Day 7: Mycenae, Epidaurus, and Athens

This morning was our coldest yet, but the rain stayed away so we bundled up and headed for Mycenae, the hilltop citadel of the ancient Greek hero and king, Agamemnon. As we strode past the enormous “Cyclopean Rocks” and under the impressive “Lion's Gate” entrance, we were transported back to the second millennium BC. Surrounded by steep mountains on three sides and a long, flat plain leading to the sea on the fourth, it seemed impossible to imagine the citadel ever being over-run. On the way out of Mycenae, we stopped at the “Treasury of Atreus”, one of the best surviving examples of an ancient “Tholos”, or beehive tomb, named after its resemblance to the shape of a beehive. After Mycenae, we headed north to Epidaurus to visit its famous theater, one of the most well-preserved in all of the ancient Greek world. The theater boasts a seating capacity of 13,000, with amazing acoustics and stunning views. After visiting the theater, Antonio treated us to a delicious lunch at his restaurant in Epidaurus then it was off to our final stop, Athens! Dinner on our first night in Athens was the best yet!