Ancient Epidaurus and Mycenae with Lunch

This full-day exploration of Greece’s unrivaled historic legacy begins some 30 kilometers east of Nafplion. On the cool slopes of a wooded valley, the ancient city of Epidaurus was dedicated to Aesclepius, the god of healing, and renowned throughout the Hellenic world as a center for medicine and curative treatments. Although most of its buildings, temples, spas, baths have been reduced to their foundations, the theater is a remarkable exception. Unusual in that it was built into the ground rather than above, the theater maintains its amazing acoustics and is still used for special performances. From here, relax on the scenic drive across the Argos Plain, the realm of the mythical Agamemnon, the Mycenaen king who conquered Troy, as described in Homer’s epics Illiad and the Odyssey. The citadel of Mycenae was first excavated in the 1870s by Heinrich Schliemann, a German archaeologist on a quest for places that matched the ancient poems. Buildings here have been dated as early as 1950 BCE. Enter through the Lion Gate, so named for the pillar supported by two lions, is Europe’s oldest example of monumental statuary. Once inside, visit the Royal Palace, the graves where Schliemann found a gold death mask and the remains of the city walls. At the Tomb of Agamemnon, a royal burial vault, an archaeological briefing will deepen your understanding and appreciation of this nearly 4,000 year old citadel. After the site visit, relax and recharge over a delicious traditional lunch at a nearby restaurant. Opened in the late 1950s by a pioneer of Greek tourism, the restaurant is now run by the founder’s daughters, who uphold their father’s commitment to quality, service and hospitality.