Italia – Greece – Israel

Locations: Acre Israel Jerusalem Caesarea Haifa Masada Nazareth
Tour Overview
Tour Jerusalem, the Dead Sea, Haifa, and Caesarea in 4 days with a licensed guide. This is an amazing tour that you don’t want to miss. The drive is with scenic views, and the touring is informative. See the old and the new. Book today!
Itinerary
Jerusalem is a melting pot for the three major religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Abrahamic.Jerusalem contains many parts which include the Old City, the New City, the many churches, the Wailing Wall, and much more.
The Dead Sea is a body of water that is devoid of life. Nothing can survive in its overly salty waters, but it is said to be very theraputic for skin problems. Its high content of minerals is very healthy and soothing.
Caesarea is in the middle of Haifa and Tel Aviv. It was built by Herod the Great about thirteen to twenty five B.C.E Caesarea was once the capital of the Judeans. There is a Roman Theater, many archaeological ruins, and excavations to tour.
Haifa is the major seaport of Israel. In the third century Haifa was the dye making center of Israel. There are over a dozen museums to tour here. Many Baha’i people come to Haifa, because the Baha’i gardens and the Baha’i World Center reside in Haifa.
Acre is an ancient city with a lot of history. The Church of St. George, the Jezzar Pasha Mosque, and the Citadel of Acre, are just a few of the places to be seen in Acre.
Masada was once a frotress on top of a plateau. It was built by King Herod in 31 B.C. He built 2 palaces here which you can still see the ruins of. There is one of the oldest synagogues here at Masada. Tour the bath houses that are very well preserved.

Day 1: Jerusalem Panoramic overview from the Mount of Olives, overlook Jerusalem-new city and the Temple Mount Esplanade of old city. Travel along the Kidron Valley to view the Garden of Gethsemane and the walls of the city. Via the Armenian Quarter enter The Western (Wailing) Wall square via the local Bazaar to the Christian Quarter, the Stations of the Cross (Via Dolorosa) and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher – the site of the crucifixion. Walk along the 1700 year old Byzantine main street, the Cardo and the Jewish Quarter. Ascend to Mt. Zion and on Saturdays – visit the Hall of Last Supper & David’s tomb. Tour the new city by car to Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum.
Remarks: *On Fridays, Saturdays & High Holidays – Holocaust Museum is closed. Visit instead Kind David’s Tomb, Hall of Last Supper & Garden of Gethsemane.

Day 2: Masada and the Dead Sea
Descend to the Judean Desert via the inn of the Good Samaritan. Ascend Massada by cable car to tour the 2000-year-old fortress and palace built by King Herod. Drive via Ein Gedi and Qumran, overview the caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered.
Float in the mineral-rich Dead Sea. Take a mud-bath and benefit from the therapeutic qualities of the natural Dead Sea mud. Drive back to Jerusalem with over view of Jericho and old Roman Road.

Day 3: Caesarea, Acre, Haifa
Exit north to Caesarea, the ancient Roman Capital and port. Walking tour of theatre and archaeological ruins and excavations. Continue to Haifa, Mt. Carmel, scenic view of Bahai garden, city and port. Drive to Rosh Hanikra to visit the limestone grottos and view border with Lebanon. Return via Acre to visit the Crusader underground city and crypt. Walk through the Old City market. Return to hotels.

Day 4: Nazareth and the Sea of Galilee
Via the coastal plain and the valley of Armageddon to the Churches of Annunciation and St. Joseph in Nazareth. Passing Cana and the Church of the Miracle of the Multiplication visit Capernaum, at the foot of Mount Beatitudes. Continue past Tiberias to Yardenit where there is the possibility of a baptismal service for participants. Pass Mount Tabor on the return journey. Tranfers to air/port flight to Greece Transfer Airport – Hotel in the center of Athens.

Day 5: Breakfast. Departure by bus to the Argolid, visiting the sanctuary of Asclepius in Epidaurus, famous for its theater acoustics; the city of Nafplio, the first capital of the independent Greek state; Mycenae, home of King Agamemnon, visiting their circles of tombs, Cyclopean walls, the Treasury of Atreus … Following the trip to Olympia. and Overnight at hotel. Hotels 3/2*

Day 6: Breakfast. Visit the archaeological museum and sanctuary of Zeus at Olympia, site of the first Olympic Games in 776 B.C. Onward journey to Patras, ferry crossing the Strait of Lepanto. Lepanto stop to visit the port and the statue dedicated to Cervantes. Arrive at Delphi. and Overnight at hotel

