Mount Olympus Pre-Conference Excursion Cultural/Sportive Excursion
A walk in the path of Gods leads you to Litohoro, a small town located at the base of Mount Olympus, Greece’s highest mountain and home of the twelve Gods of Greek mythology. Litohoro is a popular destination for those wishing to climb Mount Olympus. An extended coastal area known as Plaka Litohorou is located east of the town where a wide range of restaurants and cafes are found offering astonishing views of the mountain. Olympus is rich in trees and plant life, supporting over 1700 species, some very rare. You may need warm clothes, even in the summer. During the tour, you will visit the Archaeological Park and the Archaeological Museum of Dion, one of Greece’s most atmospheric archaeological sites. Established to worship Zeus, its monuments are scattered amongst greenery, trees and ponds. A quarter of the park’s 150 hectares is made up of sanctuaries – the oldest (end of 4th century BC) being dedicated to Demeter, two sanctuaries honouring Zeus (Hypsistos and Olympios) and the Sanctuary of Isis accessible over a small bridge. There is also a Christian basilica and public baths and, in the wider area, the remains of Hellenistic and Roman theatres. The city used to be very sacred to the ancient Macedonians and Alexander the Great would make sacrifices to the Gods before starting a new campaign to conquer the world.
Walking City Tour
If you want to get a good idea of the cultural and religious history of Thessaloniki, this tour is for you. Especially designed for the participants of the conference, this walking tour will help you understand the rich history of the city through a journey in time through the main landmarks of the city: The Trygoniou Tower, the Agios Dimitrios Church, the Roman Agora, and several other landmarks that tell an amazing story, the story of Thessaloniki.
Post Conference Excursion
Veria – Vergina
The archaeological museum of the royal Tombs, in Vergina, testifies the culture of the Macedonian Kingdom. The discovery of the tomb of Philip II, in 1977, was hailed as one of the greatest archaeological finds of the century. Rich and impressive artifacts were unearthed and can be viewed there along with the tombs themselves and the amazing frescoes, rare samples of painting from antiquity. Veria is our next stop, a picturesque town with a unique landscape and architecture. We will drive through the city, see St. Paul’s Altar, the traditional Jewish quarter of Barbouta and take a rest and enjoy a coffee at a traditional café and walk for a while through the lovely streets of the city, full of old Byzantine churches and unique historical monuments.