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5 Day Rhodes Tour
offered by supplier M19330 (view this supplier profile)
Key Information:
Tour Duration: 5
day(s)
Group Size: 2
- 12
people
Destination(s):
Greece
Specialty Categories:
Archeology/History
Season: January - December
Airfare Included: No
Tour Customizable: Yes
Minimum Per Person Price: 1400 Canadian Dollar (CAD)
Maximum Per Person Price: 1400 Canadian Dollar (CAD)
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Rhodes is the largest island in the Dodcanese group of Greek Islands. Rome, Byzantium, the Knights of St. John, the Ottoman Empire, and in the 20th century the Italians, have all invaded the island, occupied it, and left their marks.
Your Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrive in Rhodes and settle into our hotel. We will go on a walking tour of Rhodes, exploring Mandraki Harbour, where the Old Town meets the New Town that was built up by the Italians in the 1920s. We'll have dinner at one of the many tavernas lining the harbor. At the entrance to the harbor a bronze doe and stag on columns stand guard, where it is thought the Colossus of Rhodes may have stood. Close by is the Church of the Annunciation and the Mosque of Murat Reis. Behind is an Ottoman cemetery.
Day 2: In the morning we tour the Old Town. The old center of Rhodes is surrounded by moats and walls, entry can be gained by one of the eleven gates, and the streets are winding and except for the main streets without names. This is the oldest inhabited medieval city in Europe. There is much to see, but the greatest pleasure comes from sublime sense of history enveloping you. It can be overwhelming. The focus of today's tour will be the Palace of the Grand Masters, built by the Knights of St. John as a Knights Quarter. It is in essence a castle within a castle. We will see the Medusa Chamber with its mosaics and Chinese and Islamic vases; the Laocoon Chamber, with a copy of the sculpture of the death of the Trojan warrior; the Chamber of the Nine Muses, with its busts; and the Chamber of the Sea Horse and Nymph.
Afterwards we will tour the Street of the Knights. Inns of the Tongues (nationalities) line the street and became meeting places for knights from various countries. England, France, Italy, Germany, Provence, Spain and Auvergne were represented. We will see the remains of the Temple of Aphrodite and the Mosque of Suleyman, and the square of the Jewish Martyrs. In the afternoon we return to the New Town and explore its many shops, perhaps stop for a glass of beer in a tavern. We will have dinner at a local tavern.
Day 3: In the morning we drive along the coast road, stopping to see the ruins at Kameiros, 6th century BC, and the most important archaeological site on Rhodes. The city existed on three levels; the acropolis on the hill with the temple of Athena Kameiros, the town site on the middle level and on the lowest level a temple for Apollo. We continue inland, driving along mountain ridges until we reach Emponas. Two wineries, the Cair Cooperative and Emory winery are here on the slopes of Mount Attavyros and we will have an opportunity to taste their traditional Athiri and Mandelaria wines.
Close by is the Monastery of Artamiti. At Kritinia and at Monlithos we will see two great fortresses built by the Order of St. John. We cross the island, to the eastern shores and the town of Lindos. We will have time for shopping, to eat at a local taverna, before we take a donkey ride up the Acropolis that is on precipice overlooking the city. Sacred in the ancient world, we follow in the footsteps of Alexander and Helen of Troy. The ruins of the Byzantine Church of St. John are inside the gates. We return to the Rhodes Town for dinner.
Day 4: In the morning we travel to Faliraki to spend the day on the beach. Lie in the sand or rent pedal boats, go water skiing or wind surfing. The sea is remarkably clear in the area, with antiquities lying on the sea bed, so you will also have the opportunity to skin dive or scuba dive.
Day 5: On our last day on Rhodes we go to Lalyssos to see the ancient ruins, including its famous acropolis. Afterwards we tour Moni Filerimou, where we can walk through cypress and pine trees as we walk towards the monastery we see the remains of two thousand years of worship on this hillside; a Greek Temple, the underground chapel of St. George, a Christian Basilica. Our Lady of Filerimos is a reconstruction of the St. John Knights 14th Century church and displays Byzantine and Greek Orthodox influences. At the entrance to the monastery an avenue with Stations of the Cross leads towards a giant cross. We return to Rhodes Town and prepare to leave the island in the morning.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price Includes:
- 4 star Hotel
- Transportation
- Guide
- Museum
- Winery fees.
Also see tour packages in:
Europe
Greece
History Whiz
Archeology/History
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, ext: 19330
