Cruises on luxury small ship Corinthian II along Adriatic Coast and on Mediterranean Sea

Meeting Place of Empires: An Exploration of the Balkans Through the Centuries

12 Days/11 Nights:
2012 Departures:• Sep. 2

For thousands of years Southeastern Europe has been the crossroads of empire. The Greeks, Persians, Romans, Byzantines, Bulgars, and Ottomans all left their mark on culture, philosophy, art, architecture, and even the cuisine of this region. This autumn you can explore the layers of civilization that make the Balkans one of the most fascinating corners of the world. In Sardis you`ll wander through the remains of an ancient Greek temple and a 4th-century synagogue. At Mostar you`ll stroll across the Stari Most bridge, a masterpiece of Ottoman engineering. In Dubrovnik you`ll see glorious examples of Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque architecture, and in Split you`ll visit the palace of the Roman Emperor Diocletian. From the temples of Brauron and Sounion to the Byzantine monuments of Nessebur and Thessaloniki, this a journey filled with marvels.

Day 1
VENICE Italy | EMBARK
Arrive in Venice and transfer to Corinthian II.

Day 2
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 Split`s medieval town, making it the only palace that has been continuously inhabited since Roman times. Also visit the Archaeological Museum.

Day 3
PLOCE, Croatia | MOSTAR, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Sail to Ploce for an excursion to Mostar, which became a thriving center in the 15th century under the Ottoman Turks. Admire the ethereally graceful Stari Most ("The Old Bridge"), originally built in 1566, and the nearby Tabacica Mosque.

Day 4
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 we will visit on a walking tour, date from the time of Venetian rule.

Day 5
SARANDA, Albania | BUTRINT | SARANDA
From Saranda, 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. Sail for Italy in the afternoon.

Day 6
NAFPAKTOS (LEPANTO), Greece
It was at Nafpaktos (the medieval Lepanto) that the celebrated Battle of Lepanto was fought in 1571 between the Turkish fleet and an allied fleet of Venice, Genoa, the Papal States, Spain, Sicily, and Naples. The overwhelming defeat of Muslim sea power was one from which they never recovered. Nafpaktos`s medieval appearance is well-preserved. walls come down to the sea, while an imposing castle sits above the town in a beautiful forest of pine.

Day 7
PIRAEUS | ATHENS or BRAURON & SOUNION | PIRAEUS
The birthplace of Western culture and one of the world`s most venerable cities, Athens boasts a plethora of historic monuments. In the morning, tour the Acropolis, including the Erechtheion and the majestic Parthenon, one of the world`s most perfect structures. After lunch at a taverna, continue to the stunning new Acropolis Museum. Alternatively, travel northeast of Athens to visit Brauron`s graceful Sanctuary of Artemis in the morning and Sounion`s majestic temple on the sea in the afternoon.

Day 8
IZMIR | SARDIS | IZMIR, Turkey
Arrive in Izmir and take an excursion to the ruins of the ancient city of Sardis. Sardis was one of the world`s wealthiest cities from the 7th to the mid-6th centuries B.C. and was most likely inhabited as far back as 1200 B.C. First settled by the Lydians, natives of Anatolia, the city was also home to Persians, Macedonians, and Romans. During the first major excavations here in the 1950s, archaeologists unearthed an ancient synagogue. Later excavations revealed remnants of a flourishing Jewish settlement, which coexisted peacefully with Christian ones. Explore the massive 4th-century A.D. synagogue, whose walls are covered by impressive mosaics; the bath complex; the Temple of Artemis, built by the Lydian king Croesus and later rebuilt by Alexander the Great; and other ruins.

Day 9
THESSALONIKI, Greece
Arrive in Thessaloniki, justly famous for its late Classical and Medieval remains as well as early Christian churches. On a tour of the city, explore several of these monuments, including visits to several Byzantine churches as well as the Byzantine Museum (or the Archaeological Museum).

Day 10
AT SEA
Attend lectures while sailing toward Romania.

Day 11
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 12
ISTANBUL, Turkey | DISEMBARK
Disembark and transfer to the airport in Istanbul.