A host of legendary ancient cities in the Mediterranean tells the story of empires won and lost. In Croatia, we visit Split’s extraordinary Palace of the Roman Emperor Diocletian, probably the best-preserved Roman residence in the world, then sail to Albania to discover Apollonia, once one of the most prosperous Greek cities on the Adriatic. In southern Italy, we visit Spartan Taranto and call at Sicily’s Syracuse, with its fabulous Greek, Roman, and Christian ruins. And in Crete, we see the brilliance of Minoan civilization at the labyrinthine Palace of Knossos. We round out our voyage along Turkey’s idyllic Aegean shores, enjoying a splendid array of ancient realms including fabled Aphrodisias. Our journey begins in Venice and ends in Athens.

Itinerary at a Glance

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Days 1-4
Venice, Italy / Split, Croatia / Apollonia, Albania

Aboard the 114-guest Corinthian II, our first port of call is Split, centered around the formidable Palace of Diocletian, built in AD 295. Within the palace walls lies Split’s beautiful medieval town. Sailing to Albania’s port city of Vlore, we head to ancient Apollonia, an exquisite 6th century Greek city in a beautiful rural setting. Sites here range from the Temple of Apollo to the 13th century Greek Orthodox Church of St. Mary.

Days 5-7
Taranto, Italy / Syracuse

In sunny southern Italy, we call at historic Taranto, strategically set on a peninsula. Once a Spartan colony, it became one of the most powerful cities in Magna Graecia. We continue to the welcoming coastal city of Syracuse, whose 2,600-year-old heart, Ortygia, is set on an island. Syracuse was colonized by Greeks from Corinth, and they settled on the island in the 8th century BC. We walk the narrow lanes of the island to marvel at the fabulous Greek, Roman, and Christian ruins, a vast archaeological park. Day 7 is at sea.

Days 8-9
Mystras, Greece / Crete

The glorious and airy town of Mystras, crossroads of Byzantine and Western culture from the 13th to 15th centuries, has some of the finest Byzantine art and architecture in Greece. We walk the narrow streets lined with medieval homes and explore the fortress and cathedral, then head to Crete to see the excavations at the magnificent Palace of Knossos, a labyrinth of chambers with frescoes illustrating life as it was 4,000 years ago.

Days 10-12
Marmaris, Turkey / Aphrodisias / Bodrum

Corinthian II glides through the stunning turquoise waters of the Aegean to the port of Marmaris, set on a bay surrounded by rugged pine-clad mountains. Here we discover ancient Aphrodisias, set on a high plateau, with its temple of Aphrodite dating from 100 BC. Alternatively, we can board a small craft and journey up the serene Dalyan River to the cliffside ruins at Caunos. At our final port of call, the pretty resort town of Bodrum, birthplace of the historian Herodotus, the “father of history,” we visit the 15th century castle of St. Peter, which dominates the harbor and houses the Museum of Underwater Archaeology. Disembark on Day 12 in Piraeus and depart from Athens.

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What the Trip is Like

The trip is rated Level 1, Easiest. There are shore excursions featuring walks, and it is appropriate for anyone in good health who is physically active.

Explanation of Trip Levels