The final week of the CIG’s Attica-Peloponnese Summer school saw the francophone groups continue their travels. Although they knew the journey was nearing its end, they still had much to discover and many more memories.

While the second group had seen it the previous week, it was the turn of group 1 to explore the awe-inspiring site of Mystras, nestled on Mt. Taygetus. They traversed the ancient streets, paying their respects at the numerous monasteries. The view from the site, encompassing the entire valley once under the dominion of ancient Sparta, was a sight to behold.

Both groups, brimming with excitement, stopped in Messene on their way to Pylos. Here, they eagerly delved into the remnants of the Hellenistic and Roman city. The students immersed themselves in the various sanctuaries, the bustling agora with its many stores, the grand stadium, and even the Roman latrines, their curiosity piqued by the place’s rich history and culture.

The next day was spent in the modern town of Methoni. Here, the students explored the castle and its lone church. Once finished, they had time to explore the town and take advantage of the beautiful weather to go to the beach. Once back in Pylos, the second group decided to organize a little boat ride to see the various coves in the region and stop by the island of Sphaktiria and its many monuments.

The next day, the groups passed by the Palace of Nestor as they left Pylos on their way to Olympia. Dr. Angelos Gkotsinas, an archeologist in charge of restoring Phideas’ workshop, gave both groups a private tour of the ancient site and museum. The final running competition was held at the ancient stadium, where the winners were crowned with wreaths. That night, the students stayed at a hotel in the heart of Patras to give them a chance to explore the third largest city in Greece.

The following day, the students arrived in Delphi to visit the ancient site, which became many students’ favourite. They were fascinated by the preservation of monuments such as the Athenian Treasury, the Stadium, and the Tholos from the sanctuary of Athena Pronaia. Afterward, they ate and spent the rest of the night exploring the cute village of Arahova.

The trip to the Peloponnese ended with a final visit to the fortress of Eleutherai. The fortifications are known as among the best-preserved in Greece, and the students were fascinated by the structure as they walked through old doorways and along the walls, attempting to re-live what life must have been like stationed in that spot thousands of years ago.

The second group arrived in Athens a few days before their summer school ended, allowing them to visit a few sites they had not had a chance to visit before. The first was the Sanctuary of Artemis at Brauron and its beautiful museum before continuing onto the temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion. The following day, they finished their trip with the Keramikos, where they visited the ancient cemetery along with one of the gates of Ancient Athens.

On the final day, both groups gathered at Xenos Zeus for a heartwarming dinner. The air was filled with laughter and chatter as the students shared stories and experiences from their trips. Amidst the joy, there were also a few tears from students who were not ready to say goodbye, their shared experiences forging bonds that they wished could last a lifetime.

Thank you for following our journey throughout Attica and the Peloponnese. This year, we spent time with an amazing group of students with so much potential that it will be very hard to beat. But we will, once again, take on the challenge in next year’s summer schools!