Cities of Antiquity

Discover beautiful Rome, the “Eternal City.” You will be met at the airport by a Viking Representative and transfer by motor coach to your hotel. After checking in, enjoy the rest of your day at leisure. You may consider a visit to one of the city’s many fine museums as well as a dinner of local specialties. A Viking Host is available to help you plan your time in Rome so you can make the most of your visit.

After a leisurely breakfast, you have a full day to explore on your own. Learn more about the city’s rich history by visiting iconic landmarks such as the Trevi Fountain, the Arch of Constantine, the Pantheon or the Spanish Steps. You may also choose to join an optional excursion; perhaps venture to the Roman Forum for a glimpse of the Colosseum or visit Castel Sant’Angelo to uncover its storied past. (B)

After breakfast, check out of your hotel and transfer by motor coach to your awaiting ship. (B)

When you arrive at the airport in Florence, you will be greeted by a Viking Representative who will escort you on your journey through Tuscany. Enjoy the views as you travel through the Chianti region’s scenic countryside to your villa. Upon your arrival, check in and enjoy lunch at your historic villa. Your Viking Tour Director is available to help you plan your time in Tuscany so you can make the most of your visit. This evening, dinner will be served at your villa. (L, D)

This morning, drive to Florence for a walking tour of the city center, a UNESCO Site. See the Duomo as well as Giotto’s Bell Tower and the Baptistery, with its beautiful doors that Michelangelo called the “Gates of Paradise,” and more. After lunch, you will have free time to enjoy a gelato or espresso, shop, or explore the birthplace of the Renaissance. Then, proceed to a Tuscan winery, where you can tour the cellar and taste local wines before sitting down to a typical Tuscan dinner. (B, L, D)

After breakfast, travel to the walled city of Siena, located in the heart of the Chianti wine region. On your walking tour, see the exterior of the exquisite marble cathedral, the beautiful Mangia Tower, the Town Hall, the Piazza del Campo and other historic sites. Then you will drive to the charming medieval village of San Gimignano and have lunch at a typical farm. Walk back in time as you explore the village’s ancient squares, narrow streets and elegant cistern built in 1273. (B, L, D)

Enjoy breakfast at your villa before you check out. Then, board your motor coach and transfer to your embarkation port, where your Viking ship awaits you. (B)

Disembark your ship and meet your guide, who will accompany you to Meteora, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to 24 monasteries founded by Greek Orthodox monks during the 14th century. Soak up the spectacular views and explore the halls and artifacts of two of these monasteries during your visit. Stop for lunch at a local restaurant, then head to Thessaloníki to check in to your hotel. You will have the rest of the day at your leisure. (L)

Set out to explore Thessaloníki on foot. Call at the Archaeological Museum and trace Thessaloníki’s Byzantine heritage at the UNESCO-designated Arch of Galerius and Church of St. Demetrius. Though the church was restored after a fire in 1917, it still boasts original features such as the 7th-century Byzantine mosaics decorating the pillars. After lunch, you may explore further on your own or join an optional excursion to the Royal Tombs of Vergina or the Archaelogical Park of Dion. (B, L)

Today, head out to discover Thessaloníki’s Jewish heritage. You will pass by Liberty Square, where Nazis ordered the deportation of the city’s adult Jewish men, and a variety of villas built by Jewish merchant families. See the Hippocrates Hospital, built by the Jewish community during the early 20th century and featuring a memorial to the victims of the Holocaust. After, spend the rest of your day at your leisure or join an optional excursion to discover Thessaloníki’s local cuisine. (B)

After breakfast, check out of your hotel and transfer to the airport for your flight home. (B)

Fly to Rome, meet your Viking Representative and transfer to your hotel. After check in, take the rest of the day to explore the “Eternal City” on your own. Your Viking Tour Director is available to help you plan your time in Rome so you can make the most of your visit. This evening, enjoy dinner at your leisure.

This morning, enjoy time to explore your surroundings on your own, or join an optional excursion. After lunch, set off to Vatican City for a guided tour of the world-renowned Vatican Museums. Stroll through the galleries to admire pieces from Raphael and Caravaggio, and view Michelangelo’s spectacular ceiling in the Sistine Chapel. This evening, learn how to make pasta during a culinary workshop. (B, D)

After breakfast, set out to discover Rome during a morning excursion. This historic city is home to many of the great sights of ancient Rome. By small motorized vehicle and on foot, view the mighty Colosseum—the most important amphitheater in the Roman world—and the Circus Maximus; you will also see Venice Square and Capitoline Hill. Enjoy an afternoon at your leisure before joining your fellow guests for a traditional dinner. (B, D)

Check out of your hotel and head to one of Rome’s exquisite Renaissance gardens. The Italian Renaissance style began during the 15th century and its trademark look expressed symmetry through orderly and manicured landscaping. Learn more about this style during a guided walk around the grounds of one of Rome’s best-kept examples. Afterward, you will transfer to your ship to begin your cruise. (B)

Arrive in Rome and transfer to your hotel. Depending on when you arrive, you may wish to use your free time to explore the local area. This evening, enjoy a wine tasting and dinner at a picturesque vineyard in the rolling Umbrian hills. Your Viking Tour Director is available to help you plan your time in Umbria so you can make the most of your visit. (D)

Journey to the medieval city of Spoleto, located at the foot of a scenic valley. Surrounded by ancient walls, Spoleto is brimming with Roman and Lombard remnants such as the amphitheater dating to the 1st century AD and the Romanesque cathedral. After lunch, return to the medieval town of Perugia, Umbria’s charming capital. Set out on foot to discover the city’s rich history and view its important landmarks, including the elegant Maggiore Fountain and a 15th-century cathedral. (B, L, D)

Discover the city of Assisi, birthplace of St. Francis of Assisi and a grand repository of UNESCO-listed Franciscan structures. At the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels, see the chapel where St. Francis started the Franciscan movement before visiting the Basilica of St. Francis, one of Italy’s most important sites of Christian pilgrimage. At the Basilica of St. Clare, view the remains of St. Clare of Assisi. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure and a delicious dinner of Umbrian cuisine. (B, D)

Take a guided walking tour of Orvieto, perched atop a volcanic plateau and surrounded by scenic vineyards and olive and cypress groves. Producer of Umbria’s finest wine, the town is home to a magnificent Gothic cathedral. Uncover its exquisite details during a tour, admiring its ornate facade and impressive interior featuring lush frescoes and jewel-like mosaics. Enjoy traditional Umbrian flavors during lunch before transferring to Civitavecchia to board your ship and begin your cruise. (B, L)