Program

Day 1: Larnaca – Thessaloniki
Assembly at Larnaca airport and departure by direct flight to Thessaloniki. Arrival, boarding the bus and transfer to our hotel in the city center. Check-in and overnight.

Day 2: Thessaloniki – Panagia Soumela – Metsovo – Ioannina
Breakfast and we begin our journey to Western Greece. We head to the slopes of Mount Vermios and the village of Kastanies in Imathia, where the Monastery of Panagia Soumela is located. It was built in 1951 thanks to the enthusiasm of the Pontians to revive the corresponding Monastery that was destroyed on Mount Mela of Pontus in Trebizond and which was a symbol of Pontic Hellenism for 16 centuries. Today it is one of the most important centers of Pontic Hellenism and it is where the miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary is kept, said to have been painted by the hand of the evangelist Luke. Her icon, after the actions of Eleftherios Venizelos in 1930, was transferred from Pontus to Greece and was initially (for 20 years) hosted in the Byzantine Museum of Athens. Along with it are important relics that were transferred with the Pontians and changed their homeland. Our next stop is Metsovo, a mountain city that captivates the visitor with its amazing colors and unique icons. Built amphitheatrically at 1200m. in a wooded embrace under the neck of Katara, this rugged stone mass of Pindos, Metsovo stubbornly maintains its traditional character unchanged. It is the birthplace of great national benefactors (Tositsa, Stournara, Averof, etc.). There we will see the stone-built mansions, the twenty traditional fountains, the paved cobblestone streets, the church of Agia Paraskevi and the Averofio Garden, which is located within walking distance of the central square. In the afternoon we arrive at our hotel in Ioannina, the capital of Epirus, and settle into our rooms. Free time for a first acquaintance with the city. We will see the pedestrian old town, the picturesque castle that reminds us of other eras of the Byzantine past and is a living museum space, as well as walking along the shores of the lake, a magical landscape with endless charm, which makes the visitor's mind travel on paths of incredible tranquility. Overnight stay.

Day 3: Ioannina Island – Zagorochoria (Monodendri – Vikos Gorge – Monastery of Agia Paraskevi)
After breakfast, we will travel to the shores of Lake Pamvotida and by boat we will visit the idyllic island of Kyra Frosini, one of the two inhabited islands in a lake in Greece. We will visit the Monastery of Agios Panteleimonas, which is today a museum, in whose cells Ali Pasha found refuge and was beheaded. Here are unique exhibits such as Ali Pasha’s caryophilis and the authentic silk costume of Kyra Frosini. We will see the houses of the island's inhabitants, with the traditional Epirus architecture and the characteristic slate roofs, the beautiful gardens, the narrow paved alleys and the shops with exhibits of the traditional art of Gianni. Then we move on to the famous Zagorochoria, a diverse natural landscape ideal for creating a harmonious relationship between man and nature. We arrive at Monodendri, which is built at an altitude of 1,060 meters, with the stone alleys, stone-built houses and mansions that will impress us with the famous Zagori architecture and will bring past times to life. The entire village is uniformly built with gray stone. In its taverns and restaurants you can find the local traditional food and the famous pies. We visit one of the most picturesque and beautiful sights in all of Zagorochoria, the monastery of Agia Paraskevi, which was founded between 1413 and 1414 and is located literally at the edge of the Vikos Gorge, as if floating above the clouds. One can only wonder how a human hand managed to build such a stone monastery on the steep rock. It is the deepest gorge, in terms of length-width-height ratio in the world, according to the Guinness Book. In the afternoon we return to Ioannina, the city of silversmiths, legends and traditions. Overnight.

Day 4: Corfu (Achilleion – Kanoni – Agios Spyridonas – Liston – Spianada)
Breakfast and departure for Igoumenitsa and boarding the ship for Corfu, the so-called “lady of the Ionian Sea”. Arrival and our first stop is at the Achilleion Palace, which was built from 1888 to 1891 on behalf of the Empress of Austria, Elisabeth. Inside (if entry is allowed) we can admire paintings by Italian and Austrian painters and in the rooms the personal belongings of Elisabeth and Wilhelm, furniture, jewelry, etc., statues as well as portraits and ceramics. Then we head towards Garitsa and after a scenic route we arrive at Kanoni. From there we will see Pontikonisi (optional transfer), the green islet located in front of Corfu airport in the bay of Halikiopoulos. A few meters further on we come across Panagia of Vlacherna, one of the most famous landmarks of the city, which is located on the islet of Vlacherna that is connected to the mainland by a small footbridge. We continue our journey and reach the center of the Old Town of the island for a pilgrimage to the Church of Saint Spyridon with its towering red bell tower. Its height reaches 40m, it has seven bells and its large blue clock symbolizes for the Corfiots "the heartbeat of the city". It was built in 1589 AD and belongs to the style of the single-aisled basilica. Here lies the relic of the Saint and patron saint of the island, which was transferred to Corfu from Constantinople after the fall in 1453 AD. Next we will see Liston, the most central pedestrian street of Corfu, which is bordered by mansions that form large arches, apses, on their top floor. These arches today house a multitude of cafes and restaurants, which make Liston the center of Corfu life for locals and visitors. Next to Liston we will see the impressive and historic Spianada (the largest square in Corfu and in the Balkans and twenty-seventh on the list of the largest squares in the world, which stretches between the Old Fortress and the Old Town. Free time. In the afternoon we leave the island of Phaeacia, boarding the boat for the return trip to Igoumenitsa and then to Ioannina. Overnight.

