Mind and taste buds awake with the Mucem in the Mediterranean

Built on an Etruscan site between the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Monti della Tolfa, Civitavecchia offers a relaxed atmosphere. This modern town blends art and history. Visit historic sites like Fort Michelangelo and the Cathedral of Saint Francis of Assisi. Located just 50 miles from Rome, it serves as a convenient starting point for exploring the Italian capital.

Agropoli sits on the Cilento Coast along the Tyrrhenian Sea in the province of Salerno, Campania. The town features a rugged coastline, natural landscapes, and a history dating back to ancient times. The Apennine Mountains provide a rocky backdrop to small bays and coves. Trentova Bay’s beaches make Agropoli a popular seaside destination.

Included Excursions:

Paestum Excavations
Take a coach through farmland to Paestum, founded by the Greeks over 2,500 years ago. Explore three well-preserved ancient temples and visit the museum displaying Greek artifacts. The tour involves about 2 hours of walking on uneven surfaces and cobblestones. Wear comfortable shoes and sun protection.

Mozzarella Dairy & Paestum
Visit a traditional mozzarella dairy that uses milk from over 600 buffalo. Watch artisans craft Campania D.O.P. buffalo mozzarella and enjoy a tasting. Then, travel to Paestum to tour the archaeological site and museum. This tour also includes about 2 hours of walking on uneven surfaces. Comfortable shoes and sun protection are recommended.

At the southern tip of the Italian boot, Reggio di Calabria guards the eastern shore of the Strait of Messina. From the lungomare, the sea front promenade, there are magnificent views over Sicily, a little over 3 km away, and Etna. Rebuilt after the 1908 earthquake, Reggio is set out in a grid pattern and has Art Nouveau and Belle Époque architecture that add to its charm. And the fragrance of bergamot, the citrus fruit that dominates the region’s confectionery and perfumery.

Included Excursions:

Village of Pizzo and Tartufo Tasting - 5 hours
From the pier, board your coach for a 1-hour scenic drive to Pizzo Calabro. This medieval town and fishing center is known for the production of ice cream. Starting from the Piazzetta, you will continue the tour in the town center until the Aragonese Castle (outside visit only), where Gioacchino Murat was executed. Finally, you will visit the Church of San Giorgio, where Murat is buried.

You will visit one of the workshops of a historic ice cream shop where they produce the “Truffle” of Pizzo, a famous ice cream labelled “Protected geographical indication” for its sweetness and genuineness.
After enjoying a tasting of tartufo and some free time for shopping, you will rejoin your ship.

This tour involves approximately 2 km (1.5 miles) of walking over uneven ground with several steps. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun. Appropriate clothing is recommended when visiting religious sites (shoulders and knees covered).

Bronzi di Riace & Scilla - 5 hours
Reggio Calabria is located on the tip of the Italian Peninsula and is separated from the island of Sicily by the Strait of Messina. It is situated on the slopes of the Aspromonte, a long, craggy mountain range that runs up through the center of the region.

From the pier, you will board your coach and drive to one of the most important archaeological museums, the prestigious National Archaeological Museum of Magna Græcia, dedicated to Ancient Greece. You will have the opportunity to visit the famous Bronzes of Riace, a rare example of Greek bronze sculpture, which became one of the symbols of the city. The two statues, discovered in August 1972 near Riace – are considered among the most important sculptural masterpieces of Greek art.

Then, you will proceed to Scilla. Scilla is a village of ancient origins, known since the days of Homer, who described it in his Odyssey as the home of Scylla, a nymph turned into a sea monster by the sorceress Circe.

The Ruffo Castle, completely turned towards the Strait of Messina, the uncontaminated beaches, the sea, and the charming neighbourhood of Chianalea, the ancient fishing village, make Scilla one of the most sought-after tourist destinations of Calabria. Chianalea has earned the nickname of “little Venice” for houses built directly on the rocks, separated from each other by small streets that overlook the sea, a particularity that also allowed the village to be counted among the most beautiful villages of Italy. Along the streets of the village you can see ancient fountains, churches, and palaces.

After enjoying a visit of the castle and the village, you will taste a delicious refreshment of local products in a beautiful location with a view before returning to the pier, a 30-minute drive.

This tour involves approximately 2 km (1.5 miles) of walking over uneven ground with some steps. It is recommended you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun.

Sicily’s second city Catania is dominated by the majestic silhouette of Mount Etna. Nourishing and devastating at the same time, this giant crowned with smoke rings brought about the destruction of the city at the end of the 17th century. Catania was then rebuilt in the late Baroque style, and the many monuments of this epoch have earned its status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The baroque churches of the harmonious Via dei Crociferi perfectly illustrate the riches of this architectural heritage. During your stop, be sure to visit Saint Agatha Cathedral with its apses made of lava stones, and its square decorated with a fountain of the Elephant, the animal which allegedly has the power to calm the fury of Mount Etna …

Included Excursions:

Taormina & the Ancient Theatre - 4 hours and 30 minutes
From the pier, you will be transferred by coach to the ancient Greek town of Taormina, a one-hour drive.

