MEXICO - GUATANALAJARA

Meeting at the airport and flight with a stopover to the capital of Mexico, Mexico City. Arrival transfer and check-in at our hotel.

After breakfast we depart for the picturesque city of Queretaro ( Sandiago). de Queretaro ), which is filled with charming and surprisingly well-preserved Baroque churches, temples, and mansions with beautiful balconies and ornate facades. The Spanish conquered the city in 1531. It became a transit point for those traveling between the capital and the inland provinces, and its prominent position was recognized by the name "Third City of New Spain". It later played a leading role in both the Independence struggle and the Revolution. The Mexican Constitution was written and signed here. The city's most prominent landmark is a 74-kilometer-long aqueduct, which was built in the early 1700s to supply the city with water. The ancient structure runs through the center of one of the city's main streets, with intersections tied to tall arches. We will tour the historic center of the city, see the former Monastery of the Cross, the City Hall, the Monastery of St. Francis, the Church of Santa Clara with the characteristic Fountain of Poseidon, the square " De the Corregidora " and the Theater of the Republic. Then departure for San Miguel de Allende, a small quiet town, a real colonial diamond and place of residence for artists and intellectuals, which since 2008 has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site. San Miguel de Allende is also known, as it has been the setting for many films of Mexican and American cinema. Arrival and tour of the city , during which we will see the baroque church of the Archangel Michael which is the landmark of the city, the monastery of the Conception, the residence of Ignacio Allende, hero of the revolution, the church of San Francisco, etc. Our final stop is Guanajuato. Arrival and check-in at our hotel. Dinner. Overnight.

 Guadalajara , the capital of the state of Jalisco and the most important industrial center of western Mexico. The homeland of Mariachi and tequila combines colonial and modern architecture in a unique way. In the morning, departure for the neighboring city of Tequila where we will visit one of the factories producing the country's national drink. Return to Guadalajara and during our panoramic tour of the city we will see, among other things, the Cabañas Cultural Center, which  is a UNESCO World Heritage Site,  the government palace, the 19th century Degollado theater, the Cathedral, the rotunda dedicated to important people of the province of Hali  sco (Rotunda de los Jaliscenses Ilustres),  the San Juan de Dios market, Tapatia square, etc. Return to the hotel Dinner. Overnight.

Departure with final destination colonial Morelia. Shortly before arriving we will stop in the neighboring city of Pátzcuaro, with the most authentic architecture from the colonial period. During our tour we will see the Basilica of Our Lady of Health, the Temple and College of the Society of Jesus,  the house with the 11 patios and other interesting points of the city, whose picturesque squares Vasco de Quiroga and Gertrudis Bocanegra invite us to walk and explore a wide variety of crafts. Then we will visit Tzintzuntzan, one of the most traditional towns located near the shores of Lake Pátzcuaro. It was the most important city and later the capital of the Purépecha Kingdom. Arrival in Morelia. Check-in at our hotel. Dinner. Overnight.

This morning we will tour the historic center, which is in itself a real "open-air museum" and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We will see, among other things, the Plaza de Armas, the Government Palace, the Rose Garden and Conservatory, the Clavijero Palace, the local candy market, the old Aqueduct, the Church of San Francisco and the square with the magnificent fountain of the "Tarasko" women. Later departure for Mexico City and the capital of the country. Arrival and check-in at our hotel. Dinner. Overnight.

Morning departure for the famous Basilica of Guadalupe, which houses the image of the Virgin Mary that appeared on the cape of the Indian Juan Diego in 1531. Here we will visit the old (18th century) and the modern (about 30 years old) church of the Virgin Mary - patroness of Mexico. Then we will reach the largest archaeological site in Mexico, Teotihuacan, located 50 kilometers from Mexico City. Teotihuacan, the "place of the gods", which flourished between 200 and 650 AD, was the ancient religious capital of the Teotihuacans and a place of pilgrimage for the Aztecs. The Avenue of the Dead, which runs through the city center, is five kilometers long and is surrounded by religious and ceremonial complexes, the most impressive of which are the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon . Return to the hotel. Dinner. Overnight.

This morning we will visit the famous Frida Kahlo Museum, which was the house where she lived with her husband Diego Rivera. It includes paintings by both artists, photographs and  their personal belongings, but both the house itself with its characteristic blue color, and its garden, constitute two separate attractions in themselves. Then we will visit the old historic center of the capital, where the heart of the city beats, in the legendary Zocalo square, which was the ceremonial center of the Aztec capital - Tenochtitlan - where we will discover magnificent period buildings that strongly reflect its past. We will see, among others, the Presidential Palace (exterior), the impressive Cathedral founded by Cortez in 1525, the Palace of Fine Arts, the City Hall, Juarez and La Re Formon avenues, etc. Then we will visit the extremely interesting National Anthropological Museum, which houses the most important findings of the country's pre-Columbian civilizations (Aztecs, Mayans, Zapotecs, Olmecs, etc.). Later we will go to Xochimilco, where we will take a ride on a traditional boat (trajineras) and see the extensive network of canals and aquaculture called Chinampa. The so-called "Venice of Mexico City" is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With these wonderful images, which we will accompany with tequila and Mariachi music, our day will end. Return to the hotel . Dinner. Overnight.

Check out from the hotel and the rest of the day free for your shopping. Transfer to the airport. Return flight to Athens via a stopover.