Day 1 - Saturday - Apr 27, 2024
Embark your ship and settle into your stateroom. Chioggia is a charming fishing community steeped in its age-old seafaring traditions. It is also the gateway to Venice, famed for its wondrous patchwork of graceful piazzas, tranquil canals, artful footbridges, and Gothic splendor. All things Venetian begin in St. Mark's Square, where its elegant campanile, or bell tower, rings over the rooftops, and the Byzantine-Gothic St. Mark's Basilica seems to preside over all. Beyond St. Mark's and away from the crowds, Venice is a hushed and intriguing city to explore on foot, with medieval echoes marking every step.
Day 2 - Sunday - Apr 28, 2024
The Venetian Republic ruled Adriatic waves for a millennium. During the 8th century as the Roman Empire began to decline, many Europeans fled to Venice and its neighboring towns, including Chioggia. Merchants put their skills to use, and the city-state was soon thriving. The Venetian Lagoon's canal banks feature buildings influenced by Byzantine and Islamic architecture, reflecting Venice's powerful trading network. The first vaporetto traversed the Grand Canal in 1881; alongside the gondolas, these iconic Venetian water buses are at the heart of Venice's transport network.
Day 3 - Monday - Apr 29, 2024
Cruise the scenic St. Anthony Channel into the oldest Croatian city on the Dalmatian Coast, Sibenik. Resting at the mouth of the Krka River, this UNESCO World Heritage Site has a remarkably preserved Old Town. Roam its narrow streets past medieval houses and churches, all surrounded by four historic fortresses. The city's St. James Cathedral is the most important Renaissance structure in Croatia. Perhaps you will join an excursion to view the impressive waterfalls of the Krka River.
Day 4 - Tuesday - Apr 30, 2024
Explore sunny palm-lined Bari, where streets are lined with romantic honey-toned balconied houses, welcoming courtyards, and Romanesque and Baroque churches. Visit the Norman-Swabian Castle, the splendid Romanesque Basilica of St. Nicholas, and the Petruzzelli Theater, one of Italy's most important opera houses, and stroll the picturesque waterfront. Or perhaps visit Alberobello and its fascinating trulli houses, a UNESCO World Heritage Site of whitewashed buildings with conical roofs.
Day 5 - Wednesday - May 1, 2024
Uncover the deep past of Crotone, founded as a Greek colony in 710 BC. Boasting a vast array of archaeological relics, the city was once heralded as the home of some of the Hellenic Empire's most celebrated figures, including many victors of the Olympic Games and Pythagoras, whose mathematical theories altered Western thought. During your visit, marvel at the impressive cathedral, a neoclassical wonder, browse the Pythagoras Museum and Gardens, and explore the waterfront and Crotone castle.
Day 6 - Thursday - May 2, 2024
Today, you will call on the Sicilian city of Messina, celebrated as one of Europe's ten greatest cities when it fell under Spain's purview in the 17th century. Admire the surrounding mountains, picturesque orange and olive groves, and rolling vineyards. You will see the best of the city during a tour, including the expansive Piazza Municipio and the hillside Votive Temple of Christ the King. Or, choose to climb the towering Mt. Etna and marvel at the ancient temples and arenas of Taormina.
Day 7 - Friday - May 3, 2024
Naples boasts a long history in a stunning seaside setting and is known mostly for its pizza. The city has long been a major center of Italian culture and was the seat of a powerful independent kingdom for 500 years. So great was its sway that it lured the region's finest architects and artists. In the grand Piazza del Plebiscito, the grand and sweeping public square, the San Francesco di Paola Church flaunts a colonnaded facade reminiscent of the Pantheon in Rome, and the Royal Palace overlooks Neapolitans with statues of all the kings of Naples peering out from alcoves.
Day 8 - Saturday - May 4, 2024
| Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy |
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Explore the "Eternal City" today with a local guide. You'll marvel at the magnificent Colosseum where gladiators once battled, the historic Roman Forum-gathering place and political center of the ancients, and Vatican City.
Day 9 - Sunday - May 5, 2024
Immerse yourself in the beauty of Tuscany with an included, well-curated tour of Pisa. Alternatively, enjoy a full-day tour that combines Pisa and Florence. Begin with a scenic drive through the countryside to Florence, where you will stroll by the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore. Continue to the medieval Ponte Vecchio, and the attractive Basilica di Santa Croce, resting place of Michelangelo. In Pisa, you will have time to explore the Square of Miracles, including the famous Leaning Tower, the Cathedral and Baptistery.
Day 10 - Monday - May 6, 2024
Tuscany is known equally as the cradle of the Renaissance and a center of culinary delights and astounding wines. Throughout this emerald-green countryside dotted with cypress trees, endless delights unfold. Among them is Florence, a living museum of the Renaissance. Brunelleschi's famous Duomo dominates the medieval cityscape-an architectural achievement. Another Tuscan treasure, the Square of Miracles, unfolds in Pisa. Here, a trinity of masterpieces-the Leaning Tower, Pisa Cathedral, and Baptistery-comprises some of Europe's finest art and architecture.
Day 11 - Tuesday - May 7, 2024
The chic city of Monte Carlo in the petite kingdom of Monaco boasts some of the world's most exclusive shopping and a beautiful old port. A fairy-tale aura has settled on this glittering city of the Grimaldi family, perhaps nowhere more elegantly than at the Prince's Palace, where the late American actress-turned-princess Grace Kelly presided with Prince Rainier III. Monte Carlo's medieval quarter perches on "The Rock", an escarpment at the foot of the Maritime Alps, and offers spectacular views of the Mediterranean and the harbor lined with mega-yachts.
Day 12 - Wednesday - May 8, 2024
Marseille is rich in historic treasures, nestled between the Mediterranean and rocky hills of limestone. Two 17th-century fortresses dominate the charming Vieux-Port, or Old Port, the natural harbor that hosts all manner of watercraft, from sleek elegant yachts to old style fishing vessels. Its picturesque quay is one of the world's most romantic walks, lined with dozens of cafes and shops. Also worth exploring is the city center, graced by La Canebiere boulevard. Linger in a cafe and sample the city's signature bouillabaisse made from freshly caught fish.
Day 13 - Thursday - May 9, 2024
Explore Montpellier today, a center of learning for centuries. Its namesake university, founded in 1160, is one of the world's oldest, predating the Renaissance. The social and cultural center of Montpellier is the Place de la Comedie, anchored by the elegant Three Graces fountain and the stunning neoclassical Opera Comedie. Other sites pay tribute to a rich heritage, from the art-filled Musee Fabre and impressive St. Clement Aqueduct to the St. Pierre Cathedral with its "floating" porch supported by a pair of towers.
Day 14 - Friday - May 10, 2024
Discover the best of Barcelona as you visit the Columbus Monument, Port Vell, and the Arc de Triomf, among the many monumental sights you will see. Other scenic highlights include the Olympic Port, built for the 1992 Olympic Games, and the Passeig de Gracia, a gracious boulevard renowned for its architecture, including stunning works by Gaudi.
Day 15 - Saturday - May 11, 2024
Awake in Barcelona, where you will be finishing your journey. From here, you can easily spend a few extra days to further explore this city and its world-class culinary delights, or discover other areas of Spain.