Called Tauromenium in ancient times, Taormina clings to the side of Mount Tauro and offers superb views, splashed with the vibrant colors of bougainvillea and oleanders, of the Mediterranean Sea, Isola Bella, and a snow-capped Etna in the background.

A maze of narrow streets, stairs, and tiny squares, Taormina has attracted many civilizations over the centuries. It is home to theatres and a gymnasium from the Greek period, an Odeon and baths from Roman times, buildings blending Arab and Norman cultures, traces of Byzantine, and villas belonging to European aristocracy in the 18th and 19th centuries.

You start your excursion with a visit on foot to the historic center. You will cross the famous Corso Umberto to discover numerous monuments from several eras, and admire Porta Catania, the Cathedral, Piazza IX Aprile, and Palazzo Corvaja.

You then arrive at Teatro Antico, a theatre built by the Greeks in the 3rd century BC, and almost completely rebuilt by the Romans, who created a gladiatorial arena. The theatre is the second largest in Sicily after the one in Syracuse. Due to its size and acoustic quality, the theatre is still used to host festivals and concerts. Seated on the stone terraces, the audience can enjoy the concert while admiring a breathtaking panoramic view of the sea, Mount Tauro and Etna.

As this excursion involves a walk of around 1.5 miles (2 km) on rough terrain with several stairways. It is recommended you wear comfortable shoes and protect yourself from the sun. Appropriate dress is recommended when visiting religious monuments (knees and shoulders covered).

Catania & Cyclops Riviera - 4 hours and 15 minutes
From the pier, you will board your coach and start your 1-hour and 15-minute panoramic drive to Acireale.

You will drive along the Ionian Sea on the famous “Cyclops Riviera” with the “Faraglioni” rocks and pass by the village of Aci Castello with its Norman Castle of black lava, and the small fishing village of Aci Trezza.

After a brief photo stop and a local granita tasting, you will return towards Catania and enjoy a short sightseeing tour of the city center: Piazza Verga, Via Etnea, Villa Bellini, Piazza Stesicoro.

Stop near the Cathedral square and start the walking tour of the city center: Piazza del Duomo, the central square with the elephant’s fountain and the Cathedral (outside visit), originally built by the Normans with its finely made choir stalls. Following your short walking tour, you will enjoy some free time to browse the shops at your leisure before re-boarding your coach for the return drive to the pier.

This tour is a panoramic drive with very little walking time, with some steps. It is recommended you wear comfortable shoes and protect yourself from the sun.

This picturesque village stretches along the Ionian sea in the west of the Peloponnese. Its main harbour offers a vast panorama of the coastline’s wooded hillsides. Dazzling white, the church of Saint-Nicolas houses a selection of sumptuous icons. You can also pay a visit the archaeological site of Olympus on the slopes of Mount Kronos.

Included Excursions:

Olympia and its Museum - 4 hours and 15 minutes
Follow in the footsteps of the heroes of Antiquity. Set off on a journey back in time and dive into the heart of legendary history during a visit to the emblematic sanctuary of Olympia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Rising from the Alpheios valley, on the slopes of the Hill of Cronus, the Olympia site is so much more than a simple vestige of Ancient Greece. Devoted to the worship of Zeus, the sanctuary hosted the most famous Pan-Hellenic games of Greece, the Olympic Games, for over ten centuries. During this unique visit, admire some of its sites, remnants of this precious past.

Here, every vestige is a whisper from past centuries while, at every step, the grandeur of the era is reflected through its impressive temples, its sacred altars and its amphitheatres, where the cheering of the spectators of yesteryear still resonates…

Fall under the spell of the Altis, sanctuary and birthplace of the worship and the games, home to the oldest of the great Greek temples, symbol of Doric architecture: the temple of Hera. Nearby, the altar of Zeus takes center stage, welcoming offerings from believers. A row of 12 small temple-shaped votive buildings, also called “Treasuries”, is devoted to Zeus and enables people to make offerings. Below the Treasuries, you will be able to see the remains of a series of 16 statues of Zeus, paid for by the heavy fines that the Olympic judges imposed on athletes who cheated or tried to win by devious means. Outside the Altis, there is a tunnel providing access to the stadium and its large 192.25-meter (630-foot) track as well as the hippodrome where sporting events were held. Imagine yourself among the 40,000 spectators, full of emotion as the athletes attempted to outdo each other in effort and excellence.

Finally, visit the Museum of Olympia, home to all the discoveries made on the site, including the bas-reliefs of the temple of Zeus.

