Highlights: Athens – Crete – Rhodes – Chalkis – Larissa – Thessaloniki – Ioannina – Kalabaka – Corfu

13 days / 12 nights

Upon arrival in Athens Eleftherios Venizelos airport, proceed for a guided tour to the Acropolis and its Parthenon, the masterpiece of Athens Golden era. See also by your bus the Constitution square, the Temple of Athenian Zeus, the Olympic Stadium, the National Library and the Palace. Have a spare time to wander around the Plaka, with its traditional streets, taverns and shops. In the evening transfer to Athens Piraeus port for embarkation on a night ferry to Chania port in Crete. Overnight in cabins and dinner on board.

Upon arrival in Chania port, early in the morning proceed for breakfast. Afterwards, visit the Etz Hayyim Synagogue in Chania in the old Jewish Quarter called Ovraiki (the synagogue was built in the 17th century and restored in 1994.This is the one remaining from the two that existed. The Jewish quarter is located at the old town, off of the street called Kondylaki. Pass by the Konaki restaurant which was built on the site of the second synagogue destroyed on the Second World War. Transfer to Heraklion to visit the Archeological Museum which has Jewish gravestones. Overnight and dinner in Heraklion.

After breakfast, pick up from our hotel in Heraklion for transfer to Heraklion airport for a morning flight to Rhodes. Upon arrival in Rhodes airport, pick up and start our tour. We will visit the Acropolis of Rhodes with the Temple of Apollo, the stadium and the ancient Theater before arriving at the Old Town’s Jewish quarter (“La Juderia”). We will visit the “Kahal Shalom” synagogue and the Jewish museum, walking tour at the quarter viewing Al Chatef Street, the square of the Martyred Jews and the Holocaust memorial. We will then visit the Jewish cemetery which is outside the Old Town. We will finish our tour with a drive to Lindos about 35 miles from the city center where you can see the Acropolis of Lindos or ride the donkeys. Transfer to your hotel for check in, dinner and overnight.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight back to Athens, from which we will depart to Chalkis with our coach. Chalkida (Chalkis) is the city where the oldest Jewish community in Greece is registered. Visit the 19^th-century synagogue, the cemetery with graves old up to the Otto man period (16^th century). See also the Holocaust monument, view the Euripus Bridge. Dinner and overnight in Chalkida.

After breakfast, we will depart with our coach with destination the city of Volos. We will visit the city’s Romaniote synagogue and the Holocaust memorial, raised by the municipality of Volos in memory of the Jewish citizens who perished during the Second World War.  Then we drive to Larissa city, about 1 hour from Volos. Dinner and overnight in Larissa.

After breakfast, we will the synagogue in Larissa and walk in the Jewish district. Then we will drive through the valley of Tempi, to arrive to the Greece’s second biggest city Thessaloniki. Free time to walk in Thessaloniki’s beautiful squares and pedestrian roads. Dinner and overnight.

After breakfast begin our tour around Thessaloniki which was considered the heart of Jewish population in Greece before the Second World War. We will visit the two synagogues, the Synagogue of Monastiriotes and Yad Lezikaron Synagogue. We will continue our tour with a visit to the Jewish History Museum. See also square of the Jewish Martyrs, and the Holocaust monument. We will have a guided tour including the Archeological museum, the Arc of Galerious, the Market and White Tower before departing for Veria in the afternoon, which lies at the slopes of Mount Vermion with the beautiful landscape. Transfer to your hotel, dinner and overnight.

After breakfast, we will set off with our bus to Veria city, where we will walk to the old Jewish district of Barbuta, where many houses have been recently restored. We will visit the Synagogue where Saint Paul preached and the Jewish cemetery situated opposite Barbuta on the west bank of Tripotamos River. Continue to Kalabaka city, arrival and free time to wander around Kastraki village or Kalabaka city square. Dinner in the hotel or a local tavern.

Morning visit of Meteora with the οf unbelievable structure Monasteries, which seem to be suspended in mid-air on top of huge granite rocks, where you can see pieces of Byzantine art. After our visit to the beautiful monasteries, depart for Trikala to visit the local synagogue and the pre-war Jewish cemetery. Free time in the local city square. Before departing to Ioannina where we will have our dinner and overnight.

In the morning, we will visit the “Kahal Kadosh Yashan” Synagogue and walk at the Jewish district around the Ottoman castle, viewing the Holocaust memorial dedicated to the memory of Ioanniote Jews who died at the concentration camps during Nazi occupation. Afterwards we will drive southwest to Igoumenitsa to take the ferry to the Ionian island of Corfu. Arrival to Corfu and transfer to the hotel. In the evening, you will have free time for a walk through the narrow streets of Old Town. Dinner in the hotel.

In the morning, we will set off to visit the beautiful synagogue built at the 17^th century and considered as one of the best of the Balkans. Walk to the old Jewish quarter near the old Venetian fortress. See the Holocaust memorial monument. We drive to the port to take the ferry back to Igoumenitsa and continue through beautiful villages and Antirrion Bridge to arrive back to Athens. Dinner and overnight in Athens.

After breakfast, visit the Jewish museum for orientation and lecture on the Jews of Greece History. Visit the main synagogue in Athens, the Beth Shalom Sephardic Synagogue and view the Romaniot   Synagogue also across the street. They are both located in Thission area, the historical old Jewish quarter. Continue to reach the Lycabettus Hill by taking the cable car up to the top and admiring the beautiful view of Athens. Free time for a coffee. In the afternoon, we will visit the New Acropolis Museum. Rest of the evening free at leisure. Farewell dinner in Athens.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight back back home.