Voyage in the Adriatic Sea: Exploring the Historic Cities of Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, & Montenegro

10 Days/9 Nights: 2012 Departures:• April 27 Of the many seaborne idylls possible in the Mediterranean, this has to be one of the loveliest. Venice, with its romantic waterways; the exquisitely preserved medieval town of Piran; the gleaming stone buildings of Split and Dubrovnik; Kotor, stunningly situated at the head of Europe`s southernmost fjord; Puglia`s "trulli" villages, with their unique whitewashed conical dwellings; the Renaissance town of Urbino; and Ravenna. The itinerary virtually defines picturesque. But there is much more to this region than its natural and artistic beauty. Both shores of the Adriatic are home to some of the best preserved ancient and medieval monuments in the whole of the Mediterranean. In addition to the justly famous Palace of Diocletian at Split and the superb collection of Byzantine mosaics in Ravenna are lesser-known but deeply rewarding archaeological sites: the Roman city of Aquileia outside of Piran; Croatia`s 6th-century Basilica of Euphrasius, a UNESCO World Heritage site; Salona and Risan, both important cities in the Roman province of Illyria; and the town of Egnathia, whose remains date from the 4th century B.C. Day 1 VENICE, Italy | EMBARK Built on an archipelago of small islands in a lagoon, Venice rose to power and flourished, 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 2 VENICE or AQUILEIA Venice is unquestionably one of Europe`s most unusual and sublime cities, where water and light work a special magic on the ancient stones and canals. Today explore some of Venice`s main landmarks, including St. Mark`s Basilica, consecrated in 1094 and adorned with splendid marble and mosaics, and the Doge`s Palace, the seat of Venetian power. As an alternative, take an excursion to Basilica Santa Maria Gloriosa de Frari, with Titian`s and other masters magnificent paintings, and the Scuola Grande di San Rocco, housing paintings by Tintoretto. The afternoon will be at leisure. Alternatively, take a full-day excursion to Aquileia, which was founded by the Romans in 181 B.C. and grew to become the fourth largest city in Italy by the end of the Roman Empire. Aquileia contains superb remains of its glorious past. Sail in the evening for Slovenia. Day 3 PIRAN, Slovenia or POREC, Croatia Built on a narrow peninsula that projects into the sea, Slovenia`s Piran is one of the most delightful towns of the Adriatic. Possessed by Venice in 1283, Piran is rich in well-preserved Venetian-inspired architecture, its arched alleyways lined with exquisite homes, palaces, and churches. Highlights of our tour of Piran include the spacious marble-surfaced Tartini Square flanked by historic buildings; the temple-like Church of St. George, originally built in the 14th century; and the Sergej Masera Maritime Museum, housed in the elegant Gabrielli Palace. There will be free time to explore Piran`s maze of streets. As an alternative, an excursion leads to Croatia`s Porec, a center of the Illyrians in 200 B.C., taken over by the Romans in 35 B.C. The outstanding building of Porec is the 6th-century Basilica of Euphrasius, which contains exquisite mosaics. Remains from the Roman period include the Temple of Mars. The Museum, housed in an 18th-century palace, contains archaeological objects. Day 4 SPLIT | SALONA 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. Spend the afternoon at leisure to explore Split on your own, or drive to nearby Salona, which was the capital of the Roman province of Illyria. The sprawling remains of the city include amphitheaters, temples, as well as basilicas and other buildings from the early Christian period. On the return to Split, stop at the Archaeological Museum, which contains artifacts from Salona and other sites. Day 5 DUBROVNIK A tour of the once Venetian-ruled city of Dubrovnik includes the Rector`s Palace, the Gothic cloister, the garden of the Dominican Monastery, and the baroque cathedral, which contains works by Renaissance painters Titian and Andrea del Sarto. Day 6 KOTOR, Montenegro | RISAN Located at the head of a bay beneath towering mountains, Kotor is one of the best-preserved medieval towns along the Dalmatian coast. 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. In the afternoon, drive along the coastal road to Risan, the Roman Risinium, to visit the Villa Urbana, with its elegant mosaics. Day 7 THE TRULLI VILLAGES or MONOPOLI & EGNATHIA, Italy The fishing town of Monopoli is dominated by its 1552 castle. From this port, explore the region`s unique trulli villages, with their curious whitewashed conical dwellings built without mortar. Focus on the main village of Alberobello, where trulli line the streets, and hilltop Ostuni, an ancient town enclosed within ramparts. Alternatively, visit Monopoli and tour the ancient Greco-Messapian town of Egnathia, whose remains date from the 4th century B.C. to the early Christian period. The Museum contains finds from the site. Day 8 URBINO or GUBBIO Arrive in Ancona, Italy`s principal port on the central Adriatic. Drive to Urbino, one of Italy`s best-preserved Renaissance towns, overlooking the glorious countryside of the Marches. Visit the famed Palazzo Ducale, a masterpiece of Renaissance architecture, which houses the National Gallery of the Marches. Also, see the Church of San Giovanni Battista, with its frescoes, and the house of native son Raphael, the great Renaissance master. Alternatively, drive to Gubbio, one of the most beautiful and best-preserved small medieval towns in Italy, whose narrow streets and alleyways are lined with old polished grey stone buildings. Day 9 RAVENNA Today, Corinthian II enters the canal that leads to Ravenna and docks near the center of town. Ravenna is an ancient city that came to prominence in the early 5th century A.D., when it became the capital of the Western Roman Empire. Visit Ravenna`s famed Byzantine churches dating from the 5th and 6th centuries, including the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, the Basilica of San Vitale, and the Basilica of San Apollinare in Classe, all decorated with luminous mosaics and other pieces of art. Day 10 VENICE, Italy | DISEMBARK Disembark and transfer to the airport.