This excursion involves walking on uneven or stony ground with some steps. It is recommended to wear comfortable walking shoes and sun protection.

Tucked away in the Gulf of Corinth, this little port is situated in continental Greece, north-west of Athens. Take an easy stroll along the old cobblestone quays, while gazing at the summits encircling the Bay of Itea. We wouldn’t be surprised if you are tempted by a visit to the Delphi Sanctuary. The sanctuary is located on a plateau on the slope of Mount Parnassus, just ten kilometer from Itea. A listed UNESCO World Heritage site, this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience whose ancient ruins are surrounded by steep mountains.

Included Excursions:

Sacred Site of Delphi - 4 hours and 15 minutes
On the slopes of Mount Parnassus, the Delphi site opens the doors to a sacred world, where each stone summons up the glorious past of Ancient Greece.

Take the Sacred Way, the route walked in the past by pilgrims and kings of Antiquity, and go on a timeless journey. Here, the history of Greece and its legends overflow from everything: the ruins and ancient monuments, but also from the surrounding nature, which is still stunning.

This will jump out at you as you stand before the Temple of Apollo. It was constructed around the 7th century BC by two legendary architects, Trophonios and Agamedes; today, only a few vestiges remain of this Doric monument, decorated at the time with shields captured from the Persians. However, the foundations and columns that are still present seem to find an echo of their grandeur in the surrounding mountains.
The same goes for the ruins of the Senate of Delphi, as well as the vestiges of the Oracle of Delphi, where thousands of pilgrims gathered to receive the oracle of Pythia, high priestess of Apollo. The ancient theatre is also worth visiting.

A stone’s throw away from the sanctuary of Apollo, you will also be able to discover the Delphi Museum’s exhibitions, which present objects found at the archaeological site over the past century or more. Vases, bronzes, sculptures, precious offerings made to Apollo by pilgrims, objects of gold and ivory found under the slabs of the Sacred Way... they all recount the history of one of the most emblematic sites in Antiquity.

This excursion involves walking around 1.7 kilometers (around a mile) on uneven ground, with some steps. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun.

Hosios Loukas and Charming Arachova - 4 hours and 15 minutes
Marvel at the beauty of the Byzantine monastery of Hosios Loukas and take to the heights in the streets of Arachova, a small town perched 1,000 meter (3,000 feet) up on the illustrious Mount Parnassus.

The fortified monastery of Hosios Loukas, near Delphi, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most characteristic monuments of the second golden age of Byzantine art. Founded at the start of the 10th century by the hermit Saint Luke, it includes a central-plan church decorated with superb marble decor and admirable mosaics on a gold background. The main shrine is none other than the tomb of Saint Luke, originally situated in the crypt.

Your excursion will continue with a visit of Arachova. Built on the side of the mountain, this small town of 3,300 inhabitants is famous for its traditional stone houses spread out over the northern slopes of Mount Parnassus, between 800 and 1,100 meters up. As you explore its small streets on your own, allow yourself to be charmed by the hospitality of the inhabitants, the local handicrafts and the gastronomy. Indeed, the town is well-known for its wine and cheese, as well as for its homemade carpets and blankets.

This excursion involves walking for an hour on uneven surfaces and cobblestone streets with many staircases (approximately 50 steps to the Monastery). It is recommended you wear comfortable walking shoes and sun protection. Appropriate dress is recommended to enter religious sites (shoulders and knees must be covered).


The Corinth Canal cuts through the Isthmus of Corinth, turning the Peloponnese into an island as it separates the region from the Greek mainland. Inaugurated in 1893, the canal is a little over six kilometers long and enables merchant vessels and passengers to avoid a long 400-km detour around the peninsula. The two sides of the canal reach a height of approximately fifty meters. From the exterior decks, don’t miss this unique opportunity to watch the ship as it navigates along the narrow strip of water encased between tall, ochre cliffs. What an experience!

The engaging town of Nafplion is set on green hillsides of the Argolic Gulf, to the east of the Peloponnese. Do not be surprised by its extremely varied cultural heritage. Some of the must-see visits are the ancient agora on the plateau of Akronafplia, Italianate arcades in Syntagma square , as well as the baroque fortress of Palamidi on a hillside of the same name. At the top of the hill, views of the gulf and the surrounding mountains are simply awesome. If you want to chill out by the water’s edge, walk along the Arvanitia promenade to a beautiful creek in the shade of cedars and cypresses.

Epidaurus & Mycenae - 4 hours and 30 minutes
From the pier, board your coach for a 45-minute ride to Epidaurus. Lying 30 km (18.6 miles) east of Nafplion, Epidaurus is known for its ancient theatre. Considered one of the most important sanctuaries in the ancient world, Epidaurus was dedicated to the god of medicine, Asclepius. The world-famous Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus, built in the 4th century BC, is a marvel of harmony and acoustics and the best-preserved ancient theatre in Greece. Built in limestone, it can accommodate 12,000 spectators.

