Fall Journey Along Via Egnatia: Epirus & Macedonia

Day 1: Arrival at Ioannina
We arrive at Ioannina airport where we are met by our tour manager and our transport. We settle in our hotel in the town of Ioannina where we meet our lecturer Dr. Shawn Ross for a welcoming dinner.
Overnight: Ioannina (Dinner)

 Day 2: Nekromanteion-Kassope
We visit the famous Nekromanteion, theOracle of the Dead of the Ancient Greek world. It is located where the three rivers of Ades, as the Underworld was named, crossed: Acheron (“without joy”), Kokytos (“mourning”) and Pyriflegethon (“hell fire”). It was considered to be the spot from where the dead descended to the Underworld. Worshipers went there to meet the souls of the dead, whose spirits were deemed to have the ability to foresee the future, according to Homer. We also visit the lovely ancient town of Kassope, laid out in the 4th century BC on a grid and capital of ancient Cassopaea that flourished in the 3rd century B.C., when large public buildings were erected, until the 2nd century B.C. when it was destroyed by the Romans. The site showcases Late Classical city planning and architecture, including a regular street system, an odeion (a small covered theatre), a prytaneion (a meeting house for the city council), and a travellers’ hostel. Kassope’s remains illustrate many aspects of cultural and political life in Classical and Hellenistic Greek cities. 
Overnight: Ioannina (Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner)
 

Day 3: Ioannina
We spend the day in the charming city of Ioannina, which is situated on the lake Pambotis. In the late classical period, Ioannina became a prosperous town and cultural center and continued to be one centuries later under Ottoman rule. Much of the historical architecture of the city dates to this period: the city walls, the Turkish library, the synagogue, and the palace and tomb of Ali Pasha, the notorious Albanian ruler of the Western Rumelian province of the Ottoman Empire in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Less visible is the fact that from the mid-17th to mid-19th centuries Ioannina was a wealthy commercial city and centre of the “Greek Enlightenment”, a literary and intellectual movement seeking to promote education and revive Greek culture in the face of Ottoman rule. After visiting the new archaeological museum and the Byzantine Epirus museum, we have lunch at a traditional taverna by the lake. We have the afternoon and evening free to stroll around the picturesque city or perhaps take a boat to the little island in the lake to visit the Ali Pasha museum were we can visit his “onda” (home) and see the actual holes in the floor from the bullets that killed him, as well as artifacts and traditional clothes. 
Overnight: Ioannina (Breakfast - Lunch)

Day 4: Dodona-Orraon
We visit the Oracle of “Mother Godess” at Dodona. According to mythology, two doves flew from EgyptianThebes: onelanded in Libya, where the temple of Ammon Zeus was built and the second came to Dodona. It was also a sanctuary of Zeus. It was during the Hellenistic period that Dodona became an important town, marked by the rebuilding of the Temple of Zeus. From the time of Homer, this sanctuary was considered the oldest oracle in Greece, a place where priests divined the future from the rustling of the leaves on a sacred oak tree.Later on we make a quick visit to the ancient town of Orraon, with its fantastic views. Ancient Orraon was founded and fortified between 385 and 370 BC, The private, stone-built houses of Orraon are exceptionally well preserved, sometimes even up to the upper storey, where the windows, and the door jambs and frames can be seen. After our visit we get on the new highway “Egnatia Odos” towards Thessaloniki.
Overnight: Thessaloniki (Breakfast-Lunch)
 

Day 5: Verghina-Pella
In the morning we visit Verghina, the first capital of the Macedonian kingdom (ancient Aigai). It was the royal burial site; until their discovery in 1977, the tombs were covered by a tumulus 13 m high and 110 m across. The remarkable painted tombs, the facades of the tombs and their paintings stand out and can be seen at close hand, either on site or in the excellent museum along with magnificent treasures. Of particular note are the tombs of the royal dynasty, most notably King Philip II and a young prince who is identified as Alexander IV. We continue to Pella, the second Macedonian capital. Both Philip II and Alexander the Great were born in Pella. There are courtyard houses and a palace, where we can also see the exceptional pebble mosaics. There is also a new museum on site with exciting displays. We return to Thessaloniki, where we will experience the city by night for those who feel like it.
Overnight: Thessaloniki (Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner with live music)

Day 6: Dion-Thessaloniki
We visit the impressive site of Dion, which was the most important religious centre of the ancient Macedonians, dedicated to Zeus. Alexander the Great offered there magnificent sacrifices before embarking for his Asian campaign. The city of Dion was later colonized by the Romans. Situated on a lush plain below Mt. Olympos, Dion was a major sanctuary, with temples to Demeter, Asklepios, Isis, and other gods, testament to increasing religious syncretism of the Hellenistic period. More of the distinctive Macedonian burials can be seen in its vicinity. Around noon, we head to Kalamaria, a picturesque sea-sidesuburb of Thessalonica, to have a fresh sea-food lunch. For those who are up for it, the afternoon is fully dedicated to the modern capital of Northern Greece, Thessaloniki. As a major provincial capital, Thessaloniki had important imperial (e.g., the Arch of Galerius), civic (the Roman Forum), and religious (the churches of Aghios Dimitrios and Aghia Sofia) monuments. Perhaps most impressive is the Rotunda – a large, domed, circular building constructed by the emperor Galerius in the 4th century AD as a mausoleum and later converted to a church – the Rotunda is an innovative example ofLate Roman architecture. We also visit the impressive Byzantine Museum and the Macedonian section of the archaeological museum. 
Overnight: Thessaloniki (Breakfast-Lunch)

Day 7: Kavala-Philippi-Thasos 
We continue our drive east on Via Egnatia to visit the Ottoman old town of Kavala, which dates back to the 16th century, as well as the local museum. In classical times, the name of the town, founded as a colony of Thasos, was Neapolis. During the Byzantine period – probably during the 8th-9th centuries AD – the city was re-named Christoupolis, reflecting the spread of the new faith after St. Paul’s visit in 49-50 AD. We then continue to Philippi, another ancient colony of Thasos and the place where Apostle Paul founded the first Christian group in Europe. We will walk in the original Via Egnatia, which was one of the greatest highways of the Roman Empire.The establishment of the new religion and the city's proximity to Constantinople, the Roman Empire's new capital, brought new splendor. Three magnificent basilicas and the Octagon complex, the cathedral dedicated to Saint Paul, were erected in the city center between the 4th and 6th centuries AD. From there we will take the boat and visit the island of Thasos, after a 45-minute sail. There we can stroll in the picturesque villages, visit the magnificent Temple of Dionysos, the well-preserved Hellenistic Theatre with its spectacular views out to sea, and the Ancient Agora, the bustling marketplace of ancient and Roman Thasos. We will also visit the local archaeological museum, which is considered one of the most important peripheral museums in Greece, with exhibits from the 7th century B.C. until the 7th century AD. After eating by the sea and enjoying the excellent view, we will take the boat back to Kavala and then drive back to Thessaloniki.
Overnight: Thessaloniki (Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner)

Day 8: Departure
Our transport takes us to Thessaloniki airport where we board our flights home. 
(Breakfast)

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