Ancient Wonders of the Mediterranean

The Greek capital city is located on the edge of the Saronic gulf, in the east of the country. It bears a plural name in reference to the first villages that surround the Acropolis. You will be enchanted by the rocky plateau presided by its monuments listed as UNESCO World Heritage. In the city below, you can visit some of the liveliest districts in Athens: Plaka, with its maze of colourful streets, and where, in the evenings the drifting aroma of moussaka and garlic prawns will tickle your taste buds. The National Archaeological museum and the Cycladic Art Museum are also some of the city’s key attractions and allow visitors to discover Athens’ cultural past.

Known as the “Jerusalem of the Aegean”, Patmos (Greece) is a holy island for Christians and is where St John drafted the Apocalypse. it is also a spectacular island with white sandy beaches in rocky coves and unique landscapes. An impressive silhouette of the crenellated walls of an 11th century monastery stands out against the hills in the centre of an island which has retained its traditional architecture.

Kusadasi (Turkey) is an ideal base to discover the Ephesus archaeological site which is famous for its sanctuaries, the best known being that of the Goddess Artemis.

Magnificent sites and monuments make this a magical island. Blessed with a lovely mild climate, rhodes invites you to explore its pathways, immaculate tiny villages and the fabulous medieval city which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Rhodes (Greece) also owes much of its charm and character to the Knights of St John who ruled the island from 1310 to 1522 and built the impressive city walls and picturesque gates.

Birthplace of the twins Artemis and Apollo, Delos (Greece) is one of the most important mythological, historical and archaeological sites in Greece. Legend has it that because the island was Apollo’s birthplace it became an important sanctuary visited by pilgrims.

“Queen of the Cyclades” with its white mills, labyrinth of whitewashed alleyways and quaint little port where boats bob lazily at the foot of the terraces, Mykonos never fails to inspire. One of the most romantic spots is the colourful “Little Venice” district where the houses are built right on the sea giving it a special ambiance. Allow yourself to be tempted by the numerous taverns which line its seafront opposite the old port.

First impressions on arriving at this southern island in the Cyclades are that it is mysterious and grandiose. A natural port surrounded by cliffs, the ancient site of santorini is circular in shape corresponding to the collapsed centre of the volcano which erupted here, creating a marine crater that never fails to astonish visitors.

The engaging town of Nafplion is staggered up green hillsides of the Argolic Gulf, to the east of the Peloponnese. Don’t be surprised by its extremely varied cultural heritage. Some of the must-see visits are the ancient agora on the plateau of Akronafplia, Italianate arcades in Syntagma square as well as the baroque fortress of Palamidi on a hillside of the same name. At the top of the hill, views of the gulf and the surrounding mountains are simply awesome. If you want to chill out by the water’s edge, walk along the Arvanitia promenade to a beautiful creek in the shade of cedars and cypresses.

This unusual gem belonging to the Saronic islands is located to the east of the Peloponnese. There are no cars here. Named after the island, the harbour town is layered up the slopes of a mountainous bay. You may be surprised to see beautiful stone mansions. These are traditional here, as are the multi-coloured caïques along the quays. Further along the shore, you will discover the Historical Archives Museum. Collections from Athens National History Museum are exhibited in the elegant villa Koundouriotis.

A grandiose impressive work of art linking the Ionian and Aegean Seas, the Corinth Canal is the fruit of a dream dating back to ancient times. The Emperor Nero had at one time envisaged its creation. From Itea (Greece) we enter the immaculately preserved sacred site of the Delphi Valley. Clinging to the side of the mountain, the white ruins of Apollo’s famous sanctuary rise up out of the pines.

Syracuse (Italy) was one of Sicily’s most prestigious cities and at the height of its splendour competed with Athens. Visiting Syracuse is like stepping back in time to plunge oneself into the fabulous history of Sicily. Since its role as a central city of ancient Greece, numerous civilisations have followed one another to these shores, each leaving their mark. Arabs, Romans, Normans, Byzantines and Spanish influences give Syracuse its extraordinarily rich culture, a mosaic of perfumes, colours and flavours.