b'THE ETERNAL PELOPONNESE Scan here for the full CRADLE OF MYTH AND EMPIRE itinerary21 SeptemberHistorical Background1 October 2026The Peloponnese has been inhabited since prehistory but it was only 11 days during the Bronze Age (17501050 BC) that a distinctively Greek civilisation Expert Historian: emerged in the form of the Mycenaeans. Noted for their sturdy cyclopean walls, advanced palace culture, works of art and writing systems the Dr Harry SidebottomMycenaeans dominated the Argolid from their bases at Mycenae and Tiryns. Activity Level: 2 By the 14th century BC they controlled the entire Peloponnese, much of mainland Greece and its islands, and Crete. The civilisation mysteriously collapsed in the 12th century BC and a plethora of theories exist to explain This 10-night and 11-day tour of the Greekthis sudden demise. By the next millennium Corinth emerged as the Peloponnese takes in the best Classical sitesdominant city in the peninsula and in the 5th century BC the region became in this area in the company of an expertembroiled in the Peloponnesian Wars. The ensuing centuries were marked historian who will provide a cutting-edgeby further inter-city rivalries and conflicts and the formation of the Achaean insight into this fascinating region. On thisLeague of 12 peninsula cities. The League stood up against Sparta and wide-ranging tour you will deepen youreven Macedon but in the 2nd century BC signed a treaty with the growing knowledge of the archaeology, history,power of Rome. Tired of the regions language and culture of the many peoplesrecalcitrance Rome invaded the who have inhabited the Peloponnese from thepeninsula destroying Corinth (146 amazing Bronze Age Mycenaean civilisationBC) and creating the province of through to the city states of the Classical eraAchaea. The latter stages of the and Hellenistic and Roman periods.Classical period are dominated by Starting in Athens we explore the amazingRome until the Peloponnese was Classical heritage of the ancient worldsoverrun by Germanic and Gothic foremost city including the Acropolis andtribes in the 2nd century AD.Agora. Moving to our base in Naufplion we visit the remarkable Mycenaean cites of Tiryns and Mycenae with their huge cyclopean masonry and sophisticated palace culture. At Epidaurus we marvel over the Greek worlds best-preserved theatre and at Corinth enjoy the picturesque ruins beneath the rock of Acrocorinth. We also pay attention to smaller yet still significant sites such as Arsine and Bassae. The tour moves through stunning landscapes to Pylos then to Olympia where we explore the origins of the Olympic Games. At Delphi we visit the site of the famous oracle, consulted over important decisions throughout the ancient world. The tour returnsDay 1Fly from London Heathrow and/or assemble at Athens Hotel in Athens -to Athens and the National Archaeology2 nights (D)Museum whose rich collections provide aDay 2 Classical Athens - Acropolis, Acropolis Museum, Kerameikos Cemetery (B,D)fitting finale to the tour.Day 3 Classical Athens - ancient Agora, incl Temple of Hephaistos, Stoa of Attalos, museum Drive to NaufplionPalamidi Fort Hotel in Naufplion4 nights (B,L,D)Day 4 Heraion of Argos, Mycenae, incl Treasury of Atreus and Lion Gate Nemea (B,L,D)Day 5 Naufplion Archaeological Museum, Acrocorinth, Corinth (B,L,D)Day 6Tiryns, Asine, Epidauros (B,L,D)Day 7Messene, Pylos, Pylos Archaeological Museum and Niokastro Fortress (B,L,D)ESSENTIALS Day 8Palace of Nestor, Bassae Drive to Olympia Hotel in Olympia1 night (B,L,D)4-star or best available hotels, meals asDay 9Olympia site Drive to Delphi Hotel in Delphi1 night (B,L,D)indicated, drinks with dinner, all entranceDay 10Delphi site Drive to Athens Hotel in Athens - 1 night (B,D)fees, tour manager and expert historianDay 11National Archaeological Museum Fly Athens to London Heathrow orthroughout, all internal travel, optionalperhaps extend your stay in Greece) (B)travel from UK.205926 TCE BROCHURE 2025-26_Aug25.indd 20 22/08/2025 13:35'