VUNENA (CHURCH OF AGIOS NIKOLAOS THE NEW) – METEORA
DEPARTURE
- Chalkidiki, Thessaloniki
EXCURSION THEME
- Historical, Pilgrimage
EXCURTION TYPE
- 1-2 (persons) Car, 1-6 (persons) Mini Van, Individual
GUIDE SERVICE
- With Guide, Without Guide
DURATION
- Full Day
SHORT DESCRIPTION
GALLERY
ROUTE
| Time | Description |
| 07:00:00 | Departure from Thessaloniki |
| 08:00:00 | (approximately) Technical stop |
| 09:45:00 | Vounaina - Church of Neos Agios Nikolaos |
| 12:00:00 | Kalambaka - shop of icons, hagiographies and church items |
| 13:15:00 | Visit to 1 active monastery (depending on the day of the week) |
| 15:45:00 | Stop for lunch in a traditional tavern |
| 17:00:00 | Departure for Thessaloniki |
| 20:00:00 | Return to Thessaloniki |
EXCURTION DESCRIPTION
Vounaina - Church of Nicholas the Younger
Saint Nicholas the Younger was born in the east of the Byzantine Empire from a family of pious and virtuous parents. Growing up, he enlisted in the Imperial Army as an officer. He taught his soldiers to be brave and fearless warriors, but above all he encouraged and taught them to believe in God, to pray and to follow the commands of Christ.
But the army had to face external enemies, which fighting against was considered right.
At one point the emperor Leo the Iconoclast sent Nicholas and his soldiers to quell an uprising in the empire itself. In this campaign, he saw how the human blood of his fellow citizens was unjustly shed. Fearing for his life, accompanied by twelve of his soldiers, Nicholas went to the mountains of Thessaly. Here in the area of Vounaina lived ascetic hermits who gave shelter to Nikolaos. So he and his soldiers began a quiet life, full of prayers and repentance. When the Avars came to Thessaly, sowing death and destruction during their barbaric invasion, they captured Nikolaos and his soldiers, who were killed.
They tried to persuade Nicholas to renounce his faith with promises and flattery, but failed. After being beaten and severely tortured, he was beheaded on May 9, 720 AD. and his youthful blood abundantly watered the land of Thessaly. At the site of the massacre, the Avars left the body of the saint, where many years later he was found whole and intact. The remains were found by a leprosy patient, Efthymios, who came to the place which appeared in his vision. He was miraculously healed and out of gratitude buried Nikolaos’s body and built in this place a temple dedicated to the Monk Martyr.
From the trees, to which the saint was tied during the tortures, until today, a red liquid called “Blood” flows. According to legend, it has healing properties and miracles happen. The modern church was built in 1962 on the site of the old one, which was founded in 1883 and was burned by fanatics.
Kalambaka - shop of icons, hagiographies and church items
Kalambaka is a small town in the Prefecture of Trikala and the capital of the homonymous municipality with 8,330 permanent residents (according to the 2011 census). It was built at the foot of the rocks of Meteora, on the left bank of the river Pinios, where it ends in the Thessalian Plain. Ancient Aiginio, in Byzantine times, was renamed Stagoi, a name still used by the local province. The name <“Kalambaka”> has been used since the time of Sultan Beyazit II, after the Turkish conquest of Thessaly (1393-1394) and, according to some sources, comes from the word Kalebak (good / beautiful fortress). According to other sources, the name is related to the surname of one of the local nobles.
In 1995, an ancient tomb was discovered in Kalambaka, which dates back to 2000 BC. Also, an inscription on the wall of one of the oldest churches in the city (of St. John the Baptist) testifies to the existence of an ancient Greek settlement called Aiginio, at the place where the modern city was founded.In 197 BC. The Roman general Titus Flaminus tried to besiege Aegina, but it proved to be a difficult task, and he went to the Thessalian plain, bypassing the city. 192 – 186 years. e.g. Aeginio came under the rule of
Antiochus III of Syria, but between 186 – 184 BC. again passed into the hands of Philip, who made an alliance with the Romans. In 146 BC. However, the city was occupied by the Romans and looted by the army of Lucius Emilius Paulus.
During the Byzantine era, the city, like the whole region, was constantly attacked by Slavs, Saracens, Bulgarians and Normans. In 1348 Stagi was conquered by the Serbs of Stefan Dusan. The city prospered during the reign of his brother – Symeon Ureis Palaiologos.
