empire, repository for culture, sciences, ancient Greek and Roman techniques, has succeeded in creating an osmosis between its heritage and Christianity and has given birth to a brilliant civilisation of rare longevity, that has marked the European history and the Middle East. We recommend to retrieve the traces of cultural and architectural treasures of the Byzantine empire and to discover some of its past magnificence. At the borders of Eastern Europe, the two most important cities of the Byzantine empire allowed its visitors to trace back its entire history and to get access to its culture, thanks to its remains. Visiting Constantinople (Istanbul) in Turkey and Thessaloniki in Greece, is thus discovering an important and exceptional page in Eastern European history and retrieving decisive steps in the history of Christianity. You will visit: Thessaloniki 3 days:

� The White Tower � The city walls and the acropolis of the

city, the Eptapyrgion � The Saint Dimitris church, originated in the

4th Century � The Rotonda � The remains of the ancient agora � The church of the monastery of Vlatadon

that dates back to the 14th century � The remains of the palace of the Roman

emperor Galerius � The church of Saint Nicolas the Orphan,

that dates to the beginning of the 14th century

� Galerius Arch… Kavala 1 day:

� You will visit the remains of the ancient city of Philippus …

Istanbul (Constantinople) 4 days: � The Byzantine walls � Saint Sofia, the magnificent masterpiece

of Byzantine art � The hippodrome � The cisterns of emperor Justinius � The church of Saint Savior and its

admirable mosaics � The headquarters of the oecumenical

Orthodox patriarch � The palace of Dolmabahce…

Enrich your stay by discovering the Byzantines traditions that are still very alive today.

� Attend an Orthodox mass � Attend a concert of Byzantine chants � Visit workshops of Byzantine icon

painting � Taste the traditional Byzantine cuisine � Assistez à un concert de chants byzantins

Suggested Program for Individuals and Groups Action

Mount Olympus – Thessaloniki Mount Olympus is the highest point in Greece (2917m), and the home to the Ancient Greek Gods. It is here that Zeus and his fellows decided the fate of the mortals while feasting and being entertained with the chanting of the muses. Rich in mythical past, Mount Olympus is also one of the richest regions in rare fauna and flora in Europe. It is a protected National Park, and has been included in the NATURA 2000 network and the World Network of Biosphere Reserves. Thessaloniki is a modern and young city where life is always vibrant. In this city you can stroll around the shopping streets or enjoy the waterfront and its horizons that end at the feet of Mount Olympus. Visiting Thessaloniki is discovering a long history of more than 2000 years and taking on the journey back in the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire and the Ottoman Empire. . Ascent of Mount Olympus until the summit Mitika (2917m) through scenery of unforgettable beauty. You will discover:

� The city of Litochoro � The archaeological site of Dion � The archaeological museum of Dion and

its hydraulic actuator

In Thessaloniki: Its monuments:

� The White Tower � The city walls and the acropolis of the

city, the Eptapyrgion

� The Saint Dimitris church, originated in the 4th Century

� The remains of the ancient agora � The Rotonda, originally a roman

sanctuary, then a mosque and a church through history

� The remains of the palace of the Roman emperor Galerius

� The Galerius Arch …. Its countless Byzantine churches Its waterfront Its cuisine

Suggested Program for Individuals and Groups Culture

Thessaloniki – 2500 years of history Situated in the North of Greece, Thessaloniki, the millennium city, which is called the nymph of the Thermaic Gulf, was founded in 315 BC by Cassandros, who gave this new city the name of his wife, daughter of Philippus II and half-sister of Alexander the Great. With over 2300 years of active presence in history, it has never ceased to be a city. A city of importance in all ages and under all empires. Visiting Thessaloniki is not only discovering a long history of more than 2000 years and taking on the journey back in the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire and the Ottoman Empire, but also understanding the Balkans and contemporary Greece. Discovering Thessaloniki is discovering a particular culture of its own, the result of all the centuries of history it has gone through and the peoples that have inhabited it. Thessaloniki is also a modern and young city where life is always vibrant. In this city you can stroll around the shopping streets or enjoy the waterfront and its horizons that end at the feet of Mount Olympus. You will visit:

