GREECE

Day 1 - Thessaloniki
Upon arrival in Salonika, also called Thessaloniki (ancient Thessalonica), Transfer to your hotel. After checking into the hotel. Dinner and overnight.

Day 2 - Thessaloniki
After breakfast tour the city of Thessaloniki. Drive to the upper part of the Old City Walls where you'll have excellent views of the city and the opportunity to take pictures. Continue on foot to visit the Vlatadon Monastery. Your tour will finish with a drive of the city viewing the White Tower, the Triumphal Arch of Galerius standing on the Egnatian Way. Afternoon free. Dinner is at the hotel.

Day 3 - Philippi / Kavala (Neapolis)
Breakfast at the hotel. Early morning, you'll depart Thessaloniki for a full day excursion to Philippi. Here, on his second missionary journey, Paul preached his first sermon, ex temore, to the women washing their clothes in the river. You will visit the Baptistry of Lydia where Paul is said to have baptized Lydia, the woman believed to be the first European to convert to Christianity. Because of Paul's visit here, Philippi would claim to be the home of the first Christian church in Europe and became an important Christian center in Late Antiquity. Among the ancient ruins at Philippi are the market place (the Agora), the 5th and 6th century Basilicas, the theatre, the Via Egnatia and the ruins of a prison where Paul and Sylas were kept. After the visit, you'll continue to Kavala, once the ancient port of Neapolis. The ruins of ancient Neapolis were built upon and the site became known as Christopholis because Saint Paul traveled there in 50 A.D. Late afternoon after touring Kavala, return to Thessaloniki. Dinner is at the hotel.

Day 4 - Berea / Vergina / Kalambaka
Breakfast at the hotel. This morning, you'll depart Thessaloniki and drive south toward Berea. In his second missionary journey, the Apostle Paul successfully preached to the Jewish community in Borea (modern Berea) after fleeing Thessalonica. In Berea, you will view reconstructed steps of the bema (or rostrum) to commemorate the place where Paul was believed to have preached. Continue to Vergina (ancient Aigai), the first capital of Macedonia, visit the most important tomb of Philip II of Macedonia, the father of Alexander the Great. Drive to your hotel in Kalambaka for dinner and overnight.

Day 5 - Meteora / Delphi
Leaving Kalambaka, you'll drive to Meteora, an area of strange rock formations rising from the plain. You'll wind your way through a forest of gigantic needle-like pillars, some as high as 1,820 feet above sea level. In the 14th century these inaccessible pinnacles offered a safe refuge to pious hermits and were later used as sites for hermits. You'll visit Meteora Monasteries famous for their Byzantine museums perched precariously on huge finger-like rocks, exhibiting superb icons, old manuscripts and unique mosaics and frescoes. From Meteora, you'll drive continue to Delphi for dinner and overnight.

Day 6 - Delphi / Athens
Delphi was one of the two most important cultic centers in ancient Greece. People journeyed to Delphi from all over the ancient world to participate in religious ceremonies and to consult its oracle before making important decisions. It was to the Delphic oracle, for example, that King Croesus of Sardis sent messengers to request guidance from the gods about whether he should attack Cyrus the Great. The oracle's response was ambivalent-"If you attack Cyrus a great empire will fall" -and Croesus misinterpreted it. He did attack, and his own empire fell. Even if Delphi were not so crucial for understanding the mythology, religion, history and literature of ancient Greece, the beauty of the place would demand that we pause and contemplate.We will tour the site and museum and continue our way back to Athens.

Day 7 - Athens Sightseeing
Breakfast at the hotel. Start our half day Athens city tour including many amazing sights such as the famous Acropolis with visits to the Parthenon and Erechtheion. Continue to nearby Mars Hill (Areopagus) (Acts 17:22) where Apostle Paul delivered his well known sermon. Your tour ends with the highlights of modern Athens: passing by the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Parliament House, Presidential Palace, Panathenian Stadium, Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Academy, the University and the National Library. The afternoon is at your leisure to explore the lively city of Athens on your own. Visit the area of Monastiraki, the Plaka, one of the many museums (The Byzantine Museum is suggested) and spend a little time shopping in the many stores along the way. Dinner and overnight in Athens.

Day 8 - Ancient Corinth / Athens
Breakfast at the hotel. Depart Athens via the Saronic Gulf. En route, you'll enjoy a short stop at the Corinthian Canal for photographs. Continue to ancient Corinth, where apostle Paul lived and preached. Corinth was one of the largest cities in Greece and one of the richest in the world. Atop the Acropolis, 1500 feet above sea level, now stand the ruins of the Temple of Aphrodite, goddess of love. Paul spent 18 months here in Corinth, working as a tentmaker and preaching to the Jews and Gentiles. He wrote his first and second letters to the Corinthians here. He founded the community at Corinth ca.50-51 A.D. You'll have ample time to visit the ruins of ancient Corinth, which is Upon return to Athens, stop en route and visit the two famous ancient ports of Lechaion and Cenhreae. Afternoon free and overnight.

Day 9 - Athens / USA
Transfer to the airport for your flight back to USA