Mycenae, Monemvasia, Mount Athos

Mycenae, Monemvasia, Mount Athos

Penultimate day of our special Greece week.

Today again we take you to discover the most beautiful wonders of this country

Let’s start with a visit to Mycenae

Rising to the top of a hill, the site of Mycenae remains one of the main vestiges of Mycenaean civilization. This wonderful city surrounded by mountains was described in Homer’s Odyssey as the city rich in gold. According to Greek mythology, Mycenae was founded by King Perseus, before falling into the hands of the Atrides dynasty, whose most famous character is King Agamemnon, hero of the Trojan War. Murdered on his return by his wife and her lover, he was avenged by his son, Orestes, who in turn killed the adulterous couple. A real Greek tragedy!

On the ancient acropolis of Mycenae, lie the ruins of the ancient fortress and its imposing Lion Gate, guardian of the city. Inside, don’t miss a visit to Circle A, a collection of tombs with royal domes discovered by German archaeologist Schliemann in the 19th century. A discovery that also brought to light a priceless treasure, including the golden mask of Agamemnon, now on display in the Archaeological Museum of Athens. On the spot, one does not fail to go to admire “the treasure of Atreus”, one of the most beautiful tombs which would have been used as burial to king Atrée. Finally, you cannot miss the remains of the Royal Palace, the highest point of the Acropolis. To complete the visit and learn about the Mycenaean civilization, we go visit the archaeological museum, which exhibits various objects used in the daily life of the Mycenaeans, or rooms explaining the funeral rituals of this people.

Let’s discover the walled city of Monemvasia

Located in the southern Peloponnese, the walled city of Monemvasia is one of the most beautiful getaways in Greece. Built on a rocky island connected to the coast by a dike, the city is cut off from the world, which gives it its special atmosphere.

Nicknamed the Gibraltar of Europe, this strategically located natural fortress was for a long time successively coveted by the Venetians, Byzantines and Ottomans. Arriving in the old town of Monemvasia is like stepping through a magical gate and finding yourself in the middle of medieval times. To find out, turn off your cell phone to completely disconnect. Then we set off to soak up the romantic atmosphere of this place, strolling through its picturesque streets lined with shops, restaurants and cafes.

The city also has charming Byzantine churches, 24 to be exact, each more beautiful than the next. A must-do is the climb to the top of the citadel to admire the sunset over the sea. A spectacle not to be missed! At the end of the day, we stop at one of the taverns in the old town to taste local food and wine, or we come to cool off in the crystal clear waters of the beach, accessible by the Portello gate.

To end the day’s visit in a majestic landscape, let’s go to Mount Athos

Located in the Macedonian region, Mount Athos, a sacred mountain which rises to more than 2,000 meters above sea level, is a monastic republic where nearly 2,000 monks live today in some twenty Orthodox monasteries. Famous place of pilgrimage, however, you do not enter like a mill: to hope to enter it, you need a special authorization issued by the administrative authorities of Mount Athos. Another peculiarity source of many controversies, this place, also called “the Holy Mountain” is strictly forbidden to women, the monks having made a vow of chastity. The ban goes even further because even female animals are totally banned! This rule, widely denounced as discriminatory and misogynistic, did not prevent the site from being included on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

And it is not over, from tomorrow we will take you to discover Thessaloniki and many other exceptional places

Stay connected, Greece still has plenty of surprises in store for you, Greece is full of treasures.

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