Treasures of the Adriatic Sea
Trip Details
- Duration: 13 days days
- Visited Areas: Europe
Of the many seaborne idylls possible in the Mediterranean, this has to be one of the loveliest. The adventure aboard the all-suite Corinthian II begins in the romantic waterways of Venice. From the undisputed “Queen of the Adriatic,” you journey to the charming and seldom-visited town of Piran in Slovenia with its well-preserved Venetian-inspired architecture. In Croatia, discover the ancient city of Split; Korcula Island, caressed by gentle breezes and graced with Venetian spires; and the medieval splendor of Dubrovnik. Corinthian II will ply Europe’s only fjord to reach the town of Kotor in Montenegro. Finally, you reach Albania to explore the archeological site of Butrint before disembarking in Athens.
Itinerary
Day 1: Fly from USA
Depart home and travel to Venice, Italy.
Day 2: Venice, Italy / Embark
Built on an archipelago of small islands in a lagoon, Venice rose to power and flourished, shaping and dominating for many years the affairs of the Eastern Mediterranean. Upon arrival in this unique city, transfer to the pier to embark Corinthian II.
Day 3: Venice, Italy
Venice is unquestionably one of EuropeÂ’s most unusual and sublime cities, where water and light work a special magic on the ancient stones and canals. Today, explore some of VeniceÂ’s main landmarks, including St. MarkÂ’s Basilica, consecrated in 1094 and adorned with splendid marble and mosaics, and the DogeÂ’s Palace, the seat of Venetian power. There will also be time at leisure for independent activities.
Day 4: Piran, Slovenia
Possessed by Venice in 1283, delightful Piran is rich in Venetian-inspired architecture. Tour highlights include marble-surfaced Tartini Square; the Church of St. George, originally built in the 14th century; and the Sergej Masera Maritime Museum.
Day 5: Pescara / Chieti / Atri / Pescara, Italy
Arrive this morning in Pescara, an important fishing port. From here, you will drive to the nearby town of Chieti to explore the National Museum of Archaeology, contained within a villa built in the 1830s, which houses some of AbruzzoÂ’s most important artifacts. In the afternoon, continue to the Abruzzo hill-town of Atri, once the Roman colony of Hatria. Visit its beautiful Romanesque-Gothic cathedral, built upon the ruins of a Roman bath and containing lovely 15th-century frescoes by the Abruzzi artist Andrea DeLitio. Later visit the 14th-century Palazzo Ducale, located at the highest point of the city and now used as the town hall. The stepped and bridged streets of Atri make for an enjoyable stroll.
Day 6: Split, Croatia
Originally a Greco-Illyrian settlement called Aspalathos, Split is an ancient city centered around the formidable Palace of Diocletian, built in A.D. 295. An extensive structure, much of which is well preserved, the palace contains within its walls SplitÂ’s medieval town, making it the only palace that has been continuously inhabited since Roman times. Also visit the Archaeological Museum.
Day 7: Korcula, Croatia
Approaching Korcula, take in its skyline of white towers and green hills. Note the medieval townÂ’s layout: western streets run straight to funnel refreshing maestral breezes; eastern streets slightly curve to minimize bura winds. See St. MarkÂ’s CathedralÂ’s Venetian imprint and visit the Cathedral Treasury, BishopÂ’s Palace, Church of All Saints, and Icon Museum.
Day 8: Dubrovnik, Croatia / Kotor, Montenegro
For hundreds of years, Dubrovnik (the “Pearl of the Adriatic”) was an independent city-state set in competition with Venice for Constantinople’s trade routes. Visit the Franciscan Monastery, Dominican Monastery, and the Baroque Cathedral, containing works by Titian and Andrea del Sarto. Also, view the wonderful courtyard of the Rector’s Palace and the Cathedral of Our Lady, known for its rich treasury. In the afternoon, Corinthian II navigates the deep, fjord-like Bay of Kotor to reach the port town of the same name, located at the head of the bay beneath towering mountains. One of the most quaint and best-preserved medieval towns along the Dalmatian coast, Kotor is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. The town’s fortifications and most of its monuments, which you will visit on a walking tour, date from the time of Venetian rule.
Day 9: Vlore / Apollonia / Vlore, Albania
Arrive in Vlore, one of AlbaniaÂ’s oldest cities. An excursion leads to Apollonia, the ancient Greek city founded in 588 B.C. Explore its ruins, including the Monument of Agonothetes, the Roman Theater, and the Shen Meri Monastery.
Day 10: Monopoli and the Trulli Villages, Italy
The fishing port town of Monopoli is dominated by its 1552 castle. Explore the regionÂ’s unique Trulli Villages, with their curious whitewashed, conical dwellings built without mortar. Focus on two of the main villages, Alberobello, where Trulli line the streets, and hilltop Locorotondo. Also, stop at Ostuni, an ancient town enclosed within ramparts.
Day 11: Taranto / Metapontum / Taranto, Italy
Located on the gulf that bears its name, Taranto was founded by Spartan settlers in 708 B.C., and became one of the most powerful cities in Magna Graecia. Drive to Metapontum, the remains of the ancient Greek city, founded in the 7th century B.C., that grew rich from agriculture and its position on the trade route with the cities of the Tyrrhenian coast. After exploring the site, return to Taranto to visit its National Museum, which houses one of the largest archaeological collections in Italy.
Day 12: Butrint / Saranda, Albania
Drive to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Butrint. Inhabited since prehistoric times, the city was founded by the Trojans, or so claimed the poet Virgil. A gem of an archaeological site, its ruins span 2,500 years and include the remains of a Greek acropolis, Roman theater, 6th-century baptistery, and 19th-century fortress.
Day 13: Piraeus / Disembark / Athens, Greece / USA
Disembark the Corinthian II and board flights for your return home.