A trip in the tradition of taste, in a place that has left the most powerful “footprint” in the course of Greek history at Messolonghi. The Holy City of Messolonghi, as it was declared in 1837, a benchmark in the culinary tradition with flavours from high quality materials from the richest fish production centre of our country, the lagoon of Messolonghi, formed between the delta of the rivers Acheloos and Evinos.

About Messolonghi…

Messolonghi was founded in the 13th century by Dalmatian pirates, on three islands that later on, consolidated. It took its name from the Italian phrase messo laghi that means “between the lakes”. Built next to the lagoon, one of the most important wetlands, and between the estuary of Evinos and Acheloos, is a major tourist attraction.

Messolonghi played an important role in the history of Greece from the Archaic period to the three ancient cities preserved the Plevrona, the Calydon and Oiniades, aquaducts and baths preserved since the Roman Empire, and many churches and monasteries that are still in very good condition from the Byzantine period.

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The most glorious page in the history of the city were the two major sieges (1822 & 1825), culminating in the heroic exit (1826), which shocked the world and inspired major artists from around the world (Delacroix, Goethe, etc.). The English poet and philhellene Lord Byron with his great support. Monuments such as the Gate of Exodus, the Garden of Heroes, the home of English poet and philhellene Lord Byron, the printing press of the newspaper “Greek Chronicles” of James Mayer, Swiss philhellene and author of the first printed newspaper about the fight, are scattered within the city.

In later Greek history, Messolonghi has produced five prime ministers (Spyridon and Charilaos Trikoupis, Dimitrios & Zinovios Valvis & Epaminondas Deligeorgis), great spiritual figures such as Kostis Palamas, Miltiades Malakasis, G. Drosini, Rigas Golfis and Anthony Travlantonis, as well as the family of four painters-hagiographers, the Kasola family, Vasso Katraki – international engraving artist etc.

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3 Day Programme

Day 1

Upon your arrival in the historic town of Messolonghi and after you get settled in your hotel, we welcome you and we inform you about the region and the program which will follow in the coming days of your trip.

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Initially, you start the tour in the city’s cobblestone streets admiring the architecture of the neoclassical buildings of the last century and the old mansions.

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Thereafter, you may end up with a bike in the lagoon to enjoy the feast of sunset colours.

After dusk, we will have a taste of Messolonghi Gastronomy in the city center, in the restaurant “Dimitroukas”.

The menu includes:

Starter

Salted anchovies with lagoon salt, parsley and garlic /

Oven baked sardines with lagoon salt flower /

Fried shrimp with feta

Salad

Greek salad with virgin olive oil of the region /

Season salad

Main Dish

Fresh seasonal fish from the lagoon (sea bream-bass-pedal mullet) /

Meat of your choice on the grill with french fries or boiled greens.

Drink

2 glasses of wine or 1 glass of Ouzo Trikene

Dessert

Dessert of the day (season fruit or dessert)

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Closing our first day in Messolonghi, we take a stroll in the bars of the center, with a stop at the “Avant Garde Bar-Restaurant” to taste our signature cocktail «Discover Messolonghi».

Day 2

Breakfast at hotel and departure at 09:30.

Our tour begins in the Garden of Heroes, where we will see the monuments of the heroes of the historical exodus of 1826 and the monuments of philhellenes who envisioned the liberation of the city. Then we will visit the Municipal Gallery of the city, the former City Hall, which houses original paintings, relics of heroic exodus as well as the icon of the exodus, the procession of which is performed during the Exodus Festivities.

We will turn back in time, in the traditional distillery of Trikene Brothers, which is active in Messolonghi since 1901.

We will visit the museums, former residences of Prime Ministers Spyridon and Charilaos Trikoupis and the one of the poet Kostis Palamas.

Temporary farewell to the city, we enter within the lagoon getting to know the rich wetland on the island of Tourlida. You can swim in the thermal baths of Agia Triada (Holy Trinity) or the renovated coast Tourlida.

Lunch on the island of Tourlida, in “Tourlida” restaurant.

The menu includes:

Starter

Salted anchovies marinated with garlic and parsley /

 Steamed mussels with mustard sauce.

Salad

Greek salad

Main Dish

Fresh seasonal fish from the lagoon (sea bream-bass-pedal mullet) /

Meat of your choice on the grill with french fries or boiled greens.

