Dominating the Athenian skyline, this beautiful, world-renowned monument is dedicated to Goddess Athena, the virgin patron of Athens. Constructed in 438 B.C. by Ictinus, Callicrates and Carpion, under the supervision of Phidias, the Parthenon is the most important surviving monument of the ancient world and stands as an enduring symbol of Ancient Greece and the Athenian Democracy.
The Temple of Poseidon, at Sounion, the tip of the Attica peninsula (45 miles southeast of Athens), was built in 440 B.C. However, archaeological findings show the area was a site of worship as far as 700 B.C. Carved into the base of one of the columns of the Temple of Poseidon is the name of the famous romantic poet Lord Byron. It is possible he made the inscription during his first visit to Greece.
The pass of Thermopylae is the historical site of the battle that took place in 480 B.C. between the Greeks and the Persians. Under the command of King Leonidas of Sparta, the greatly outnumbered Greek army remained in the pass to prevent Xerxes’ vast cavalry and infantry force further invading the land. They held ground for three days before being outflanked via a hidden goat path, which according to legend, was shown to the Persians by a traitor named Ephialtes. However, their feat gave the Greek army enough time to reassemble and successfully combat the Persians in following battles. The epigram on the monuments reads :Oh stranger, tell the Lacedaemonians (Spartans), that we lie here, obedient to their words.
Welcome to Hellenic Private Tours.
My name is Frank Kotsiopoulos and as the manager of Hellenic Private Tours,
I welcome you to Athens - Greece, the land of democracy and philosophy, the birthplace of the Olympic Games, the land of sandy beaches and sunny blue skies surrounded by the blue seawater of the Mediterranean.
It is a privilege to have been born, to have grown up, and finally have the opportunity to show you the great beauties ofmyGreece...
AcropolisBrief History of Greece.
Greece, officially the Hellenic Republic is a country located in Western Europe. The country has land borders with Albania, Fyrom and Bulgaria to the north, and Turkey to the east. The Aegean Sea lies to the east, the Ionian Sea to the west, the Corinthian and the Saronic Sea to the south.
The first evidence of human life in Greece dates back to the Paleolithic period between 120.000 - 10.000 B.C. However, it was not until the Neolithic period dated approximately 7.000 - 3.000 B.C. that Greek civilization grew and flourished. Many remains of settlements and burial chambers of this period have been discovered in Thessaly, Macedonia and the Peloponnese. The first urban centers appeared during the Bronze Age (3.000 - 1.100 B.C.). Evidence of these has been found all over modern day Greece, in North Eastern Aegean islands, the Cycladic islands, Crete and the Greek mainland.
Modern Greece traces its roots to the civilization of ancient Greece, generally considered the cradle of Western civilization. As such, it is the birthplace of Democracy, Western philosophy, the Olympic Games, Western literature and historiography, political science, major scientific and mathematical principles, Geography, Biology, university education, and Western drama, including both tragedy and comedy. This legacy is partly reflected in the seventeen UNESCO World Heritage Sites located in Greece, ranking Greece 7th in Europe and 13th in the world. The Modern Greek state was established in 1829, following the Greek War of Independence. Nafplion became the first capital of modern Greece from 1829 to 1834 by John Kapodistrias.
Since 1834 Athens is the capital of Greece.
Is there both a driver and a guide?
Your English speaking driver will explain about the ancient monuments that you are about to visit, the ancient history of Greece and interesting facts about historical and modern-day Greece but is not allowed by law to accompany you into the sites. If you wish to have a professional licensed tour guide, Hellenic Private Tours will help you arrange the best licensed tour guide to be with you, at an extra cost.
What would be the pickup time?
It is better to start your tour early in the morning so we will avoid the traffic and the big tour groups. The sites open at 08:00 a.m. so the best time to start is at 07:30 a.m. but we can adjust it according to your needs.
Do you pick us up and drop us off at our hotel or cruise ship?
We pick you up and drop you off wherever requested.
How do we meet?
My associates or I will hold a sign with your name at the meeting point.
How many people can you accommodate?
We can accommodate from up to four people in our taxis and groups of up to twenty-two people in our minibuses. In case you are a group of more than twenty-two, two or more minibuses can be arranged to accommodate you.
What is the cost of a private tour?
The cost depends on the tour that you will choose and on the number of people.
Are the entrance fees and lunch cost included in the price?
Entrance fees and lunch or dinner cost are not included in the price of the chosen tour.
How do we pay, Visa, MasterCard or cash?
We prefer to be paid in cash but you can also pay either by Visa or by MasterCard plus a 4% admission to the cost of your tour.
AcropolisFull Day Athens Tour
The full day Athens tour starts with a visit to the Acropolis where you will see the Parthenon, the temple on the top of the sacred rock devoted to Goddess Athena...
Temple of PoseidonFull Day Athens & Sounion Tour
The full day Athens & Sounion tour, gives you the opportunity to visit among others the Temple of Poseidon at Sounion built on top of the hill, exactly at the meeting point of the Saronic Sea with the Aegean Sea...
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IsthmusTwo Days Argolis & Olympia Tour
The two days Argolis and Olympia tour starts with a 45-mile drive along the National highway to Peloponnese. We will reach the well-known Corinthian canal or else Isthmus canal...
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Theatre of EpidaurusThree Days Argolis, Olympia & Delphi Tour
The three days Argolis, Olympia & Delphi tour gives you the opportunity to visit among others the Sanctuary of Asclepius and the ancient Theatre of Epidaurus with its unique acoustics....
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MeteoraFour Days Argolis, Olympia, Delphi & Meteora Tour
The four days Argolis, Olympia, Delphi & Meteora tour gives you the opportunity to visit among others the six suspended in the air Monasteries, built on natural sand stone rock pillars....
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