Next, re-board your coach for a ride to the archaeological site of Mycenae. The first in-depth excavations were carried out in 1876 by the German archaeologist Schliemann, who was obsessed with finding the grave of King Agamemnon. His diligent work exposed the famous Lion Gate, the entrance to the city, which contains the shaft burial graves of some ancient nobles. A short distance away is the Beehive Tomb, so called due to its unusual shape.
Finally, you will board your coach for a 30-minute ride to Nafplion.

This tour involves approximately 2 hours of walking over uneven surfaces with some steps which could be slippery. We recommend wearing comfortable walking shoes and sun protection.

Corinth Canal Crossing and Palamidi Castle - 5 hours
Set off from Nafplio to discover the famous Corinth Canal, a feat of engineering that connects the Ionian and Aegean Seas, during a boat excursion followed by the visit of the majestic Fortress of Palamidi, with its stunning views over the city and its surroundings.
 
From the port of Nafplio, you will travel for around an hour to the famous Corinth Canal. It is 6.4 kilometers (4 miles) long and 21 meters (70 feet) wide, and its inclined walls standing 52 meters (170 feet) high are very impressive. Although its construction began in 1881, the idea to connect the Ionian and Aegean Seas goes back to Roman times. In Isthmia, you will board a local boat to cross the canal, with refreshments served aboard.
 
Back in Nafplio, visit the Fortress of Palamidi, a magnificently preserved castle that dominates the city. Its impressive walls and its fortifications made it an impregnable place. From this strategic point, enjoy the exceptional panoramic view over the Argolic Gulf, the city of Nafplio, and the Bourtzi maritime fortress. Constructed by the Venetians and the Ottomans, the castle was also used as a prison until recently.
 
Before heading back, you will make a stop at the summit of the Corinth Canal to take panoramic photos. After visiting the castle, you will take a short coach trip back to the port.
 
This excursion involves walking for around 70 minutes on uneven ground as well as some stairs. It is not accessible to persons in a wheelchair.

This unusual gem belonging to the Saronic islands is located to the east of the Peloponnese. There are no cars here. Named after the island, the harbour town is layered up the slopes of a mountainous bay. You may be surprised to see beautiful stone mansions. These are traditional here, as are the multi-coloured caïques along the quays. Further along the shore, you will discover the Historical Archives Museum. Collections from the Athens National History Museum are exhibited in the elegant villa Koundouriotis.

Included Excursion:

A Dive into Hydra’s History - 3 hours
A gem of the Aegean Sea, Hydra’s great appeal lies in its wealth of history, the beauty of its port and its seafront, as well as the arty atmosphere found there. This island without cars, possessing rustic charm, is home to many sites worth discovering.

Discover the island’s main historic monuments during a walk. First, you will stop at the Historical Archives Museum, where you will be able to admire 19th-century paintings of considerable artistic value as well as an impressive collection of documents and photos connected to the island’s long maritime tradition.
As you continue your walk around the port, you will visit the Church of the Dormition, which houses icons, chandeliers and other offerings from the island’s rich sailors. It is even said that one of the chandeliers was stolen from Louis XIV to be given to the church.

During your visit, you will have a break to enjoy an amygdaloto – a local confectionery - accompanied by a coffee or other refreshment. You will then go to the Koundouriotis Mansion, which is one of the finest examples of traditional 18th- and 19th-century architecture on Hydra. Constructed in 1780 by the shipowner Lazaros Koundouriotis, it now houses various articles from the National Historical Museum, Athens, such as traditional costumes, jewellery, fine embroidery, pottery and wooden sculptures.

Finally, you will enjoy a pleasant walk exploring Hydra’s little streets and its stone houses.

This excursion is mainly on foot on uneven ground with paved streets and staircases (70-80 steps). You must be in good physical condition to participate. It is recommended you wear comfortable walking shoes and sun protection. Appropriate dress is necessary to enter religious sites (shoulders and knees must be covered). The church may be closed for religious ceremonies, and visits are subject to opening times.
 

The Greek capital city is located on the edge of the Saronic gulf, in the east of the country. It bears a plural name in reference to the first villages that surround the Acropolis. You will be enchanted by the rocky plateau presided by its monuments listed as UNESCO World Heritage. In the city below, you can visit some of the liveliest districts in Athens: Plaka, with its maze of colorful streets, and where, in the evenings the drifting aroma of moussaka and garlic prawns will tickle your taste buds. The National Archaeological museum and the Cycladic Art Museum are also some of the city’s key attractions and allow visitors to discover Athens’ cultural past.