Blue Seas villa 10 Nights and 11 Days in a land of legends, literature and rugged beauty.
3 ARRIVAL TO ATHENS
5, 6 BLUE SEAS VILLA DAYS 2 AND 3
7 MYTRAS, DAY 4
8 GYTHIO, DAY 5
9, 10 MONEMVASIA, DAY 6
11 ELAFONISOS, DAY 7
12 DIROS CAVES, DAY 8
13 OLIVE GROVES AND SUNSET DAY 9
14 LAST DAY IN PLYTRA
15, 16 DEPARTURES AND OPTIONS
INFO@BLUESEASVILLA.COM
BLUESEASVILLA.COM
+1.305.215.0923
Welcome to Greece! We recommend you fly in a day or two before your workshop begins. Below are some places to stay, to eat and to enjoy the energy of the city. Day 1. Arrival to Athens Some of our favorite luxury hotels are the 360 Degrees Hotel in Monastiraki Square, A for Athens and Coco-Mat Hotel brand. For a comfortable, affordable and centrally located stay, book the Museum Hotel by Best Western. It’s next to the National Archeological Museum in a lively and safe Athenian neighborhood. If you only have the evening in Athens, check into your hotel, get some rest and head out to dinner. These spots are known on the culinary scene and offer a range of price points for you.
Ama Lachei Stis Nefelis Greek food, $ 69 Kallidromiou +30 21 0384 5978
Taverna tou Oikonomou Greek, $-$$ 32 Kidantidon +302103467555
Aster Greek food, $$ 48 Troon +30 21 0341 6668
Spondi Restaurant Contemporary, $$$-$$$$ 5 Pirronos +302107564021
Dionysos Greek fast-food, $ 12 Ithakis +302108211369
I Kriti Greek, Meze, $ 5 Veranzerou Veranzerou
Op tional ExtRA Day in Athens Start your day with a visit to the Acropolis and the Parthenon. Head straight to Acropolis Hill and explore Propylaea, the temple of Athena Nike, Erechtheion with its Porch of Maidens, and finally the awe-inspiring Parthenon and its magnificent views of sprawling Athens. Make sure on the return down the hill to visit the surrounding monuments, as well as the hills of Philopappos, Mars, and Pnyx, the Observatory, the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, and the Ancient Agora. Lunch: Head straight to the New Acropolis Museum and dine al fresco on their rooftop terrace. After the museum or a rest at your hotel, you’ll want to check out Monastiraki Square and Flea Market. Walk up and down the streets and get lost. Enjoy the vibe and the chaos. You are also close to Hadrian’s Library (the ruins of an ancient Roman Library) and to the Pandrossou Street market. Some of the stores in the Monastiraki area close around 6 PM, and in Pandrousso they close around 10 PM. There are plenty of places to eat in the area. Special note: If you want to create art at the ancient locations, bring a sketchbook. The guards are protective of the ruins, and paints or pastels might attract their attention.
Day 2 - Transfer to Blues Seas Villa It’s time to escape the hustle and bustle of Athens and head to old-world Greece and Blue Seas Villa. Breakfast at your hotel. Meet us at 11 AM in front of the Church of the Pantanassa at Monastiraki Square. It’s the little church with the bell tower. You can’t miss it. We will be there with a sign for you to spot us. Lunch: We’ll make a one hour stop at the Corinth Canal Old Bridge. After some photos and a little history, we will have a quick bite of Greek street food at one of the classic road-house cafes. Evening: We should arrive at Blue Seas Villa by 5 PM, depending on road conditions. Enjoy your welcome beverage, settle in, relax on the terrace, or explore the village a little. You can walk everywhere. At 8 PM, join us on the terrace for a Welcome Orientation and a light Greek dinner of mezé and wine.
Special notes: The address for you to find the church is Mitropoleos 88, Athina 105 55, Greece. Try to be on time, as traffic can get hectic in the city. Please make sure to keep a hand on your luggage in the area and watch out for pickpockets.
