Of the many seaborne idylls possible in the Mediterranean, this has to be one of the loveliest. Aboard the elegant, all-suite 114-passenger Corinthian II, we will combine the very best of the scenic and legendary canals of Venice, Croatia’s lovely Dalmatian coast and Sicily—the storied island where all the major civilizations of the Mediterranean met and mingled—by way of Puglia the “heel” of Italy’s “boot.” We begin in Venice and sail along Croatia’s coast and islands to explore the area’s finest sites, including Montenegro’s Kotor, accessed via a fantastic waterway. Crossing the Adriatic, we will land in Otranto on Puglia’s shore, formerly one of the Mediterranean’s most prominent ports, now a quaint “undiscovered” historic town. From Puglia, we will navigate the Ionian Sea to Sicily to explore Syracuse, one of the most powerful and wealthy cities of antiquity, and Agrigento with its famed Valley of the Temples, one of the best-preserved collections of ancient Greek monuments.
Itinerary
Day One: Depart from your gateway city to Venice, Italy.
Day Two: Arrive in Venice and transfer to the port to board Corinthian II. Sail through the basin of San Marco to enter the Adriatic.
Day Three: Arrive in Split, Croatia, an ancient city centered around the formidable Palace of Diocletian, built in 295 A.D. An extensive structure, much of which is well-preserved, the palace contains within its walls Split’s old town, making it the only Roman palace that has been continuously inhabited since Roman times.
Day Four: In the morning, call at the island of Hvar and stroll through its lavender-scented lanes, stopping at the Renaissance cloister; the old refectory of the Franciscan monastery; the Cathedral, and the Arsenal inside, Europe’s oldest theater. Over lunch aboard, sail to Korcula, an island of white limestone towers, spires, and domes resting against a background of green hills. Here, Venetian influence dominates. Visit Saint Mark’s Cathedral, which houses two paintings by Tintoretto, and Gabriellis Palace, built in the 16th century and now a museum. Continue to the Bishop’s Palace, where the Abbatial Treasury of St. Marco is housed with a rich collection of Croatian and Italian Renaissance artists, and the church of St. Peter, the oldest preserved church in the town.
Day Five: One of the world’s best-preserved medieval towns, Dubrovnik is set on a rocky peninsula overlooking the Adriatic Sea. A morning tour includes the Sponza Palace, Rector’s Palace, the cloister of the Franciscan Monastery, and other monuments. Spend the afternoon at leisure to explore this unique city on your own.
Day Six: 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 the towering mountains. One of the quaintest towns along the Dalmatian coast, Kotor is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. The town’s fortifications and most of its monuments, which we will visit on a walking tour, date from the time of Venetian rule.
Day Seven: Hydruntum in ancient times, modern-day Otranto, Puglia, was a Greek city and a Roman municipium. At the time of the Crusades, it became an embarkation point for the Eastern Mediterranean. Tour the town, including the cathedral, founded by the Normans in 1080 and known for its beautiful mosaic floor.
Day Eight: Arrive in Syracuse, Sicily, which once rivaled Athens as the most important city of the ancient world. Visit the spectacular 15,000-seat Greek theater, among the most impressive to survive from antiquity; the elliptical Roman Amphitheater, one of the largest of its kind; and the Archaeological Museum, with its rare Sicilian artifacts. Also enjoy a waking tour of Syracuse’s old town on the island of Ortygia.
Day Nine: From Porto Empedocle, we enjoy an excursion to Agrigento. Set on a ridge facing the sea, Agrigento’s series of superb Doric temples are among Sicily’s most captivating Greek ruins. View the Temple of Hercules, constructed in the 6th century B.C.; the remarkably-preserved Temple of Concord; and the Temple of Juno, noted for its graceful proportions. Also visit the impressive Archaeological Museum.
Day Ten: Disembark in Palermo and transfer to the airport for return flights.
Faculty Host:
A professor from Colby College will accompany this trip.
Prices start at $5,495 per person.