Day 7: Breakfast. Oracular visit the Sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi. Archaeological Museum – Archaeological Area with the treasures of the different cities, the tempo of Apollo, theater and stadium. Continue to Kalambaka, at the foot of the Meteora. and Overnight at hotel in Kalambaka. Hotels 3/2 *

Day 8: Breakfast. Visit the Meteora Monastiria ( “the Monasteries in the air”), Orthodox monasteries built on, some of them accessible only by rock formations baskets and ropes. Back in Athens, standing in the enclave of Thermopylae, site of the famous war episode in 480 A.C.. Arrival and Overnight at hotel. Hotels 3 *

Days 9 and 10: Stay in Athens. tours: Acropolis, New Acropolis Museum, Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Parliament and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier …; Athens by night with dinner and a show of traditional dances, (Possibility of optional tours: Mini-cruise 3 islands of the Saronic Gulf ;

Day 11: Breakfast. Free time until transfer hotel – airport.

Day.1.Arrιvαl in international aeropoerto of capital.ROME, ITALY.
Reception at the hotel. The rest of the day is free to explore the ancient capital of Italy. Tonight, meet your tour escort and fellow travelers.

Day.2.ROME.
Departure for the visit of the city, including a local guide starts in St. Peter’s Square, followed by a visit to the Roman Forum and the mighty Colosseum.

DAY 3 ROME Rest of the day free for personal activities.

DAY 4 ROME-NAPLES-POMPEIA
Breakfast at the hotel and departure to the south of the Italian peninsula. Panoramic view of Naples and continuation towards Pompeii. Visit of the city with the impressive archaeological finds conserved during 16 centuries under the petrified lava of the volcano Vesuvius whose eruption ended with the city.
Lunch on the way and departure to
Regio, visiting the archaeological museum of the city of Taranto on the way and in Metaponte visit of the temple of the Hera Lacinia. Arrival to Regio, dinner and accommodation.

Day 5: Regio- Area Taormina Taormina – Etna – Siracusa
.Breakfast at the hotel. Departure towards Taormina: this is situated at the top of the picturesque rock of Mount Taurus (204m altitude). Meeting with the local guide and visit of the famous Greek Theater from where you can enjoy a magnificent panorama of both Etna and the Jonio Sea. Free time for shopping and to discover the romantic streets of the city. Free lunch. IF METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS ALLOW YOU TO EXIT TO Mt. Etna: the highest and still active volcano in Europe (3,345 meters): the bus will reach the Sapienza Refuge at 1,800 meters above sea level. Visit of the dead craters, the calls “Crateri Silvestri”. Splendid is the variety of flora and splendid are also, the lunar landscapes that can be seen along the way. For centuries, the volcano has created a place where nature, culture and history have united to create a unique place in the world. Continue to Siracusa. Free dinner. Accommodation at the hotel in Syracuse.

DAY 6: Siracusa – Pantalica – Megara Hylaea – Siracusa
Breakfast at the hotel and departure to Pantalica. Pantalica is the largest necropolis in Europe, one of the most important prehistoric sites in Sicily, awarded the title of World Heritage. This city has been inhabited since the Bronze Age, was destroyed before 664 BC, and then was again populated by the Byzantines and later by the Arabs. Half-day hike with the guide contemplating the beautiful valleys surrounded by the rivers and Anapo Calcinara. Free lunch. Continuation towards Megara Hyblaea. Megara Hyblaea is one of the oldest Greek colonies in Sicily, founded in 728 BC by the Greeks of Megara. You will visit the Antiquarium, the agora, the temples, the spa, the gym, the Doric temple. Return to Syracuse. Free dinner. Accommodation at the hotel in Syracus

Day 7: Syracuse
Breakfast at the hotel. Visit of Syracuse full day. Syracuse the largest city of antiquity founded in 734-733 a.c. And called Syraka. It extends along the sea, next to the island of Ortigia, which is connected to the mainland by a bridge, and offers visitors the remains of its glorious past: The Temple of Minerva, transformed into a Christian Cathedral, the Legendary Fontana di Arethusa, the Temple of Apollo, the Greek Theater and the Roman Amphitheater located near the Latomie, the Orecchio di Dionisio. Free lunch. In the afternoon we will visit the Archaeological Museum. Free dinner. Accommodation at the hotel in Siracausa.