Drink

2 glasses of wine or 1 glass of Ouzo Trikene

Dessert

Dessert of the day (season fruit or dessert)

Return to the hotel for rest.

Afternoon visit to Messolonghi salt lakes and then to the “STEFOS” factory, where we will learn about the preparation of roe botargo and other products of this enterprise. Here you will taste the famous roe of Messolonghi as well as other culinary versions.

We will visit the Sotiriou winery to learn abour vine varieties that the family has preserved and about the range of unique wines that has to offer.

Back in Messolonghi.

Day 3

Breakfast at the hotel, check out and departure at 09.00. Tour the ancient city of Plevrona.

Arrival at the picturesque island of Aetoliko and tour of the narrow. Visit to the ‘Vaso Katraki’ Centre of Engraving Arts.

Lunch full of local flavours in the heart of Aetoliko, in the tavern “Monomatos”.

The menu includes:

Starter

Pickled Ligda (small bream) /

Grilled Lagoon Eel  /

 Appetizer with “STEFOS” smoked octopus

Salad

Greek salad with virgin olive oil of the region /

Season salad

Main Dish

Fresh seasonal fish from the lagoon (sea bream-bass-pedal mullet) /

Meat of your choice on the grill with french fries or boiled greens.

Drink

2 glasses of wine or 1 glass of Ouzo Trikene

Dessert

Dessert of the day (season fruit or dessert)

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Departure.

2 Day Programme

Day 1
11:00 Check in at the hotel.
At 11:30 we start with a tour of the Garden of Heroes, where are the graves of heroes such as Marco Botsaris and other philhellenes like Lord Byron. Then we visit the Municipal Art Gallery with original works and relics of the 1826 revolution, but also of modern Greek history. We pass by the houses – museums of personalities such as the family of Prime Ministers Spyridon and Charilaos Trikoupis and the poet Kostis Palamas and the traditional distillery of Trikenes Brothers, which was established in Missolonghi in 1901.

At 14:30 we will sit down to enjoy our lunch in “Dimitroukas” restaurant.

The menu includes:

Appetizer
Salted anchovies and fried shrimp with feta cheese

Salad
Greek salad with feta cheese

Main Dish
Lagoon Fish of the day / Meat

Drink
½ Kgr Wine Sotiriou or 1 carafe Ouzo Trikene

Return to the hotel for rest.

At 17:30 we will visit the Sotiriou winery. At 19:00 we will visit the Stefos Lab to monitor the preparation of roe and other products of the business. At 19:30 we will have a tour of the island Aetoliko and a tour the narrow.

We will taste the real flavors of Messolonghi in the heart ofAetoliko, in the ‘Monomatos

 tavern, with appetizers from unique STEFOS products and authentic flavors of regional dishes.

Appetizer
Potatoes, assorted appetizers with STEFOS products

Salad
Salad of boiled greens

Main Dish
Season Fish / Meat

Drink
1 carafe Ouzo Trikene

Dessert

Dessert of the Day / Season Fruit

Afterwards, we will go to the Bar-Restaurant “Avant Garde” to enjoy the signature cocktail «Discover Messolonghi», a taste of Messolonghi hospitality.

Return to Hotel.
 
Day 2
Breakfast at hotel, check out and departure at 09.00. At 09.45 we will have a tour of the Ancient Town of Plevrona. We will discover the salt marshes, the lagoon and the rich wetlands of the island of Tourlida. At 13.30 we will taste traditional food on the island of Tourlida in the “Tourlida” restaurant.

Appetizer
Salted Anchovies, Steamed mussels with mustard sauce.

Salad
Greek salad with feta cheese

Main Dish
Season Fish / Seafood / Meat

Drinbk
½ Kgr Wine Sotiriou or 1 carafe Ouzo Trikene

Dessert
Dessert of the day / Season Fruit

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Remarks:

• Minimum number of participants is 15 people.

• The above prices are in Euro per person, including VAT and are valid only for this departure.

• If the proposed dates or the duration or the travel programme do not meet your expectations, please contact us and one of our colleagues will help you create the trip of your dreams.

• Available Bank Accounts (for deposits):  NATIONAL BANK OF GREECE (IBAN): GR89 4120 0000 4120 0184 228