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Peloponnese in the heart of the revolution of 1821
1821 The Greek Revolution started in the area of Rumania (Moldavia and Wallachia) under the command of Alexandros Ypsilantis and it spread like a fire, wherever there were Greeks living, from one end of the Balkans to the other. In 1830 the three Great Powers (the British Empire, the Kingdom of France and the Russian Empire) decided to declare the Independence of the Greek State with the Treaty of London. This new state included the Peloponnese, the Sterea and the Cyclades. During this tour we will understand how we came to the selection of Athens as the capital of the new Greek State instead of Constantinople as it was planned in the beginning. We will explain why the revolution succeeded in these particular areas while visiting the most important battle fields and we will talk about the various historical events. Apart from the battle sites we will visit old churches, monasteries, castles, old towns that are often located in an enchanting landscape. Come and join us to discover together the essence of 1821.
FROM OUR GALLERY
View some of this tour's sights.
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Day 1 Arrival at Greece-Athens
Schedule your flight to arrive at Athens International Airport, where we will meet and transfer you to your hotel. Day at leisure, dinner and overnight in Loutraki.
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Day 2 Akrokorinthos - Nafplio
Our journey will start with Akrokorinthos, one of the most important castles of the Peloponnese situated at a very strategic point and overlooking Isthmus, which connects the Peloponnese with the Sterea. This castle changed hands many times during the Revolution being conquered by the Turks and liberated by the Greeks. In Dervenakia, at the narrow passage which led from Corinth to Argos, we will remember the victory of Kolokotronis over the army of Dramalis in 1822. In Argos took place many historical events, the most important one of which is the Fourth National Assembly in the ancient theatre of the city. The next stop will be at Miloi, where the Greeks managed to prevent the advance of Ibrahim’s troops toward Nafplio during an epic battle which took place in 1825.
Nafplio is a town protected by two castles and it was liberated in 1822. It was the center of many important historical events and it played a major role during the Revolution. This is the town, where the Greek State was named “Psorokostaina” for the first time and where the assassination of Kapodistrias took place, which signified the end of the hope for Independence.
Dinner and overnight in Nafplio
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Day 3 Tripolitsa - Mystras - Kalamata
The Liberation of Tripolitsa in September of 1821 is the most important historical event during the first year of the Revolution. This was achieved because of the vision and persistence of Theodoros Kolokotronis himself. Mystras is a significant place, also because of the fact that the last Roman/Byzantine Emperor Konstantinos Palaiologos was crowned there before he returned to defend Constantinople against the Turks in 1453. His heroism inspired Kolokotronis, who replied to the British Commander Hamilton’s suggestion to pull back: “our Emperor did not surrender and his army continued the resistance in Mani and Souli, why should I? “. Mani was one of the few areas, which were never conquered by the Turks and during the Revolution the historical event that marked it, was the defense put up by the local women in Verga and Diros.
Dinner and overnight in Kalamata.
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Day 4 Pylos - Dimitsana
Pylos is situated on the west coast of the Peloponnese in the bay of Navarino, which is protected by two castles. It played a very important role during the Revolution, it was conquered and liberated many times. The most significant event that took place there, is the naval battle between the three Great Powers and the Turkish – Egyptian fleet.
Kalamata was one of the first towns, which was already liberated in March 1821. In the byzantine church of the twelve Apostles was celebrated the beginning of the Revolution.
The Open-air water power museum in Dimitsana is an evidence of the important role of Water-Power altogether in the local society. Part of the exhibition is the gunpowder mill, which produced the necessary ammunition needed by the Greeks. Kolokotronis wrote: “Gunpowder we had, Dimitsana made it”. This is also the town, where the Patriarch Gregorios the 5th was born, the martyr of the Nation.
Dinner and overnight in Dimitsana.
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Day 5 Kalavryta - Patra
In the monastery of Agia Lavra in Kalavryta started the Greek War of Independence in 1821 and many rebels were present. One of them was the Bishop Palaion Patron Germanos, who also gave them his blessing. One of the objects that survived the several destructions of the complex is the Holy Flag with the embroidered scene of the Dormition of Virgin Mary.
The nearby Monastery of the Megalo Spilaio successfully repulsed the invasion of the Egyptian army in June 1827, which lasted a whole day.
Dinner and overnight in Patra.
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Day 6 Mesologgi - Nafpaktos - Galaxidi - Thermopylae - Athens
Mesologgi is undoubtfully the Sacred Town in Greece connected with the Resistance and the Exodus of its people. The joining forces of the ottoman – Turks and the Egyptians besieged the town for a very long period and despite their offers to the Greeks to surrender, they were rejected. The heroic Exodus and the amount of people who sacrificed their lives, affected deeply the European society and its artists and inspired the Greek poet Dionysios Solomos to write a Hymn dedicated to the defenders of the town.
