Private Ancient Olympia and Winery

Private Ancient Olympia and Winery
From $75.00/person to $720.00/person (Select "Individuals" below) Price varies based on number of individuals in your group
Choose Options My Cruise Itinerary
Summary
Shore Excursion Size ? Private
Shore Excursion Type Cultural, Scenic, Walking, Shopping
Shore Excursion Duration 5 Hours 30 Minutes
Activity Level ? Moderate
Shore Excursion Leaves From ? Cruise Ship Pier
Food/Beverage Provided Wine and olive oil tasting
Recommended Dress We recommend wearing comfortable clothing and sensible, flat-soled walking shoes. Guests should bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.
Restrictions Minimum age to consume alcohol is 18 years. Guests must be able to walk over cobblestones and uneven surfaces, inclines and steps. This tour is not wheelchair accessible, but walkers can be accommodated.

Your private journey to the birthplace of the Olympic Games begins with a scenic drive through picturesque villages before you reach Olympia, where you will start your tour by visiting the Sacred Altis. Without a doubt, the elegance of the Temple of Zeus will impress you, as will the fact that one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, the gold-ivory statue of Zeus, was once housed here.

The sculptor Phidias, who made the statue, had his workshop in Olympia. A Byzantine church was erected on top of the workshop, and its remnants can be seen today. The Altis also encompasses the Prytaneion magistrate's residence, the Philippeion, an offering of Philip of Macedonia after his victory at Chaeronia, and Hera's Temple, which served as a perfect setting for the famous statue of Praxiteles' Hermes, perfectly preserved and now housed in the nearby museum.

Around the Altis, see the Twelve Treasuries, small buildings erected as offerings by the city-states of Greece. Walking past the treasuries you will see the world-famous Stadium, the largest of its kind seating 20,000 people. Accessible through a vaulted entrance, the Stadium was used for the hammer throwing event in the 2004 Olympics. Continue to the Gymnasium, the Vouleuterion, and the Leonidaion, which served as a kind of hostel for the visitors of the games.

You will depart Ancient Olympia and spend free time in the village of Olympia. After a short drive, you will reach a family estate for a tour of the vineyards to learn about the different varieties of grapes as well as the cultivation process. The tour continues in the area of production and standardization where you can become acquainted with modern winery production which produces superior quality and reliable products. You will then make your way back to the estate for a delicious wine tasting of a few of the different varieties along with olive oil that is also produced on the premises.

After visiting the winery, you will return to your ship with memories of this very special, intimate day in Greece that will last a lifetime.