Day 3 - Paint in Plytra After breakfast, we take a 5-minute walk from the Villa down to the dock where you can set up your easel. Here you can paint the fishermen’s boats, the nets drying in the sun and beautiful mountain views. There are bathrooms at the nearby taverns. Lunch today is at the Villa. Afterward, walk it off by heading down to Asopitan Plaz, our Blue Flag award-winning beach, and paint or simply enjoy the beach. Make sure to order a coffee frappé, which is a national craze, while you are there. Another option is to head downhill to the ruins of Ancient Asopos. If you are feeling creative, bring your paints along. There are several coastal views from here, and you can also swim or snorkel. Remember that you must leave behind any ancient artifacts you find. Dinner: With the group at Θαλαμηγός (Thalamigos) Traditional Greek, family-owned, and one of the oldest taverns in town. © George Panagakos
Day 4 - Mystras A UNESCO World Heritage site, 1 hour and 30 minutes (+/-) from Blue Seas Villa, Mystras is a popular, must-see Byzantine site. Pack as lightly as possible, remember your water canister and leave room in your bag for your boxed lunch. We will head out early in order to beat the crowds and the heat and begin in Lower Mystras with setting up our easels at the Pantassas’ Monastery gardens. There will be a lot of walking on slippery, marble pathways and stairs to your painting location. Shoes with good traction and support are recommended for this excursion. Be ready for any weather, as well. When you are done painting, explore Mystras’ churches, mansions, and pathways. Many important Byzantine artworks are located here. It takes 4 hours to see only lower Mystras at a leisurely pace. If you only have time to see one thing after painting, make sure to see the Cathedral of Saint Demetrios, one of the most important churches of Mystras founded in 1292 AD. Of special interest are the abundant, centuries-old frescoes, hand-carved marble and mosaic floors. On your return to Blue Seas Villa, you’ll find light refreshments set out for you to hold you over until dinner. Dinner: Dine waterfront at Το Νησί (The Island). Mystras, Pantanassa's Monastery Photo by Damien Entwistle, Flickr
Day 5 - Gythio We drive an hour east and head to the largest town, Gythio, in the Peloponnese. Our morning painting session is with beautiful fishing boats and sailboats lined up along the harbor. Lunch is at Saga, after go and spend 1.5 hours shopping along the waterfront. Shops in Gythio are all owned by locals and offer many handmade or locally designed goods. From Saga, walk up the harbor to the Atkaion Hotel. Just a little beyond the hotel is the famed shop/book store/gallery of the Folk Painter George Hasanakos. Also, make a stop at the antique store Paliazures, a few doors down from George’s shop. Then, keep walking Vasileos Georgiou to the side streets Gerasimou, Poliaravou, and Ermou. On the way back to Blue Seas Villa, weather and time permitting, we will go for a dip in the water and a painting session at an incredible shipwreck on a beautiful beach. Tonight, we dine at home. Come as you are.
Gythio
© George Panagakos
Day 6 - Monemvasia Today, you get to sleep in. After breakfast, grab your hiking shoes and get ready to walk one of the most beautiful castles in all of Greece. Make sure your gear is light, as you are going to hike and be painting in 2 locations. Painting location 1 - Once walking through the single entrance of this pedestrian-only island, we will begin our ascent from the lower town straight to the summit and Agia Sophia Church. The church is on the highest point of Monemvasia, providing sweeping views of the Aegean Sea. The ascent will take 45 minutes (+/- without stopping). It will be a moderately strenuous ascent, with steps and slopes, over the slippery stone paths and loose gravel. In other words, please be very careful! Once here, you can walk around to find your favorite vantage point. There are countless possibilities. We will tell you about some of our favorites to help you.
Typical passage ways of MonemvasiaI
© George Panagakos
Lunch: We recommend Oinomelo Castle with its cute terrace and views. You can also go to To Konani (next to the square), Matoulas, and Matoulas Tavern. Painting location 2 - Elkomenos Christos Square. Here, you can paint the belltower, the square itself with the canon, and the view of the Aegean sea. There may be a festival going and the courtyard will be decorated with flags and flowers. There are also lots of alleyways and myriad little corners to inspire you. After your painting session, we’ll meet on the rooftop of Emvasis Cafe to unwind, have a cocktail or coffee, and soak in the views. Dinner: We will depart Monemvasia Castle and dine waterfront at our friend Mathaio’s place. He is known for his seafood, but can satisfy everyone, as his restaurant is rated one of the top spots to eat in town. Special notes: The cobblestone floors in Monemvasia have worn smooth over time. Shoes with good traction and support are highly
recommended, again.
