Peter Sommer Travels Blog
Welcome to our blog!
Since 2011, this is where we provide extra insight and information about our expert-led cultural tours and cruises. Our posts complement what is available on our main website and in our brochure. They offer examples of the fascinating stories and ideas, the lovely flavours and sights, the extraordinary experiences that we share with our guests in six countries.
Texts about archaeology and history, brought to you by our tour experts, tour diaries, news from excavations and museums, recipes, reading suggestions, updates on our new itineraries and much more - it's all here for you to discover and enjoy.
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The shield of Philip II and archaeological treasures at Vergina in Greece Today, in the middle of our tour of Macedonia, we went to pivotal places. Our first stop was the Nymphaion of Mieza, just below Naoussa, where we are staying. It ... Read More
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Aiani - an ancient Macedonian provincial centre in Greece On our tours of Macedonia in northern Greece, we venture into Western Macedonia, the area known as Upper Macedonia in antiquity, because it is hill and mountain country, as opposed ... Read More
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A medieval keep at Platamon castle in Macedonia, Greece We spent the morning mostly in the Archaeological Museum of Dion, below the slopes of mighty Mount Olympus, home of the gods. Appropriately, Dion was a major shrine to Zeus, ... Read More
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The Neolithic lake settlement of Dispilio in Macedonia in Greece One of the visits on our Exploring Macedonia tour is Dispilio, one of the most important prehistoric sites in the area. Here, a lakeside settlement of the Neolithic era has ... Read More
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Macedonia Diary 2022 - the painted tomb at Agios Athanasios "Exploring Macedonia" is our first new itinerary in Greece since 2018. On this occasion, to give an impression of the experience, we are providing a kind of travel diary on ... Read More
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The Ballinderry game board: a warrior's pastime As always in our Another thing posts, we start with what you see. Our object is on display in the National Museum of Ireland's Archaeology exhibit in Dublin and it ... Read More
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The Island of Brač in Croatia - a microcosm of Dalmatia It seems an eternity ago we were touring Dalmatia for the first time, to prepare what was then Peter Sommer Travels' imminent expansion into Croatia. I vividly remember a moment ... Read More
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'Gold of the Great Steppe' at the Fitzwilliam Museum Some time in antiquity - we can’t be sure exactly when, but some time around the eighth-sixth centuries BC - grave robbers broke into a large burial tumulus near its ... Read More
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Meeting old friends at remote Lydae in Caria, Turkey Our morning excursion took us to the remote peninsular plateau that is known as the ancient site of Lydae. Little is known about this quiet place that seems far away ... Read More
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Ancient Myra and its Lycian tombs: an archaeological wonder in Turkey On our Cruising the Lycian Shore trip in Turkey, we visit the ancient city of Myra (modern Demre), once a major centre of population in these parts. The old city ... Read More
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Olympos: an Ancient City on the East Coast of Lycia in Turkey During our 2-week gulet trip around the coast of Lycia, we visit the ancient city of Olympos, where a sandy beach is overlooked by stupendous cliffs, the opening of a ... Read More
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Phaselis: a beautiful ancient city in Lycia, Turkey One of the many beautiful archaeological sites we visit on our 2-week gulet voyage around Lycia is Phaselis. We set off from Finike in the morning and cruise east, around ... Read More
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The Lion Tomb at Antiphellos, ancient Kaş in Turkey Kaş, a well-known resort of great peace and charm, stands upon and among the ruins of Antiphellos, one of ancient Lycia's key ports. Antiphellos must have been quite affluent for ... Read More
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Gemiler island in Turkey: a Byzantine pilgrimage centre? On a number of our gulet trips in Lycia, from our starting point in Göcek, we head just a short distance to the east, approaching the outer reaches of the ... Read More
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Polpette alla Siciliana - Sicilian Meatballs I'm always a little nervous when offering an Italian recipe on this blog... Why? Because Italians take the culinary part of their cultural heritage very seriously, and they don't like ... Read More