If your clients love Greece’s ancient history, get them out of Athens to Delphi, Knossos, Lindos and the Old Fort of Corfu Town. Alicia Gough reports
Tourism in Athens is set to receive a boost this summer with the opening of the New Acropolis Museum in September.
The €129 million museum, in the historical area of Makriyianni, will house archaeological findings from Acropolis Hill, including original sculptural pieces of Archaic and classical Greek art.
The museum will be a welcome addition to the city’s wealth of cultural attractions including the Acropolis, Ancient Agora, National Archaeological Museum and the old town of Plaka.
Sunvil specialist Greece director, Dudley der Parthog, said: “Athens’s cultural attractions have always been there, but since the 2004 Olympic Games, the city’s infrastructure has greatly improved making Athens much more accessible as a city break destination.”
However, Greece’s historical and cultural treasures reach far beyond the capital. After the Acropolis, Delphi and Olympia attract the highest numbers of tourists, and scattered throughout the countryside are medieval monasteries, Byzantine chapels and Venetian castles.
A spokesman for the Greek National Tourism Organisation said: “Greece is ideal for history buffs and culture enthusiasts. It combines the diversity of historical heritage with security, ease of travel and close proximity of amenities to important sites.”
The seaside resorts of Chrani, Finikounda and Stoupa, on the Peloponnese, combine laid-back sun, sand and sea with the nearby cultural sites of Nafplion, Mycenae and Epidaurus. Two of the most culturally rich Greek islands include Rhodes and Crete.
Delphi, mainland Greece
Ancient Delphi – the site of the Sanctuary and Oracle of Apollo – is the most important site in ancient Greek religion.
The winding path of the Sacred Way leads up the hillside, past ancient monuments and treasures, including the sacred Castalian Spring, the Treasury of the Athenians, the Sanctuary of Athena, and finally, up to the Temple of Apollo.
The world-famous temple dates back to the 4th century BC. Perched above it is the beautifully preserved Theatre of Delphi. The visit should be rounded off with a visit to the Delphi Museum, which displays numerous artefacts uncovered at the ancient site.
Sample package:Sunvil’s Fly Drive Greece is £835 per person for seven nights’ bed and breakfast in three-star accommodation, including two nights in Athens, one night in Delphi, one night in Olympia and three nights in Nafplion. Prices are based on twin-share in June and include car hire, return flights and transfers.
Minoan Palace of Knossos, Crete
The Minoan Palace of Knossos lies three miles from the town centre of Heraklion. Built on the hill of Kefala, the site is made up of the Palace of Knossos, Minoan Houses, the Little Palace and Royal Villa.
This extraordinary ancient city dates back 4,000 years, and offers visitors an insight into Minoan culture and history. Complete your visit with a trip to the Archaeological Museum in Heraklion where numerous items found at the site are on display.
Sample package:Cosmos Tourama’s Leisurely Crete is £689 per person for seven nights’ half-board in three-star accommodation, split between four nights in Aghios Nikolaos and three nights in Rethymnon, based on twin-share in June.
The price includes return flights, transfers and excursions to the Lassithi Plateau, Dikte Cave, Knossos, the Heraklion Museum, the Soude Allied War Cemetery, Chania and Lake Kournas.
Lindos, Rhodes
On the east coast of Rhodes Island lies Lindos, a 17th century town with cobbled streets, whitewashed houses, traditional tavernas, pretty churches and a hilltop acropolis dating back more than 4,000 years.
Visitors who make the climb up to the Acropolis can explore the remains of a 20-column Hellenistic stoa, the Byzantine Church of Agios Ioannis and the 4th century Temple of Athena. It also offers unrivalled views over the island.
Nearby, the vibrant medieval capital of Rhodes Town boasts a historic old town surrounded by 13th century city walls. Highlights include Rhodes Castle, Mandraki harbour – dating back 2,500 years – the Turkish and Jewish Quarters and the Palace of the Grand Masters.
Sample package:Kosmar Holidays offers £239 per person for seven nights’ self-catering accommodation at the Dimitris Studios in Lindos, Rhodes in June, based on twin-share, including flights and transfers.
Old Fort, Corfu Town
Photographs of Corfu Town are often dominated by the striking Old Fort. The construction of the fortress began in the 8th century by the Byzantines and continued by the Venetians in the 1500s.
Within the fort is the church of St George, one of the most beautiful on the island. The Old Fort faces the Liston Esplanade which abounds with cafes and restaurants and is separated from the town by a defensive moat known as the Kontrafosa.
During the summer there are nightly musical performances of sound and light. Visitors can wander round the vaulted tunnels and ramparts. The fort offers unrivalled views over Corfu Town with its Venetian architecture and narrow streets.
Sample package: Thomas Cook offers £775 per person for seven nights’ bed and breakfast at the four-star Siorra Vittoria Hotel in Corfu Town in June, based on twin-share, including flights and transfers.
