Optional Experiences are subject to change. Your Travel Director will supply you with a final list of Optional Experiences available on your trip. Optional Experiences cannot be booked online; they can be purchased during your trip through your Travel Director.

Nafplion

Romantic Nafplion the First Capital of Greece with Nemea Wine Tasting

Adult Price: € 70.00

Nemea has been a wine region since ancient times, with vineyards sprawled across its hillsides, plains and plateaus – the vineyards of the Peloponnesus are known for their complexity and diversity. The first reference to the wine traditions of the Peloponnese is from Homer, who referred to the area as “Ampeloessa” (full of vines). According to archaeological excavations, wine was first produced in Nemea almost 3500 years ago. Some of Greece’s most well-known wineries are found in Nemea. Today Nemea is one of the largest winemaking regions of Greece and produces some of its best wines. The prominent grape here is Ayoryitiko, one of the most noble of the Greek red grapes. Ayoryitiko produces wines remarkable for their deep red color and remarkable aromatic complexity. After our tasting, we will return to Nafplion, where you’ll have free time to explore this beautiful port before we return to the ship. One of the most beautiful towns in Agrolis, the Eastern Peloponnese, and one of Greece’s most romantic cities, elegant, architecturally homogenous Nafplion, the capital of the First Hellenic Republic from 1828 until 1834, is a palimpsest upon which its many conquerors have written their turbulent stories over the centuries: the Franks, the Venetians and the Ottomans all contributed to the incomparable mien of this lovely port, which greets its many visitors with its ancient city walls, its castles, its Ottoman fountains, its Venetian houses and its neoclassical mansions. Plateia Syntagmatos, the lively heart of the city, is much as it was in the 1700s. Other important buildings include two Turkish mosques, the Archaeological Museum of Nafplion, which houses artifacts found in the area from the Prehistoric and Mycenaean eras, and the Municipal Gallery, an arm of the Athens National Gallery. Near downtown you’ll find the Church of Agios Spyridonas and the Church of Agios Georgios, which is home to a number of important murals, including a copy of Da Vinci’s “The Secret Dinner.” According to mythology, Nafplion was founded by Náfplios, the son of Poseidon and Danaus (Danaida) Anymone. The town’s history begins in prehistory, when its soldiers took part in both the Agronautic expedition and the Trojan War. A major port since the Bronze Age, Nafplion endured a long decline under the Roman Empire, but grew and thrived as part of the Byzantine Empire, when it was a key commercial and strategic port. In 1203 Leon Sgouros, the ruler of Nafplion, conquered Argos and Corinth, and Larissa fortress to the north. The city saw many fierce battles between the Ottomans and the Venetians, who built most of its medieval quarter between 1686 and 1715. From 1828 until 1834 it was the first capital of liberated Greece.

Delphi

Flavours of Parnassos Mountain and Wine Tasting

Adult Price: € 45.00

A delightful evening commences as we meet our local wine expert at our welcoming restaurant. Located in the heart of the village of Delphi, it overlooks a sea of olive trees covering the stunning valley below. As we discover the tantalizing local wines and learn about the indigenous grape varieties cultivated locally, we savor a variety of Greek hors d’oeuvres followed by a choice of delicious entrees and sumptuous dessert. A wonderful night to remember! Wine tasting, drinks and dinner included.