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GREECE PRIVATE TRAVEL TOURS & TRANSFERS
Sparta & Mystras Private day Tour from Athens
Private tour in Sparta and Medieval town of Mystras
Private tour in Sparta & Mystras. Day tour from Athens, Gythion... visit Sparta Acropolis, Sparta Museum, Leonidas statue / Tomb & Medieval Byzantine town of Mystras...
SPARTA & MYSTRAS DAY TOUR
We travel & view Sparta Acropolis/ Mystras from all different Angles (max 10 hours)
Sparta Day Tour. Our Comment: Sparta/ Sparti in Southern Greece was founded in the 10th c. B.C. in a fertile plain of Laconia, by the Dorian's, who defeated the original inhabitants of the area. Its remoteness was an advantage to the warring Spartans and the high mountains to the east, north, and west, and the sea to the south, formed natural defenses.
Sparta tour leaves Athens (request another departure terminal) drives westwards along the scenic coast , through the ancient areas of Elefsis and Megara until we reach the Corinth canal with its breathtaking views (short stop / on the bridge, which is the highest point of the canal -80 meters high and 6 km long- which connects the Aegean Sea to the Ionian Sea (short stop). We continue for Sparta and the Byzantine town of Mystras.
Following the road from Sparta which passes through plane trees, cypresses, olive trees, mulberries and orange trees we reach Mystras. In the distance, mount Taygetos looms proudly. We scan its innumerable peaks, precipitous slopes and deep gorges until our gaze suddenly rests on a hill, detached from the mountain range. On the naturally defended hill of Myzithras in Lacedaimon, the ruler of the Frankish Principate of Achaia Guillaume de Villehardouin built in 1249 a strong medieval castle the "Oriokastro" which was to play an important role in the history of the last centuries of the Byzantine empire.
Ancient Sparta Tour: Excavations began at the end of last century under the guidance of American and Greek archaeologists while since 1905 digging has been carried out by the British Archaeological school of Athens. New excavations have begun five years ago, mainly at the area of the theater and the shops. The most important monuments of the side are: The temple of Athena Chalkiokos, goddess and protector's of Sparta, on the top of the Acropolis is defined more by some indications from the excavation rather than by the architectural ruins themselves. The temple which was constructed on the plans of the architect Vathykles from Magnesia and Gitiadas the very talented Spartan poet and sculptor, decorated the Temple with bronze plates. The King Leonidas statue stands belligerently near the ancient site When the Persians attacked Sparta and told them to lay down their weapons, the Spartans' response, immortalized beneath Leonidas' feet, was 'Molon labe' ('If you dare, come and get them').
The ancient theater of Sparta is on the southern side of the Acropolis of Sparta. We do not know whether there was a theatre on this site in archaic times, if there was a structure of some kind, it would have been wooden, or the natural form of the slope itself may have served the purpose, as it did for contemporary Athenians as the theatre of Dionysus. View virtual tour
In Classical times as Herodotus mentions it in connection with events taking place in 465 BC. The stone theater that we see today was built in Hellenistic times (1st century BC). Slightly later, in the time of Augustus, Eurycles, the wealthy Spartan who was a personal friend of the Emperor and had close ties with Rome, presented the town with a new marble stage as well as other gifts. The Emperor Vespasianus (AD 69-79) had donated another, larger and more splendid stage - one that, with a few modifications, was to remain in use until the end of ancient times, until the reign of Emperor Theodosius (AD 379-395). When a study wall was built round the Acropolis of Sparta at the end of 3rd century AD to help it withstand Heruli raids, the theater was included in the citadel and may have continued to function for a time. It was later abandoned, ruined and buried under small Byzantine houses. Now preserves the orchestra, the retaining walls of the curvature with inscriptions of the rulers of Sparta during Roman times and part of curvature of the large theatre. The scene was used to be wheeled in metal bars fixed to the ground.
Touring Info
Private tour to Sparta & Mystras /Daily: Full day up to 9 hours. Please read Touring/Info*
Sites & Museums: Summer: daily, 8.00 to 20.00 pm. Winter: Sunset / entry 30 min before closing. Entrance fee to Mystras 8 Euro. Sparta Museum 3 Euro.
Closed on Holidays: January 1st. , March 25th, May 1st, Easter Sunday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. On Good Friday, the sites are open 12.00 - 17.00.
Highlights
Highlights of Sparta/ Mystras Private Tour
Acropolis Hill/ Sparta Museum (Monday Closed) /Ancient Theater / Leonidas Memorial / Mount Taygetos / Olive oil Museum / Mystras Medieval town 5km / Modern City - Agora
Herodotus Battle tour: Visit Marathon /Thermopylae / Plataea / Salamis
From 80 € min. 4 persons
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Athens & Sounion Combine 2 sites
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Athens & Corinth Combine 2 sites
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Argolis Tour (Mycenae - Epidaurus - Nafplion)
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Wine Tour ( Nemea -Wine Tasting)