� The White Tower � The city walls and the acropolis of the city, the Eptapyrgion � The Saint Dimitris church, originated in the 4th Century � The Rotonda, originally a roman sanctuary, then a mosque and a church through history � The remains of the ancient agora � The remains of the palace of the Roman emperor Galerius � Galerius Arch � The monastery of Vlatadon � The church of Osios David � The archaeological museum � The museum of Byzantine culture (elected European museum in 2005)

Suggested Program for Individuals and Groups Action

Mount Olympus for mountain lovers. Mount Olympus is the highest point in Greece (2917m), and the home to the Ancient Greek Gods. It is here that Zeus and his fellows decided the fate of the mortals while feasting and being entertained with the chanting of the muses. Rich in mythical past, Mount Olympus is also one of the richest regions in rare fauna and flora in Europe. It is a protected National Park, and has been included in the NATURA 2000 network and the World Network of Biosphere Reserves. A divine place that no mortal had rested their gaze upon until 1913, when the first known ascent was completed. Four days in the mountains. Ascent to the five summits of Mount Olympus, amongst which the one of Mitika (2917m), through unforgettable scenery. You will discover:

� The city of Litochoro � The archaeological site of Dion � The archaeological museum of Dion and its hydraulic actuator � Pathways of exceptional beauty � Fauna and flora of grand richness � The city of Thessaloniki

Suggested Program for Individuals and Groups Religion

In the traces of Apostle Paul in Greece Saint Paul has contributed mainly to the diffusion of Christianity in its very beginning. Supported by his faith, he has walked thousands of kilometres to spread Jesus Christ’s word. We suggest to walk in the footsteps of Paul and listen to his message and as such discover his work. Following Paul’s trace is crossing region with a richness of 2500 years of history, of ancient Greece to the Roman empire, to the Byzantine empire to the Ottoman empire to end up in modern Greece. A journey of exceptional richness in many respects. You will visit:

� The ancient city of Philippus, where you will see the remains of the first Christian church in Europe. � The spring of Lydia, one of the first converted women to Christianity in Europe. � The city of Kavala, where Paul ended � Thessaloniki, the nymph of the Thermic Gulf, where you discover the remains of 2500 years of

history (the White Tower, the enclosure walls, the Arch of Galerius (350 AD) , the Rotonda, the ancient agora, the Saint Dimitris church)

� Vergina, the royal tombs of Philippus II of Macedonia and father of Alexander the Great � Veria, where Saint Paul preached � The Meteora and its centennial Orthodox monasteries dispersed on the hilltops of giant rocks � The archaeological site of Delphi and its famous Aurige � The picturesque village of Arachova and the monastery of Ossios-Loukas � Athens where we find Saint Paul (Acropolis, Parthenon, Erechteion, the temple of Athena, the

Propylees, the theatre of Dionyssus, the Odeon of Herodotus Atticus, the magnificent archaeological museum of the Acropolis)

� The archaeological site of Korinth where Saint Paul preached

Suggested Program for Individuals and Groups Culture

Orthodox Easter in Thessaloniki Celebrate Easter in Greece with us, and relive the events related to Christ’s crucifixion and his resurrection through Orthodox liturgies in its churches full of history. It is living and discovering all of the customs related to this celebration and sharing the culinary traditional specialties linked to it. Experiencing Easter in Thessaloniki is also discovering a city actively present in Eastern European history for more than 2500 years. You will visit:

� The White Tower � The city walls and the acropolis of the city, the Eptapyrgion � The Saint Dimitris church, originated in the 4th Century � The Rotonda, originally a roman sanctuary, then a mosque and a church through history � The remains of the ancient agora � The remains of the palace of the Roman emperor Galerius � Galerius Arch…

You will have the opportunity to discover exceptional museums:

� The museum of Byzantine culture, that was elected the best European museum in 2005 � The archaeological museum

You will participate in liturgies during the Holy Week and celebrate the feast of Easter in churches full of history. You will experience the culinary traditions related to Easter.

M.H.T.E. 09.33.E.61.00.01077.00