Day 8: Siracusa – Piazza Armerina – Morgantina – Agrigento
Breakfast at the hotel and departure towards Piazza Armerina and visit of the splendid Villa Romana del Casale, luxurious dwelling, located in the heart of Sicily, important example of Roman times and where you can admire the beautiful mosaics that represent the uses and The customs of that time. Free lunch. Continuing towards Morgantina, ancient city founded by the Sicilians, had been buried for almost two thousand years. The most interesting area is undoubtedly the Agora, designed on two levels connected by a staircase in which people sat on the occasion of public meetings. In the same period, the Greek Theater, with a semicircular cavea of 15 steps and is divided into six areas. In this site important archaeological finds have been found, like the Venus of Morgantina, that is conserved in Aidone. Continue
to Agrigento: “The most beautiful city of mortals” where, today, you can still admire ten Doric temples that stand in the valley.

DAY 9: Agrigento – Heraclea Minoa – Selinunte – Trapani
Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, visit the famous and unique “Valley of the Temples”. Then, exit towards Heraclea Minoa. It is not just an archaeological site. It also has the advantage of being on a hill facing the blue of the sea, beyond the ruins you can see the beach of Capo Bianco. It was founded by the Greeks in the 6th century BC, but according to legend, Minos died here in Sicily pursued by Daedalus. Do not forget to visit the houses of mud, mosaic remains and the theater consumed by the wind. In the antiquarium the remains of the necropolis are conserved. Continue to Selinunte: free visit of the archaeological zone. Selinunte was for centuries one of the most important Greek colonies of the Mediterranean. Continue to Trapani. Free dinner. Accommodation at the hotel in Trapani.

DAY 10: Trapani – Mozia – Erice – Trapani
Breakfast at the hotel. Through the route of the salt, we will arrive at the Stagnone to appreciate its typical mills. We will take a boat that connects us to the island of Mothia, an ancient Phoenician city which was a landing site and a commercial base for all those merchant Phoenician sailors who were in the Mediterranean. Seat of the Whitaker Foundation, one of the most important families of British settlers in Sicily. Free lunch. Afterwards, departure for Erice, visit of the medieval city located on a hill at 400 meters of altitude with views over the entire western coast of Sicily and in particular of the city of Trapani and the Egadi Islands. Departure to Segesta to visit the Doric Temple which is characterized not only by its
unique architecture but also by the wonderful natural landscape that surrounds it. Return to Trapani. Free dinner. Accommodation at the hotel in Trapani.

DAY 11: Trapani – Segesta – Monreale – Palermo
Breakfast at the hotel. Departure to Segesta to visit the Doric Temple which is characterized not only by its unique architecture but also by the wonderful natural landscape that surrounds it. Continue to Monreale and visit the Cathedral and its Cloister. Free lunch. Afterwards, you will return to the city of Palermo to visit its main monuments such as the Palatine Chapel, the Cathedral of Palermo. In addition, we will take a panoramic tour of the city. Free dinner. Accommodation at the hotel in Palermo.

DAY 12: Palermo – Cefalù – Palermo
Breakfast at the hotel and meeting with the local guide. Departure towards Cefalù: it is a suggestive town near the sea that presents to the visitor a wonderful artistic show of lights and colors. Do not forget to visit the wonderful “Cattedrale Normanna” whose construction dates back to 1131 and the “Lavatoio Medievale”. Free time to stroll through the narrow alleys full of jewelers and elegant shops that retain all their medieval fascination. Free lunch. Return to Palermo. Free dinner. Accommodation at the hotel in Palermo.

DAY 13: Palermo
Breakfast at the hotel. Day off. Free lunch. Free dinner. Accommodation at the hotel in Palermo.

DAY 14: Palermo Breakfast. Free time until transfer hotel – airport

Day 01.Arrιvαl in international aeropoerto of capital.ROME, ITALY.
Reception at the hotel. The rest of the day is free to explore the ancient capital of Italy. Tonight, meet your tour escort and fellow travelers.

Day 02 ROME.
Departure for the visit of the city, including a local guide starts in St. Peter’s Square, followed by a visit to the Roman Forum and the mighty Colosseum.

DAY 03 ROME Rest of the day free for personal activities.

DAY 04 ROME-NAPLES-POMPEIA
Breakfast at the hotel and departure to the south of the Italian peninsula. Panoramic view of Naples and continuation towards Pompeii. Visit of the city with the impressive archaeological finds conserved during 16 centuries under the petrified lava of the volcano Vesuvius whose eruption ended with the city.
Lunch on the way and departure to ANCONA..OVERNIGHT.FERRY.CROSSING.Greece the port of Igoumenitsa-Patras andcontinues program