During the Turkish occupation, it was an important trading center. The inhabitants cultivated and sold excellent quality cotton and silk. During the Thessalian uprising of 1854, it was occupied by the
Greeks under the leadership of Christodoulos Hadjipetros. In May 1854, a battle took place in Kalambaka, during which about 500 Turks were killed. The city was finally liberated on August 27, 1881.
Nowadays, Kalambaka, thanks to the rocks and monasteries of Meteora, has the highest tourist traffic of the other coastal cities of Greece. The international promotion of the monasteries led to the development of tourism in the region. Hotels, restaurants, folk art shops and painting workshops made their appearance in the city.
Icon painting workshops maintain traditions of icon painting. They use canvas and old wood to paint icons. The images themselves are painted with tempera and egg yolk colors, and with the use of gold. In addition to the exact copies of the famous icons of Mount Athos, you can find real relics. Here, all the visitors are given the opportunity to make a short excursion, during which they are informed about the painting schools, the writing methods and they are shown the process itself.
Monasteries of Meteora
What impresses a guest in Meteora? First of all, there are huge black rocks that rise in the plain just above the town of Kalampaka and the picturesque village of Kastraki. Most surprisingly, this unique place was not mentioned either in the writings of ancient historians or writers, or in mythology.
The name Meteora is later. The location and the monasteries owe their name to the monk Athanasios the Meteorite, who was the founder of the Monastery of the Transfiguration of the Savior (Great Meteor). And so exactly – Great Meteor, he named the rock, which climbed in 1344.
In 1989, UNESCO inscribed the Meteora Monasteries on the World Heritage List ως πολιτιστικό και φυσικό χώρο ιδιαίτερης σημασίας as a cultural and natural site of particular importance.
MAP
- In the sacred grove of Vounaina, every year the trees secrete a red liquid, called “Blood of the Saint ”.
- The incorruptible relics of Agios Nikolaos for many years were hidden in the hollow of a tree, in which he was martyred.
- The rocks of Meteora were formed about 60 million years ago.
- Until 1920, building materials, food and the monks themselves climbed to the tops of the rocks of Meteora in special nets using a winch.
- Since 1988 the monasteries of Meteora are included in the list of UNESCO heritage
- Every year up to one and a half million tourists visit Meteora.
- Despite their uniqueness, the rocks of Meteora are not mentioned in the texts of ancient historians or mythology.
- Total kilometer distance of the excursion (departure from Thessaloniki) – about 480 km.
- Visiting churches / monasteries requires a specific type of clothing: for men – covered shoulders and long pants. For women – covered shoulders and neckline, skirt below the knee (you can tie a piece of fabric).
- Wear comfortable shoes for your safety.
- The program of the excursion can be changed for reasons beyond the control of the company (force majeure); weather conditions and at the discretion of the tour guide, if necessary.
430 €
Φόρμα Ενδιαφέροντος
Συμπληρώστε την φόρμα και θα επικοινωνήσουμε μαζί σας το συντομότερο δυνατό!
THE PRICE INCLUDES
- All transfers made with comfortable transport (depending on the selected category).
- Guide services (unless you have selected the “no guide” service).
- Entrance tickets to 1 monastery.
PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE
Lunch
SUGGESTED EXCURSIONS
TOUR IN ATHENS AND THE MUSEUM OF THE ACROPOLIS
CORFU – ISLAND OF THE ARISTOCRATS (TWO-DAY EXCURSION)
Cruise to Albania: Saints Saranda and Vouthroto
PILGRIMAGE TO THE MONASTERIES OF CORFU
DISCOVERING NORTH CORFU
FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH GREECE (PREMIUM, THESSALONIKI)
METEORAS – DELPHI (TWO DAYS)
-
EntertainmentMETEORA – ATHENS (TWO-DAY EXCURSION)
1,350 €A two-day trip to Meteora – Athens gives you the opportunity to get to know the Orthodox, cultural and natural sights of mainland Greece and the capital of the country, a city that is the trademark of the achievements of classical Greece. From on the one hand, Meteora is the place where God’s providence meets unique natural landscape. Where is the strength of the human spirit and the desire for knowledge led to the triumph of creation and harmony. And on the other – the uniqueness and originality of Athens, which combines a history of five thousand years with the life of a large city of the 21st century.
