Meteora & Vergina Full Day Tour from Thessaloniki

Visit Meteora, famous for its impressive scenery with ageless Monasteries*, that contain priceless historical and religious treasures as well as exquisite specimens of Byzantine art, standing between earth and sky atop huge rocks. 

Once you finish visiting the monasteries proceed to the town of Kalambaka for lunch and then drive to Vergina, a small town in northern Greece near Veria, principal of the prefecture of Imathia. The town became internationally famous in 1977, when the Greek archaeologist Manolis Andronikos unearthed what he claimed was the burial site of the Kings of Macedonia, including the tomb of Philippe II, father of Alexander the Great. These finds established the site as the ancient town of Aigai. Visit the museum which was built to protect the tombs, and was inaugurated in 1993 to exhibit the artifacts and show the tumulus as it was before the excavations. The two most important graves were not despoiled and contained the main treasures that you can admire in the museum. The tomb of Philippe II, the father of Alexander, was discovered in 1977 and is separated in two rooms. The main room included a marble sarcophagus, and inside was the larnax made of 24 carat gold and weighing 11 kilograms. Inside the golden larnax the bones of the dead were found and a golden wreath of 313 oak leaves and 68 acorns, weighing 717 grams.

The facade of the tomb of Alexander IV of Macedon: In 1978 another burial site was also discovered near the tomb of Philippe, which belongs to Alexander IV of Macedon son of Alexander the Great. It was slightly smaller than the previous and was also not despoiled. Your guide will accompany you inside the museum to see some of King Philippe’s most important possessions, including the King’s Shield and gold-trimmed breastplate. According to legend, the golden chest containing the King’s bones was washed with wine and wrapped in purple cloth. Also you can learn how it was unearthed before seeing the golden chest. Also on display are gold diadems of unparalleled artistry, lavish wall paintings and a golden wreath of oak leaves.

Following the visit of Vergina Archaeological site, our bus will take us to a small hill nearby the city of Veria where local tradition believes that St.Paul has preached. A small shrine, known as the Altar of St.Paul was erected on this spot. Many religious ceremonies are still held at this Altar now days. Following the visit to the Altar we will return to the city of Thessaloniki early in the afternoon.

*In order to visit the Monasteries, skirts for the ladies and long trousers for the gentlemen are required.