Private Castle Tour from Athens

Hoogtepunten

Inbegrepen

Route

1. We first go to the Isthmus of Corinth, a narrow piece of land connecting mainland Greece and the Peloponnese. There we see the manmade canal which connects the Corinthian and the Saronic Gulfs. The canal was finished in 1893, but its history dates to as early as 602 BC. It has a length of over 6km, and its sides are 78m tall at the highest point. There are bridges across the canal for cars and people to pass, and which sink up to 12m underwater to let boats through.

   20 min

2. Acrocorinth - "Upper Corinth" - is a must-see for lovers of history! It is the acropolis of ancient Corinth, a monumental rock overlooking Corinth, and is considered one of the most impressive Greek medieval castle sites. It is steeped in history having been continuously occupied by the Byzantines, Franks, Ottomans, and Venetians until the early 19th century, when the American School of Classical Studies in Athens started first excavating the site. Three defensive towers lead to the interior, showcasing ruins from all eras of its history. Acrocorinth was fortified by connecting the extraordinary defensive wall system to the surrounding mountains. Built on three defensive lines, with its interior enclosures separated by the walls, it is reinforced by towers and bastions. One tower even features a moat with a wooden bridge!

   1 u

3. Stepping forward in history, we see the Palamidi Castle in Nafplio, built by the Venetians and famous for having 999 steps. According to legend, there were once 1000 steps leading to the castle, but one of them was crushed by Theodoros Kolokotronis, a leader of the Greek war of independence, during celebrations for a victory against the Ottomans. A town with a deep history, Nafplio is a remarkable reminder that this part of Greece was, for centuries, an outpost of Venice. Palamidi is one of the best examples of Venetian military architecture in Greece built by the Venetians in 1687 when they captured it from the Ottomans and occupied it, and the last major construction of the Venetian empire overseas. In 1715, during the last Venetian–Turkish war, the Ottomans re-conquered it and it was later passed on to Greek control after a battle with the Turks in 1822. Climb the 999 steps above Nafplio and you are rewarded with the captivating view

   1 u

4. A town with a deep history, Nafplio is a remarkable reminder that this part of Greece was, for centuries, an outpost of Venice. Have a pleasant walk, coffee or a meal at the first capital of modern Greece before we return to Athens.

   1,5 u

5. Bourtzi Fortress, a small Venetian castle located on an islet in Nafplio’s harbor. Originally built in the 15th century to defend the city from pirate attacks, this picturesque fortress later served as a residence for executioners and even as a luxury hotel! Though access to the interior may be limited, the sight of this fairytale-like fortress floating in the sea is truly magical. Today it is a Cafe and Museum.

   1,5 u

Annuleren

Gratis annuleren tot 24 uur voor aanvang, met volledige terugbetaling.

Reviews

Beoordelingen komen uit 1 reviews die onze boekingspartner verzamelt. Het zijn de eigen woorden van reizigers, in de volgorde waarin ze geschreven zijn — nooit herschikt om de ervaring mooier te maken.

Goed om te weten

How it compares in Athene

• Its from-price is 146% above the median of the 926 dagtrips we list in Athene.
• Its length is typical for the group.
• By number of reviews it ranks 565 of 926.
• The operator lists free cancellation on it.

About Athene

Athene zet de Akropolis boven een uitgestrekte moderne hoofdstad, waar antieke ruïnes, steegjes op de heuvel en lange tavernaavonden naast elkaar bestaan.

De Parthenon kroont de Akropolis, geflankeerd door het Erechtheion met zijn portiek van cariatiden, en het Akropolismuseum aan de voet van de heuvel toont beeldhouwwerk dat op de rots is gevonden. Daaromheen maken de Antieke Agora, de Tempel van Olympische Zeus, de Boog van Hadrianus en het marmeren Panathinaiko-stadion de klassieke stad gemakkelijk te belopen.

Top-ranked sights in Athene: Acropolis, Parthenon, Acropolis Museum.

See all 4134 experiences in Athene