Day one: Kalambaka and Meteora monasteries
Medieval Orthodox monasteries of Meteora, located on steep cliffs of the Thessalian plain, are considered to be one of the most significant historical, Orthodox and cultural sites in Greece. This is the second most important monastic complex in Greece (after the monastic Republic of Saint Athos) annually attracts a large number of travelers from all over the world. And this is not surprising – Meteora monasteries are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Moving to Delphi and check-in at the hotel.
Day Two – Athens / Acropolis Museum / Thermopylae
During a sightseeing tour of Athens, you will get acquainted with the main sights of the center of the capital of Greece. Your path will run along the Kifissos River, which, according to one version, is the legendary Eridanus, where the son of the solar god Helios Phaethon fell into, strucked by lightning of Zeus for the inability to cope with the chariot of his father. You will see Cape Piraeus, where the main port once appeared, Athens, which retains such significance today. And marvel at the size columns of the temple of Olympian Zeus, which can surprise even now. Follow the steps of the Evzones – soldiers of the national guard, carrying guard at the parliament building in the very center of the city. take a selfie in the background of Olympic Stadium Kallimarmaro, where the first Olympic modern games were held. You will follow the paths of Socrates, Plato and Aristotle along the agora of ancient Athens and the path “Peripatos” around the hill of the Acropolis, in the honour of which the Peripatetic school of philosophers was named. Dive into the hustle and bustle of the Plaka – one of the old districts of Athens, conveying the mood of the second half of the 19th century. On the way back, a stop in the Thermopylae Gorge is provided, where King Leonidas and 300 Spartans accomplished a feat that even today is not forgotten not only by the Greeks, but by the whole world.
After your visit to the Acropolis, the excursion continues to the new Acropolis Museum, which in 2009 moved from the premises next to the Parthenon to a new building.
On the way back, a stop is waiting for you in Thermopylae, where King Leonidas and the 300 Spartans gained eternal glory.
-
Entertainment
TOUR IN ATHENS AND THE MUSEUM OF THE ACROPOLIS
610 €The trip to Athens is one of those trips that will not leave any traveler indifferent. And it’s not just about the the spirit of a modern European metropolis, the atmosphere of the capital or the sequence of objects you visit. The bottom line is that you touch the pages of school textbooks and books about ancient Greek history and mythology on and on again, and, at the same time, discover a lot of new things&facts for yourself.
Not only history and gods with heroes will fill with special content your acquaintance with the city of democracy, but also a number of pleasant surprises and surprises will open Athens for you . And first of all it will be an acquaintance with the uniqueness and originality of the city, which combines a history of five thousand years with the life of a 21st century metropolis. This amazing symbiosis in Athens does not just mean the neighborhood of the majestic ruins of the 5th century BC. e. with modern trading centers and buildings of the 19th century, built in neoclassical style, but also a special atmosphere in which antiquity meets the era of technological progress.
During a sightseeing tour of Athens, you will get acquainted with the main sights of the center of the capital of Greece. Your path will run along the Kifissos River, which, according to one version, is the legendary Eridanus, where the son of the solar god Helios Phaethon fell into, strucked by lightning of Zeus for the inability to cope with the chariot of his father. You will see Cape Piraeus, where the main port once appeared, Athens, which retains such significance today. And marvel at the size columns of the temple of Olympian Zeus, which can surprise even now. Follow the steps of the Evzones – soldiers of the national guard, carrying guard at the parliament building in the very center of the city. take a selfie in the background of Olympic Stadium Kallimarmaro, where the first Olympic modern games were held. You will follow the paths of Socrates, Plato and Aristotle along the agora of ancient Athens and the path “Peripatos” around the hill of the Acropolis, in the honour of which the Peripatetic school of philosophers was named. Dive into the hustle and bustle of the Plaka – one of the old districts of Athens, conveying the mood of the second half of the 19th century. On the way back, a stop in the Thermopylae Gorge is provided, where King Leonidas and 300 Spartans accomplished a feat that even today is not forgotten not only by the Greeks, but by the whole world.
