Music Cruise in the Classical World: With Music Performances at Historic Sites

Day 1 Arrive in Rome. Embark.

Arrive in Rome and transfer to the pier in Civitavecchia to board Corinthian II.

Day 2 SALERNO | POMPEII or RAVELLO & AMALFI | SALERNO

and preserved by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in A.D. 79. No other place so completely captures the character of life in the early Roman Empire. Tour highlights include the Forum, the Temples of Apollo and Jupiter, and the Stabian Baths, the best-preserved and most complete in Pompeii. Alternatively, visit Ravello, a medieval hill-town with stellar views, and Amalfi, an 11th-century maritime city. Enjoy a concert this evening.

Day 3 SYRACUSE, Sicily

Colonized by the Greeks in the 8th century B.C., Syracuse became one of the most powerful and prestigious cities of the ancient world, rousing the hostility of Athens. Discover the spectacular 15,000-seat Greek theatre, among the most impressive to survive from antiquity, and the elliptical Roman Amphitheater, one of the largest of its kind. After a visit to the Archaeological Museum, walk the winding lanes of Syracuse’s old town, situated on the island of Ortygia, and explore the remains of the Temple of Apollo, the Fountain of Aretusa and the Cathedral, which incorporates the remains of the famed Temple of Athena. An afternoon excursion into Sicily’s southeast region, known for its Baroque town, brings us to exquisitely preserved Noto, a jewel on a plateau surrounded by olive and almond groves.

Day 4 At Sea

Enjoy a relaxing day at sea and a concert onboard ship.

Day 5 SANTORINI

Corinthian II cruises into the flooded volcanic crater that forms the great circular bay of Santorini, the island both destroyed and preserved by volcanic eruptions in the second millennium B.C., when it was home to a sophisticated Bronze Age society. From the sea, enjoy a beautiful view of Phira, a village atop a 1,000-foot-high palisade. Visit the Prehistoric History Museum of Thira and take a drive to the unspoiled town of Oia.

Day 6 RHODES | LINDOS | RHODES

The historic island of Rhodes was known in antiquity for its schools of philosophy, rhetoric, and sculpture. Explore Old Town, one of the largest medieval towns in Europe, whose labyrinthine streets and splendid open plazas owe much of their 14th-century charm to the Crusader Knights of St. John. Walk along the Street of the Knights, overflowing with mosaics, finely carved portals, balconies, and coats of arms. Then visit the Archaeological Museum, housed in what was once the Knights’ Great Hospital. In the afternoon, travel to the picturesque village of Lindos. Set high above the village, with spectacular views of the Aegean, are the remains of the Acropolis and the Doric columns of Athena’s Temple, among other structures. Enjoy a concert this evening.

Day 7 KUSADASI, Turkey| EPHESUS | KUSADASI

From Kusadasi, our excursion leads to Ephesus. Renowned as the center of worship of the mother-goddess Cybele, later known as Artemis, it was also the site where St. Paul addressed the Ephesians. Excavations continue and archaeologists are restoring the Terrace Houses, which offer a glimpse of the daily lives of the Ephesians. See the stunning facade of the Library of Celsus; the temple of Hadrian; the Great Amphitheater; and the Basilica of St. John, built by Justinian on the site of the Apostle’s tomb. Take pleasure in a concert in Ephesus before returning to Kusadasi to reboard Corinthian II.

Day 8 CHIOS, Greece

Awake this morning in Chios, a Greek island lying only five miles from the Turkish coast, claiming to be Homer’s birthplace. The island’s volcanic rock formations and deep green valleys forge a landscape of stunning color oppositions and intricate appearances. Visit the 11th-century Monastery of Nea Moni, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most important ecclesiastical centers in Greece. The Monastery sits majestically in a wooded vale and is decorated throughout with exquisite frescoes and mosaics.

Day 9 ISTANBUL, Turkey | DISEMBARK