Day 7 - Elafonisos Finally, we are going to one of those famous Greek islands everyone talks about. Bring your paint kit or don’t: it’s up to you. Do bring a towel, sunscreen, and hats. After a short ferry ride, we drive to Simos Beach, rated one of the top beaches in all of Greece - and, the world, even. Snorkel, relax, swim. Lunch: There are 2 options on the beach that have similar (Greek) menus. Expect to spend 10-20 Euros with a drink. We’ll head back to our village in the late afternoon. Enjoy painting at the villa, at the waterfront or village, or just relax. Dinner: We’ll keep the beach vibes going and dine al fresco at Asopitan Plaz.
Day 8 - Diros Cave It’s going to be a full day of driving through mountains to incredible sites. We are off to what the ancient Greeks believed to be the entrance of Hades. Diros is ranked in the top 3 caves in the world with its unique stalagmites and stalactites. On this 40-minute boat tour, we go through passages and galleries with glimmering formations. Upon your exit from the caves, take in the view of the bay, as this is where you are painting today. Come back to the van and grab your lunch from the cooler. Don’t forget your beach towel in case you want to take a dip. Afterwards, we head to the tiny seaside village of Limeni to paint the cliff views from Our Lady of Brett. This picturesque ruin of a church provides views of the crystal clear bay, dotted with stone buildings. Before heading to Plytra, we will dine on Greek seafood right next door to our painting spot.
Limeni
Beach at Diros Cave
Day 9 - Olive Groves and Sunset Painting Today is an easy day, feel free to linger over breakfast. We are off to visit an olive grove so you can paint those ancient trees, and taste a little homemade olive oil, too. When we are done, we’ll head to the Villa for a late lunch.
Sunset Painting
We know, you fell in love with Monemvasia Castle, so we are going back for sunset so that you can see why it’s called the “Violet City.” We’ll give you a map of the Old Town so you can find your way. Try to also hit the shops and take home something unique. Make sure to check out Monemvasia’s famous art gallery, Malva.
Day 10 - Last Day in Plytra Enjoy breakfast at the Villa and explore our quiet village before you depart tomorrow. Hike up the mountain for some incredible views and reflect on your trip, or rent a bicycle and ride around the village to find a painting spot. Maybe paint the docks again, or The Venetsanaki House. Lunch is on your own today. In the evening, meet us back at the Villa. We are sending you off in style with a Big, Fat Greek dinner.
Day 11 - Until next time! We say goodbye over coffee and breakfast and head back to Athens. It’s been wonderful having you, and we hope you enjoyed exploring the legendary Peloponnese. Optional day or two after: You saw the authentic side of Greece. Now maybe you want to paint a tourist mecca such as Santorini, or Mykonos. After we drop you off in Athens, you can take a ferry from Piraeus to any of the islands. OR(!) Maximize your time and spend two nights in beautiful Nafplio! Learn more on the next page.
Special notes:
If you would like to ship the artwork you created back home, we will be happy to make arrangements for you. For artwork created on panels, we recommend you invest in Raymar Wet Painting Carriers. Follow this link to purchase them: https://www.raymarart.com/ collections/wet-painting-carriers Guerrilla Painters also offers a “Handy Porter” wet canvas box. Visit https://guerrillapainter.com/ to learn more.
Nafplio
Located 2.5 hours from Blue Seas Villa and, one hour and forty minutes from Athens, Nafplio is considered to be one of the most romantic cities in Greece. Its beauty has to lead it to become the Mediterranean Yacht Show’s host city and port. As the perfect location for an overnight after your retreat with us, you’ll see that artistic opportunities abound on the Venetian streets of the Old Town, the boardwalk, and from the Palamidi Castle. Start at Syntagma Square and follow Megalos Dromos (the Great Road) to see Neo-classical buildings, cafés, and lush bougainvillea. You may also want to indulge in the excellent shopping opportunities here with local artisans and vendors.
Blue Seas villa
BLUESEASVILLA.COM
INFO@BLUESEASVILLA.COM
305.215.0923