A Voyage in the Tyrrhenian & Adriatic Seas: Crossroads of History from the Ancient Past to the Present

10 Days/9 Nights: 2012 Departures:• Aug. 6 Of the many seaborne idylls possible in the Mediterranean, this has to be one of the loveliest. Our adventure aboard the all-suite Corinthian II sets forth from Civitavecchia, Rome`s deepwater seaport. We continue down Italy`s central coast, calling in Agropoli for an excursion to the magnificent 6th-century B.C. temple at Paestum. On Sicily`s eastern coast, visit Taormina, clinging to the edge of Mount Tauro with dramatic views of Mount Etna. And in Italy`s Puglia region we`ll visit the unique trulli villages, conical dwellings built without mortar. Corinthian II then sails across the Adriatic Sea to Montenegro, where we`ll visit the town of Kotor, reached through southern Europe`s only fjord. Continuing to Croatia we`ll explore the medieval splendors of Dubrovnik; Korcula Island, caressed by gentle breezes and graced with Venetian spires; and the ancient city of Split. Before our journey concludes in the romantic waterways of Venice, we`ll visit the charming and seldom-visited town of Piran in Slovenia with its well-preserved Venetian-inspired architecture. Day 1 ROME | CIVITAVECCHIA, Italy | EMBARK Upon arrival in Rome, transfer to Civitavecchia, the deepwater port of Rome, to embark Corinthian II. Day 2 AGROPOLI | PAESTUM | AGROPOLI From Agropoli, built on a headland facing the sea, drive to Paestum, founded by Greeks in the 6th century B.C. Situated on an alluvial river plain, Paestum is one of Italy`s most important archaeological sites, containing Greek Doric temples that are among the best-preserved ancient buildings existing today. Day 3 TAORMINA, Sicily Taormina, a small town on the east coast of the island of Sicily, offers stunning views out to sea and the cone of Mount Etna, the largest active volcano in Europe. An 8th-century B.C. Greek colony prospered here throughout the Hellenistic and Roman periods. Today, this area draws visitors to its pristine, warm-watered beaches. Visit the Greek theater, which offers dramatic views of Etna and the Sicilian coastline, and amble among Taormina`s quaint streets and gardens. Day 4 MONOPOLI and the TRULLI VILLAGES The fishing town of Monopoli is dominated by its 1552 castle. Explore the region`s unique trulli villages, with their curious whitewashed conical dwellings built without mortar. Focus on two of the main villages, Alberobello, where trulli line the streets, and hilltop Locorotondo. Also stop at Ostuni, an ancient town enclosed within ramparts. Day 5 KOTOR, Montenegro Corinthian II navigates the fjord-like Bay of Kotor, flanked by soaring mountains. Disembark in Kotor, whose lovely palaces and churches reveal the former Venetian domination, for a walking tour. Day 6 DUBROVNIK, Croatia A tour of the once Venetian-ruled 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 7 KORCULA Approaching Korcula, take in its skyline of white towers and green hills. Note the medieval town`s layout: western streets run straight to funnel refreshing maestral breezes; eastern streets slightly curve to minimize bura winds. See St. Mark`s Cathedral`s Venetian imprint and visit the Cathedral Treasury, Bishop`s Palace, Church of All Saints, and Icon Museum. Day 8 SPLIT 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 9 PIRAN, Slovenia 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. Day 10 VENICE, Italy | DISEMBARK Disembark and transfer to the airport in Venice.