The Golden Age: The Glory Of Athens

The Golden Age: The Glory Of Athens Photo #1 of 2 Photo copyright ShoreTrips.com.

Overview

A full day of exploration of the Golden Age of Athens.

Meet up with your specialist and go to a popular Athenian gathering spot for an insightful introduction related to your theme subject. Enjoy a cup of coffee or a refreshment during the talk, before heading out to the Acropolis, where you will visit both the Parthenon and National Archeology Museum of Athens.

This tour includes:
• Round trip transportation from the cruise ship pier or your hotel
• English-speaking licensed guide
• Visit to the Acropolis and its museum
• Entrance fees to the Acropolis and its museum
• Refreshment or coffee

Although to most people the phrase "Golden Age" sounds like an easily dismissable cliche, in fact Golden Ages can be shown to be very special periods in human history which only occur rarely. Examples that come to mind from Western history are the Renaissance in Italy, the Elizabethan Age in England, the first two centuries of the Roman Empire, and, of course, the 5th century BC in Athens. Most people recognize that these are periods of high human creativity--painting, music, architecture, technology--but what few realize is the speed at which this creativity happens, something that in non-Golden Ages seems humanly impossible.

Of all the extraordinary things about the Parthenon, the most amazing is that the entire building was finished--the stone was quarried, transported from Mt. Pendeli to the Acropolis, cut and set in place--in only nine years. And the more one knows about the complexity of its construction, the more mind-bggling it is. And yet it happened.

Thus, the purpose of this tour is to provide the historical background to 5th century Athens, and then travel to these Golden Age buildings and some of the sculptures that accompanied them both on-site and in the two museums that house this work.

• The price of this tour includes transportation for a full day with pick-up and drop-off at Piraeus port or your hotel in a deluxe air-conditioned mini-van, a wonderful English-speaking licensed guide, refreshment or coffee at the beginning of the tour, and entrance fees to the Acropolis and its museum, as well as any sites or museums mentioned for the chosen theme.

Days offered: 7 days a week

Departures:

• 09:00 AM, duration: 10 hours Duration may be shortened but price remains the same.