b'MACEDON Scan here for the full THE KINGDOM OF PHILIP II AND ALEXANDER THE GREAT itinerary714 May 2026 Historical Background8 days Macedon was a land of gold and timber, of wide plains and rugged uplands, Expert Historian: of hard drinking noble horsemen, who lived by the heroic values of the Dr Harry Sidebottompoetry of Homer and loved the plays of Euripides. Their kings, emersed in blood feud and treachery, lived and died by the sword. Although in the eyes Activity Level: 2 of the Classical Greeks to the south they were no better than barbarians, the Macedonians created, not only an empire, but some of the finest art and architecture surviving from the ancient world.In this wide-ranging expert-led tour we explore the culture and history of Macedon,When Philip II, the father of Alexander the Great, came to the throne in focusing especially on the reign of Philip359BC the kingdom of Macedon was surrounded and on the verge of II and the early years of Alexander theextinction. In the West Philip`s elder brother and thousands of his best Great (359-334BC); the crucial years whenwarriors had been killed by Illyrian tribesmen. In the South the Greek city Macedon was transformed from a backwaterof Athens was poised to invade, as were the Thracians to the East, and the into the centre of the Classical world. We willPaeonians in the North. To make matters yet worse there were numerous walk in the footsteps of the young Alexanderpretenders to the throne. Twenty-three years later, Philip had reduced all and his tutor Aristotle at Mieza, stroll throughhis former enemies to subjects by a combination of diplomacy and warfare, the extraordinarily well-preserved streetsas well as piety and treachery. Macedon was transformed into the richest of the city of Olynthus, and retrace the finaland most powerful state ever seen in Europe. Philip stood ready to begin journey of Philip, standing on the spot wherethe conquest of the mighty Persian empire. Then, at the height of his power, he was assassinated, before entering hishe was struck down by a spurned lover in the theatre at Vergina. Civil war world-famous tomb. threatened, all the subject peoples rose in revolt. The new king was only twenty years old. But the new king was Alexander the Great.Day 1Fly London to Thessaloniki or join group at hotelHotel in Thessaloniki - 7 nights) (D)Day 2 Pella (B,D)Day 3 Veroia, Mieza & Nymphaeum (B,D)ESSENTIALS Day 4 Dion, National Museum of Thessaloniki (B, D)Day 5 Olynthus (B, L)4-star or best available hotels, meals asDay 6Amphipolis (B, L, D)indicated, drinks with dinner, all entranceDay 7Vergina (B,D)fees, tour manager and expert historian throughout, all internal travel, optionalDay 8Flights home (B)travel from UK.155926 TCE BROCHURE 2025-26_Aug25.indd 15 22/08/2025 13:35'