Student & Erasmus tour ancient Corinth-Mycenae-Nafplio-Epidaurus

After pick up we have to drive about 1h

Corinth Canal, which was finally constructed millennia later (1893), it made passage around the peninsula much safer for the vessels, but it also meant backbreaking labor for the unfortunate men who were tasked with pulling the vessels across the isthmus. Under the blue skies of Greece, maybe we will see a giant vessel slowly makes its way through the rocky walls of a narrow, artificial waterway, with just a few inches to spare on either side, while those on board take in the engineering marvel in front of them. 

Ancient Corinth was one of the largest and most important cities of Greece, with a population of 90,000 in 400 BC. The Romans demolished Corinth in 146 BC, built a new city in its place in 44 BC, and later made it the provincial capital of Greece. Corinth was a city-state on the Isthmus of Corinth, the narrow stretch of land that joins the Peloponnese to the mainland of Greece, roughly halfway between Athens and Sparta.

Mycenae 'Rich in Gold', the kingdom of mythical Agamemnon, first sung by Homer in his epics, is the most important and richest palatial centre of the Late Bronze Age in Greece.
Palatial complexes, Cyclopean masonry which is awe-inspiring even today, the famous "Tomb of Agamemnon" (also known as the "Treasury of Atreus"), huge arches, fountains and ramparts comprise one of the greatest architectural complexes known to the ancient world.

Lunch photo and walking stop.
One of the most beautiful towns as well as one of the most romantic cities all over Greece, Nafplio was the first capital of the newly born Greek state between 1823 and 1834. According to mythology, the town was founded by Nafplios, the son of god Poseidon. The town’s history traces back to the prehistoric era when soldiers from here participated in the Argonautic expedition and the Trojan War alike. The town declined during the Roman times and flourished again during the Byzantine times. Frankish, Venetian and Turkish conquerors left their mark in the town and strongly influenced its culture, architecture and traditions during the centuries. Ancient walls, medieval castles, monuments and statues, Ottoman fountains and Venetian or neoclassical buildings mesmerize the visitor with their unique architecture and beauty.

Visit the sanctuary of Asclepius at Epidaurus and the Great theatre of Epidaurus. Is a tribute to the origins of Greece healing cults. The vast site, with its temples and hospital buildings devoted to gods, provides evidence of the transition from belief in divine healing to the science of medicine.

Drive back for Athens