Day 5: Ioannina – Kastoria (City Tour)
After breakfast we leave Ioannina for the lady of Macedonia, Byzantine Kastoria. Built on the west bank of Orestiada, its famous lake, and spread out on the neck of a hilly peninsula, it is one of the most picturesque residential complexes of mainland Greece. Our first stop is at the prehistoric settlement of Dispilio, where systematic excavations revealed the remains of an extensive lakeside settlement of the Late Neolithic era, one of the most important and oldest of its kind in Europe. We continue to the Monastery of Mavriotissa which dates back to 1082 AD, during the reign of Byzantine Emperor Alexios I Komnenos and is dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. It is located four kilometers from the center of Kastoria, on the eastern side of the mountain in a location with ancient plane trees. Next we will visit the Cave of the Dragon which is located on the shores of the lake. Right next to the cave, the chapel of Agios Nikolaos is built on the rocks. Tradition has it that the cave was a gold mine which was guarded by a dragon, a vigilant guard. It includes 10 rooms of various sizes, 7 underground lakes and 5 tunnels. We end up at our hotel, check in and have free time. In the afternoon we will see Doltso, the oldest and most picturesque district of the city, as if taken from a fairy tale or a film set, untouched by time, with its alleys, cobblestone streets, beautiful restored mansions - some neoclassical and others faithful to Macedonian architecture, which were built around the 17th & 18th centuries and are eyewitnesses to the economic prosperity of the Kastoria furriers. Overnight stay.

Day 6: Kastoria – Prespes (Agios Germanos – Agios Achillios – Psarades) – Edessa – Thessaloniki
Breakfast and departure from Kastoria for Prespes, the “water” borders of Greece with Skopje and Albania. The area has been declared a protected area due to its natural beauty, rich flora and fauna. First we visit Agios Germanos, birthplace of many Macedonian fighters and one of the most beautiful and picturesque villages in the area. It took its name from the eponymous Byzantine church built in the early 11th century and dedicated to the memory of Germanos, Patriarch of Constantinople, who was deposed during the period of iconoclasm and, according to a written testimony from the 11th century, became a local saint of the area. It is located almost on the border of Greece - Skopje, above Lake Prespa and at an altitude of 1,040 meters. In Lake Prespa we find the islet of Agios Achillios, which is connected to the mainland by a 650 m long floating footbridge. and on it dominates the monument-symbol of Prespa, the Basilica of Agios Achillios. The installation of the footbridge in 2000 facilitated the movements of locals, giving new perspectives to the residents of this border area. Our next stop is the traditional settlement of Psarades, the only Greek village on the banks of Lake Prespa. Try fish from the lake, Florina peppers and many other local delicacies. We continue to the verdant Edessa with the largest waterfalls in the Balkans. They have the unique privilege on a global level of being located in the center of the city and even having given it the name. “Edessa the city of waters”. The visitor is undoubtedly impressed and feels awe as soon as he sees the Karanos Waterfall and the Double Waterfall which are located in the center of the Waterfalls Geopark and are surrounded by the lush green landscape with the ancient plane trees. With corridors and stairs you can get very close to the waterfalls and feel the coolness of the water that falls at great speed, creating a unique spectacle. In the afternoon we arrive in Thessaloniki, check in to the hotel and rest. Overnight.

Day 7: Thessaloniki
Breakfast and free day to enjoy the “nymph of the Thermaikos” one of the most beautiful cities in Greece. We recommend you to see the White Tower, the Upper Town and the Seven Towers, the Arch of Galerius (Kamara), the Rotunda and Aristotelous Square. The church of Agios Demetrios, patron saint of Thessaloniki, is undoubtedly its most important early Christian monument, both for religious and historical reasons. It was built in the mid-5th century (413), on the site of the martyrdom of the Saint. Do not forget to also visit the commercial streets of Egnatia and Tsimiski. For your evening out at the famous olive oil restaurants, there are many entertainment options for food with live music or drinks. Overnight stay.

Day 8: Thessaloniki – Larnaca
Breakfast, boarding the bus and departure for Thessaloniki's "Macedonia" airport and our flight to Larnaca, leaving with the best impressions from our eight-day stay in Greece.