The Black Sea - Crossroads of Culture
Trip Details
- Duration: 12 days days
- Visited Areas: Europe
The Black Sea region—particularly the Crimean coast—enjoys a subtropical climate akin to that of the Mediterranean. After sailing from Athens, arrive in Nessebur, known for its well-preserved medieval architecture. Next, via chartered airplane, arrive amid the undulating hills of Romania’s Bucovina region. Also, explore Ukraine’s Odessa, a city rich in 19th-century architecture, including the famous Potemkin Steps, as well as Yalta and Sevastopol, crucible of the Crimean War. Sail to the seldom-visited north coast of Turkey to discover the soaring citadel of ancient Amasya. The journey concludes in Istanbul, old Constantinople, where you’ll visit the chief monuments of the Byzantines and the Ottomans, including the Church of Hagia Sophia and the sultan’s Topkapi Palace.
Itinerary
Day 1: Depart USA
Fly from the U.S. to Athens, Greece.
Day 2: Athens / Piraeus, Greece / Embark
Arrive in Athens and transfer Piraeus to board Corinthian II.
Day 3: At Sea
Attend lectures while sailing toward Bulgaria.
Day 4: Nessebur, Bulgaria
Arrive in charming Nessebur, known in ancient times as Messembria, or “town amid the sea,” according to Herodotus. Enjoy a walking tour of the town and its old timbered houses. Visit the Byzantine churches of St. Stephen and Christ of the Pantocrator and the Archaeological Museum. View the city’s ancient ruins, which date mostly from the Hellenistic period and include an acropolis, a Temple of Apollo, and an agora.
Day 5: Constanta, Romania
Arrive in Constanta, RomaniaÂ’s main port. A tour of the city will include the Ruins of Tomis Danubius, the Archaeological and National History Museum, the Archaeology Park, the Orthodox Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul, and Piata Ovidiu, the central square of the old quarter where you will have time at leisure.
Day 6: Odessa, Ukraine
Stroll through OdessaÂ’s elegant leafy streets, lined with stately mansions. Discover its prime landmarks, including the grand, Viennese Baroque-style Opera House; the historic Potemkin Steps, site of the 1905 uprising of workers and sailors from the battleship Potemkin; and the Archaeological Museum. In the afternoon, you will have the chance to meet with local families in their homes, or enjoy time at leisure in the city.
Day 7: Sevastopol / Chersonesos / Bakhchysaray / Sevastopol
Arrive in Sevastopol, a beautiful port city and the former base of the Russian Black Sea Fleet from the days of Catherine II until the fall of the Soviet Union. Drive to nearby Chersonesos, an ancient city founded by Greeks in the 5th century B.C. that became a prosperous trading post. Return to Sevastopol to visit the Panorama Museum, featuring a circular, three-dimensional work of art depicting the defense of the city during the Crimean War. In the afternoon, enjoy time at leisure in Sevastopol, or alternatively, drive to the Crimean interior to explore Bakhchysaray, the seat of the Tatar state from the 16th to the 18th centuries. Visit the imperial KhanÂ’s Palace, built in 1519.
Day 8: Yalta
In the mid-19th century, the Russian imperial family chose Yalta for its summer residence, and almost overnight the town mushroomed into an elegant and popular resort. Tour the Alupka Palace, a stunning 19th-century edifice with both English Tudor and Byzantine embellishments, and Anton ChekhovÂ’s House. After lunch at a local restaurant, visit the Livadia Palace, famed site of the 1945 Yalta Conference among Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin, and attend a private concert at its Organ Hall.
Day 9: Samsun / Amasya / Samsun, Turkey
From Samsun, drive to Amasya, which (legend has it) was founded by the Amazon queen Amasis. Admire its setting amid a narrow gorge on the Iris River, flanked by cliffs. Ascend to the clifftop fortress for panoramic views and probe the rock tombs of the Pontic kings, which were carved into the cliff. Also visit the 15th-century Sultan Beyazit Mosque, whose buttressed domes and columns commend it as an architectural hallmark, before savoring lunch at a hilltop restaurant with postcard-perfect views. Visit the Archaeological Museum in Samsun before returning to the ship.
Day 10: At Sea
Enjoy Corinthian IIÂ’s amenities while sailing to Istanbul.
Day 11: Istanbul
Arrive in Istanbul, set on the Bosporus, a city that blends the cultures and traditions of East and West. Tour the cityÂ’s principal landmarks, including the majestic Hagia Sophia basilica, built by the emperor Justinian I in A.D. 537; the Topkapi Palace, once the principal residence of the Ottoman sultans and, from the mid-15th to 19th centuries, the administrative center of the Ottoman Empire; the Blue Mosque; and the Grand Bazaar, where you may enjoy time at leisure.
Day 12: Istanbul / Disembark / USA
Disembark and transfer to the airport for return flights to the U.S.