The castle of Nafpaktos is the last one that was liberated in 1829. It is mainly known because of the naval battle of Lepanto which took place in 1571, when the “Sacra Lega” – consisted by Spanish, Papal and Venetian Forces – fought against the Ottoman Empire.
Galaxidi, the small town of maritime traders, supported financially the War of Independence but it was destroyed three times during the Revolution.
The Battle of the Gravia Inn was very decisive, since its outcome prevented the Ottoman Turks and their leader Omer Vrionis from advancing to the Peloponnese.
The narrow passage of Thermopylae is famous because of the Battle, which took place there in 480 B.C. when the king Leonidas of Sparta fell there together with his 300 soldiers. In this strategic area the Greeks fought many times against the Turks. During one battle, Athanasios Diakos was captured and was impaled in the nearby town of Lamia.
Dinner and overnight in Athens.
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Day 7 Athens
The Acropolis reflects the achievements of the Athenian Democracy of the 5th c. B.C. It was besieged many times during the Greek War of Independence and the Greek people preferred to offer ammunition to the Turks and die, rather than let them demolish the monuments, in order to get their lead joints necessary for the bullets.
In the Orthodox Cathedral of Athens there are two reliquaries. The first one is that of the Agia Filothei, a rich lady who became a nun and spent her money providing shelter to the women who escaped the Turkish harems. This is the reason, why the Turks beat her to death. The second reliquary is that of Gregorios the 5th the Patriarch. After his execution, his body was thrown to the Golden Horn but it was retrieved and buried in Odessa. Fifty years later his relics were brought to Athens.
The National Historical Museum is housed in the Old Parliament Building and its exhibits are connected to the Greek Revolution and its heroes.
At the National Gallery paintings from the middle and late 19th c. depict various historical events and people from the years of the Greek War of Independence.
Georgios Karaiskakis was brought to Salamina to recover after his fatal injury in Faliro but unfortunately, he died there. His grave is in the church of Agios Dimitrios. The monastery of Panagia Faneromeni on the island hosted many of the famous war heroes of the Revolution, also because of the fact that it was a very important hospital during this period. The Turks tried repeatedly to conquer it, but they never succeeded.
Dinner and overnight in Athens.
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Day 8 Poros - Hydra - Aigina
During the one-day cruise we will visit the islands of Poros, Hydra and Aigina.
On the island of Poros took place the significant meeting of Kapodistrias with the Ambassadors of the three Great Powers in 1828. He persuaded them to expend the borders of the new Greek State until the line of Amvrakikos and Pagasitikos Bay.
The rich families of Hydra supported financially the War of Independence and still today there are many “archontika” preserved all over the main town.
Aegina became temporarily the capital of the new State in 1827 and remained as such until 1829. During the rule of Kapodistrias, many public buildings were founded on the island, such as the Orphanage, the National Library and the Archeological Museum.
Dinner and overnight in Athens.
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Day 9 Depart from Greece – Athens
According to the schedule of your return flight you will be taken to “Eleftherios Venizelos” (airport of Athens).
ADDITIONAL INFO
Included
Deluxe bus transportation for airport transfers and for the tours according to the program - 50-seats bus.*
… overnights, on HB basis in 4* or 5* hotels .
Professional qualified English-speaking tourist guide throughout the tour.
Entrance fees.**
The whispers set.***
Full liability insurance.
All legal taxes and VAT.
Not Included
Possible tips and personal expenses.
Air tickets.
Meals outside of package.
The Overnight Stay Tax, which is 3,00€ per room, per overnight in 4* hotel and …€ per room, per overnight in 5* hotel.
What is not clearly described as included in the program.
* According to Covid-19 protocols, the capacity of the tourist bus must be at 65% of the seats.
** The cost of entrance tickets is based on the prices given by the Ministry of Culture up to now. If the prices of the entrance fees change, the cost will be adjusted accordingly.
***Losses or destruction of the whispers:
The following charges without VAT apply for the loss or destruction of the equipment:
- Receiver € 75.00
Combos
This tour package can be combined with:
1 day cruise to Poros, Hydra and Aigina
1 day cruise to Mount Athos.
3 nights Iconic Aegean Sea Islands cruise.
4 nights Iconic Aegean Sea Islands cruise.
Notes
We can design shorter or longer itineraries according to your interest.
You may combine the above program with any itinerary regarding Cyprus, Israel, Italy and Turkey.
We bear no responsibility in case of unannounced and unexpectedly closed archaeological sites, museums, churches or monasteries,
Dress Code
We recommend to be dressed with respect towards the religious places we are going to visit – covered knees and shoulders.
We also strongly advise you to always wear a hat, comfortable shoes, sunglasses and have sunblock with you.
Peloponnese in the heart of the revolution of 1821, tour - ReligiousTours.gr