After your visit to the Acropolis, the tour continues to the new Acropolis Museum, which in 2009 moved from the premises next to the Parthenon to a new building.The layout of the museum building provides transparent floors, so the basement of the exhibition is the excavation of the districts of ancient Athens. On the ground floor there are finds of Athenian pottery, in the first – finds, found mainly during the excavation of the “Persian ravine” – a pit in which were buried details of buildings and sculptural decorations of the Acropolis of the Archaic period of the 6th century BC. after the destruction of the buildings by the Persians in 480 and 479 BC. Also, in the same area, a large number of so-called kouros and koras are presented (statues of young men and women of the archaic period).
The top floor houses the original sculptures of the Parthenon, which are on display in the museum to protect them from the harmful effects of smog, rain and pollution: metopes, fragments of surviving pediments and details of the Parthenon frieze. The Acropolis Museum contains 40 plaques, the British Museum – 56, stolen in 1801-1805 by Elgin.
On the way back, a stop is waiting for you in Thermopylae, where King Leonidas and the 300 Spartans gained eternal glory.
-
Entertainment
CORFU – ISLAND OF THE ARISTOCRATS (TWO-DAY EXCURSION)
1,150 €The two-day trip to Corfu gives you the opportunity to get to know one of the most amazing islands of Greece. An aristocratic Island, unique architecture and huge historical and cultural heritage. The classic Greek beauty of Corfu has fascinated sailors, travelers, aristocrats and artists for centuries. The Venetians, the French and the British left behind a legacy in the architecture, culture, daily life and gastronomy of the island. Today Corfu is a mix of eras and cultures, blending traditional Orthodox Greece with the Cosmopolitan influences of Western Europe.
Day one – the city of Corfu.
Once you step into the atmospheric old town of Corfu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, you will find yourself in a fairytale world. You will hear the footsteps of kings, nobles and Knights who once walked on the cobbled sidewalks and quacks. And the labyrinth of narrow streets will lead you to the Church of St. Spyridon, protector of the city and one of the most revered saints. The port of Corfu, one of the most well-fortified ports in the Mediterranean, is characterized by two fortresses – Old and New. An ideal place to enjoy the panoramic view of the city and the magnificent Ionian Sea.
Pontikonisi and the Monastery of Vlacherna off the coast of Kanoni are some of the most famous and photographed sights of Corfu. Here you will not only enjoy the picturesque landscapes, but you will have the opportunity to take truly unique photos (with planes flying just a few meters above the Monastery of Vlacherna).
The evening awaits you a walk in the north of the island, where, on the edge of a cliff in Peroulades, the most romantic sunset awaits you.
Day two – the island of Corfu.
The day will start with an acquaintance with the traditional production of liqueurs and sweets from kumquat, which have long been the trademark of the island and are widely exported to European countries. Then to Paleokastritsa, which is a favorite destination for all visitors and locals of Corfu.Picturesque bays and sandy beaches, olive groves, green hills, steep cliffs and caves that are hidden inside, create a unique atmosphere that attracts visitors to the island and residents of the area. Here, on a cliff, dominates the Monastery of Zoodochos Pigi, whose history will be interesting not only for pilgrims.
At the end of the route – visit to Achillion, the summer house of the Austrian Empress Elizabeth (Sissi). This is undoubtedly one of the most famous royal mansions in Europe. It was built in 1890 and designed by the Italian architects Rafaele Carrito and Antonio Landi.
It is named after Achilles, Elizabeth’s favorite hero. The palace is surrounded by lush gardens dominated by vigorous bougainvillea and tall palm trees. The gardens contain a large number of sculptures, the most remarkable of which are dedicated to Achilles himself.
A two-day trip to Corfu will give you the opportunity to get acquainted with the most European, cosmopolitan and aristocratic island of the Ionian Sea and the whole of Greece.
-
Cruise
Cruise to Albania: Saints Saranda and Vouthroto
50 €Albania is located just 2 nautical miles from the island of Corfu and the history of its southern coastline is the history of Greek settlements.
A one-day cruise in Albania will acquaint you with the monuments of ancient times, the natural beauty and the customs of this country.
As part of this route, you will visit the town of Agioi Saranda, called the Southern Gate of Albania due to its key position throughout its centuries of history. The main purpose of the trip is the Butrhoto Archaeological Park, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
And at the end of the program, you will have a short tour of the medieval castle Le Cures, located on a hill above the port.
