Full Day – Argolis – Sparta – Mystras – Private Tour

Take part in our Argolis - Sparta - Mystras - Full Day - Private Tour. We leave Athens behind us as we drive on the coastal road. Our trip to the West will take us to the Corinth canal. We will make a short stop there for enough time to see the canal. It is approximately 6 km long and it connects the Aegean to the Ionian Sea. We'll take photos and visit a local cafeteria. Then we'll enter the motorway once more and head South to Peloponnese, to our next destination.

A few minutes later, we'll be in Mycenae. It is located at in North East Peloponnese and belongs to the Argolis region. Mycenae was referred to as «Rich in Gold» by ancient poets. This is where the mythical king Agamemnon lived and governed his empire. It was him who invaded Troy, dominated the Aegean Sea and destroyed the Minoan Empire. The ancient city was built on a hill above the plain of Argos, facing the sea. It’s elevated position and huge Cyclopean Walls offered great protection from unexpected attacks. At the peak of their power (around 1300 b.C.), the population lived around the fortress. The Royal Family had its Palace, the symbol of their power, built within the limits of the fortified walls. It could only be reached by a large ramp through the Lions' Gate. Among the sites we will visit, are the Lions' Gate, the Cyclopean Walls, and the Royal Tombs.

We continue our trip towards the glorious Byzantine town of Mystras. It was a fortified town built on top of a hill above the plain of Sparta. Mystras's medieval splendour will captivate you. Wander around the castle, walk in the Upper and Lower Towns. See the proudly standing monuments of the Palace of the Despots (Anaktora), the Houses of Laskaris and Frangopoulos, the beautiful Cathedral of Saint Dimitrios and the impressive Monasteries of Our Lady Pantánassa and Lady Perivleptos. Feel the city’s sheer grandeur through its modern silence. Seize the opportunity to absorb the beauty of Byzantine art and architecture. You will see the surviving structures of an empire that lasted for a thousand years and has connected the East to the West through commerce, religion and culture.

Sparta will be our next destination. There we'll see the Statue of Leonidas and then we will pass from Taygetus mountain on our way to the «Valley of Keada». Known from the mythologic period, it is also the place where the ancient Spartans threw their disabled children. There is another myth, according to which, the ancient Spartans threw off the cliff people condemned to death, perjurers, traitors, criminals and prisoners of war.

If we have some spare time, we'll make a visit to the unique Museum of Olive Oil of Sparta. It is a great Museum that exhibits the unique history of olive oil production in Greece, through the centuries to modern times.

We will arrive back in Athens in the late afternoon, ending our Argolis - Sparta - Mystras - Full Day - Private Tour.