ORTHODOX VENICE

Venice Tour Program

1^stDay: Athens-Patra-St.Andrew-At Sea(to Venice)

Our trip to Venice begins. First, we depart from Athens to Patra. There, we defy Saint Andrew the City’s patron saint. After our pilgrimage we visit the duty free shop. Then we enter the port to board the boat to Ancona. We are in the cabins, where we will spend overnight. We take advantage of the ship’s services.

2^ndDay:Ancona-Rimini-Venice

We arrive at the harbour of Ancona and leave for the city of Padua. In Padua, we visit the magnificent Basilica of St. Anthony. The church stands out for the Byzantine domes and the luxurious interior decoration.

Then, we take a stroll to Europe’s second largest square, Prato della Valle.The square offers free time for photos and for enjoying a coffee.

Nearly across, the 500 years old botanical garden, Orto Botanico di Padua, is located. The botanical garden was built by the local university for study and medical research. We continue our way and in about an hour we are in the unique Venice. Dinner and overnight stay follows.

3^rdDay: Venice Tour

Today,in Venice, we get to know the Greek Church of St. George. On the left of the Beautiful Gate there is the icon of Christ Almighty.The icon was carried after the fall of Constantinople by Anna Notaras, the last byzantine Prime Minister’s daughter.

We can see the Temple of St. Zacharias where his Holy Relics are located.Then we move on to the Temple of St. Julian, where St. Paul the Thivaus is located.

We also visit the Temple of the Savior with Saint Theodore the Stratelates.Then we make a visit to Saint Marcus Temple with the Holy Relics of Saint Barbara and the relics of Constantinople. If there is time available, we visit the Temple of Saint Francis of the Vineyards.There, the Holy Relics of Saint Anastasios of Persia and St. Christina are hosted.

After, we visit the Bridge of Sighs on St. Mark’s Square. On the opposite side of the canal we see the Pentecostal Church of Venice, Santa Maria De Salute. In the evening we return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

4^thDay:Venice-Bologna-Ravenna

After breakfast we depart for the city of Bologna. Bologna is famous for the oldest University of Europe. We get to know the magnificent Maggiore Square, the statue of Poseidon and the church of St. Petersburg.The Historic Towers, Asinelli and Garisenda come next on the tour program.

Then we continue for the fairytale town of Ravenna. We visit the Basilica of St. Vitalios, the Orthodox baptistery, the Mausoleum of Gala Placida, and St. Apollinaire’s the New. In the evening we return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

5^thDay:San Marino-Rimini-Ancona

After breakfast we arrive at Monte Titano.There the picturesque state of San Marino is located. San Marino is characterized by the narrow streets as well as for its rich markets.After,We pass from Rimini.There is the cemetery of the Greek soldiers who fell in 1944 in the battle of Rimini.

Lastly, we continue to the port of Ancona to board the ship to Greece. We spend overnight at sea.

6^thDay: Patras-Athens

We arrive at the port of Patra and depart directly for Athens. If we have time, we take a small detour to worship the Virgin Mary Sourotis in Aigio. We continue for Athens with some stops to intervene in our way.