Ancient Mycenae and the Castle of Palamidi

A scenic drive from Nafplion bring you to the ruins of Mycenae, where the renowned German archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann conducted the first in-depth excavation in the 1870s. He was convinced he had found the real-life realm of Agamemnon, the Mycenaen hero-king of myth who conquered Troy, as described in Homer’s epics, the Illiad and the Odyssey. Schliemann did discover a gold funeral mask that was later dated to the mid-16th century BCE, evidence that Mycenae was the center of a rich and powerful kingdom. Schliemann’s diligent work nearly 150 years ago revealed the Lion Gate, the grand entrance to the citadel. A massive pillar supported by two lions, it also contains the shaft burial graves of ancient nobility. Once inside, your guide will take you to the beehive tomb, the Royal Palace and other structures. You’ll also have the opportunity to visit the onsite museum, which puts the ruins in context and displays a number of artefacts (the most valuable pieces, like the gold mask, are in Athens). On the return to the coast, you’ll go to Castle of Palamidi, which looms over Nafplion. The Venetians built the imposing walls and fortifications to protect their port city and the sea routes. In the wake of the Ottoman conquest, the Turks used it as a fortress. More until recently, it was used as a prison.