| Day 1 | Depart US
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| Day 2 | ISTANBUL, Turkey
Fly to Istanbul and transfer to hotel.
Meals: Dinner
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| Day 3 | ISTANBUL, Turkey
Byzantium, Constantinople, Istanbul
– in this city you will find some of
the greatest buildings and works of
art in the world. Your first morning’s
sightseeing will take in the Byzantine
sixth-century cathedral of Hagia
Sophia, the Topkapi Palace –
residence of the early sultans –
and the Sultan Ahmet Camii
(Blue Mosque). In the afternoon
the optional tour includes the
Süleymaniye mosque built for
Süleyman the Magnificent and
a late Byzantine masterpiece, the
Church of St Saviour in Chora.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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| Day 4 | ISTANBUL, Turkey
A morning to explore the delights of
Istanbul: this is a good opportunity
to haggle in the Grand Bazaar or take
the optional Bosphorus boat tour. In
the afternoon, transfer to the port
and embark Aegean Odyssey. Depart
for the Dardanelles in the late evening.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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| Day 5 | MOUNT ATHOS, Greece
The ship cruises through the Sea
of Marmara and the Dardanelles. It
then takes you past the remarkable
monasteries of Mount Athos.
Inhabited by over 1,500 monks living
in twenty monasteries, access to the
holy island is restricted and only
ten non-Orthodox men are allowed ashore each day. Women – and all
female mammals – are completely
forbidden. Fortunately, most of the
beautiful buildings can be seen while
cruising the coast.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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| Day 6 | THESSALONICA, Greece
Thessalonica (also known as Salonica)
became part of the Byzantine Empire
in 395AD and is today Greece’s
second city. The morning tour will
concentrate on its Byzantine heritage,
including the 5th century basilica
Agios Dimítrios, the Rotónda that was
built as a mausoleum for Emperor
Galerius in the 4th century, the
mosaics of the Agía Sofía and the
Museum of Byzantine culture. In the
afternoon you are free to continue
exploring this vibrant city. Evening
departure for Volos.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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| Day 7 | VOLOS, Greece
After arriving in the morning at the port
of Volos, you will travel by road to see
the famous Byzantine monasteries built
on the sandstone towers at Metéora. In
all there are twenty four monasteries at
Metéora (which means “suspended in
the air”) and although many have fallen
into ruin, some of the remaining are
adorned with beautiful frescoes.
Originally people were winched up to
the monasteries by a windlass, but in
the 1920s, stairs were cut to make
access a little easier. Lunch at Metéora.
Return to the ship for an evening
departure to Pátmos.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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| Day 8 | PATMOS, Greece
Pátmos has been called the “Jerusalem
of the Aegean” and its religious
significance dates from the arrival of
St John to the island in 95AD. You
arrive at lunchtime and in the afternoon
you will visit the Holy Cave of the
Apocalypse, where St John dictated the
Book of Revelation, and the 11th century
Monastery of St John in the town of
Chora. Founded in 1088, the castlelike
monastery dominates Chora and
contains a fascinating collection of
religious treasures. Evening departure
for Athens.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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| Day 9 | PIRAEUS, Greece
Byzantine Athens, including the
Byzantine Museum and the fine
frescoes and elegant gardens of Moní
Kaïsarianís. You can then return to the
ship for lunch or, if you wish, stay on
in Athens to continue exploring the
city. There will be a shuttle bus to
return to the ship in time for our
evening departure to Monemvasía.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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| Day 10 | MONEMVASIA, Greece
A massive rock rising from the sea
and joined to the mainland only by a
causeway built in the 6th century, it
is easy to see how Monemvasía got its
nickname “the Gibraltar of Greece.”
After arriving at breakfast time, the
morning will be spent on a walking
tour of the beautiful lower town, which
includes the 13th-century Christos
Elkomenos cathedral with its Venetian
belfry. For those who feel energetic
there is a path leading to the upper town to see the Byzantine Agía Sofía
church. Noon departure for Préveza.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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| Day 11 | PREVEZA, Greece
Situated on the shore of the Channel of
Cleopatra, you arrive in Préveza in the
morning and depart for the fortress and
13th and 14th century churches in
Arta, the former capital of the Byzantine
province of Epirus. Return to the ship
for lunch and in the afternoon you are
free to explore the charming town of
Préveza with its lively waterfront cafes
and Venetian forts. Evening departure
for Corfu.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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| Day 12 | CORFU, Greece
With cricket still played on the green,
the legacy of British rule is evident in
Corfu Town, as you will see during this
morning’s tour. You will also visit the
Byzantine Museum housed in the
church of Panagía Antivouniótissa and
the elegant Esplanade. At lunchtime,
the ship departs for Dubrovnik.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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| Day 13 | DUBROVNIK, Croatia/KORCULA, Croatia
Dubrovnik was formerly known as
Ragusa, and gave us our English word
“argosy”. Lord Byron called it “the Pearl of the Adriatic”. As you walk around
the city this morning you will visit
the baroque Church of St Blaise,
the Cathedral that boasts Titian’s
Assumption over the main altar and
the Rector’s Palace that also houses
the Museum of Dubrovnik. In the
afternoon, the ship leaves to cruise the
beautiful Pakleni Islands, passing Hvar
and Korcula en route to Ravenna.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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| Day 14 | RAVENNA, Italy
A morning to relax as the ship cruises
to Ravenna. In the 5th century, the
power of Rome was in decline and
in 402AD, the capital of the Western
Roman Empire was moved to Ravenna.
The city was under Byzantine control
in the late 5th and 6th centuries and
today it is famous for its superb early
Christian mosaics and buildings. This
afternoon is dedicated to seeing these
treasures, including the superb church
of San Vitale, with its mosaics of
Justinian and his wife Theodora, the
Orthodox and Arian Baptisteries and –
loveliest of all – the 5th century
Mausoleum of Galla Placidia. In the
evening you are free to wander around
the piazzas, old streets and fine shops
of Ravenna. Late departure for Venice.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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| Day 15 | VENICE, Italy
Spectacular arrival in Venice. Whether
you are seeing the great sites of Venice
such as the Piazza San Marco, the
Bridge of Sighs and the Doge’s Palace
for the first time or revisiting them,
there is no better way to end your trip
than with a morning’s walking tour of
this lovely city. In the afternoon, you
are free to arrange a trip to the stunning
island of Torcello, walk to the Rialto or
the Accademia or simply indulge in a
Bellini at Harry’s Bar. Return to the
ship for a Farewell Dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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| Day 16 | VENICE, Italy
Disembark and transfer to the airport
for the flight home.
Meals: Breakfast
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