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Realms of Glory: A Voyage to the Historical Cities of Italy, Libya & Greece
Standing like jewels against the desert sands and looking out to the blue water of the Mediterranean Sea, the great Greek and Roman cities of North Africa, that are now the proud inheritance of Libya, are among the most dazzling of the ancient world. As the pioneer of cruise travel to Libya, Travel Dynamics is pleased to introduce your members to these storied shores and wondrous monuments in comfort and style aboard Corinthian II. From Venice, the enchanted city that gave birth to an empire, we sail to Taranto and then to Sicily to visit culturally-rich Syracuse. We then cruise to Malta and on to the coast of Libya where we will visit Tripoli’s Jamahiriya Museum and the remains of coastal Sabratha; the extraordinary Roman ruins of Leptis Magna, the most lavish ancient city of North Africa; and the extensive ruins of Cyrene and Apollonia, Greek cities that thrived during the classical period and beyond. Before disembarking in Istanbul, we will dock at the port of Gytheion and visit the Byzantine medieval town of Mystra.
Itinerary
Saturday, May 28, 2011 • USA
Sunday, May 29 • VENICE, Italy | EMBARK
Monday, May 30 • AT SEA
Tuesday, May 31 • TARANTO | METAPONTUM | TARANTO
Wednesday, June 1 • SYRACUSE | NOTO | SYRACUSE, Sicily
Thursday, June 2 • VALLETTA, Malta
Friday, June 3 • TRIPOLI | SABRATHA | TRIPOLI, Libya
Saturday, June 4 • KHOMS | LEPTIS MAGNA | KHOMS
Sunday, June 5 • AT SEA
Monday, June 6 • DERNA | CYRENE | APOLLONIA | DERNA
Tuesday, June 7 • GYTHEION | MYSTRA | GYTHEION, Peloponnese, Greece
Wednesday, June 8 • AT SEA
Thursday, June 9 • ISTANBUL, Turkey | DISEMBARK
View Detailed Itinerary
On this program as on all Travel Dynamics International voyages, a guest lecturer will present lectures and lead discussions that will enhance your educational experience. All Travel Dynamics International lecturers share a love for both teaching and travel. Their presence ensures that our journeys are not only pleasant travel experiences but also intellectually rewarding.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
USA
Fly from the U.S. to Venice, Italy.
Sunday, May 29
VENICE, Italy | EMBARK
Built on an archipelago of small islands in a lagoon, Venice rose to power and flourished, shaping and dominating for many years the affairs of the Eastern Mediterranean. Upon arrival in this unique city, transfer to the pier to embark Corinthian II.
Monday, May 30
AT SEA
Tuesday, May 31
TARANTO | METAPONTUM | TARANTO
Located on the gulf that bears its name, Taranto was founded by Spartan settlers in 708 B.C., and became one of the most powerful cities in Magna Graecia. Drive to Metapontum, the remains of the ancient Greek city, founded in the 7th century B.C., which grew rich from agriculture and its position on the trade route with the cities of the Tyrrhenian coast. After exploring the site, return to Taranto to visit its National Museum, which houses one of the largest archaeological collections in Italy.
Wednesday, June 1
SYRACUSE | NOTO | SYRACUSE, Sicily
Syracuse sits at the head of a beautiful bay on Sicily’s southeast coast. 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 theater, 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 towns, brings us to exquisitely preserved Noto, a jewel situated on a plateau surrounded by olive and almond groves.
Thursday, June 2
VALLETTA, Malta
Corinthian II will enter the historic Grand Harbor of Valletta, Malta’s capital. In the morning explore the Palace of the Grand Masters and the National Museum of Archaeology. Then visit the remarkable Tarxien Temples and Hagar Qim.
Friday, June 3
TRIPOLI | SABRATHA | TRIPOLI, Libya
Tripoli was settled by Phoenicians, colonized by Greeks, and conquered by Romans, who erected the impressive triumphal arch honoring Marcus Aurelius. Later, Tripoli grew wealthy from the Saharan caravan trade. Explore the Medina, the medieval walled town built on the site of the Roman settlement. Also tour the Jamahiriya Museum, housed in the massive medieval Citadel, and the city’s colorful souks. In the afternoon, travel to nearby Sabratha, the ancient city that began as a Carthaginian trading post, became a permanent settlement in the 4th century B.C., and flourished in the Roman period. Located by the sea, Sabratha’s ruins include temples, public baths, fountains and a museum noted for its collection of mosaics.
Saturday, June 4
KHOMS | LEPTIS MAGNA | KHOMS
This morning, call at Khoms on Libya’s Tripolitanian coast. Nearby are the ruins of Leptis Magna, one of the Mediterranean’s most compelling ancient sites. Leptis Magna achieved its prominence in the 3rd century A.D. under the Severan emperors, who launched an unprecedented, lavish building scheme, embellishing the city with extraordinary public buildings. Excellently preserved to the present day because of its burial under shifting sands, this glorious coastal city is a unique example of ancient town planning. Spend the day exploring the city’s magnificent buildings, monuments, temples, and streets. Also visit Villa Sileen, a recently restored Roman residence with vivid mosaics depicting chariot races and gladiatorial combat scenes.
Sunday, June 5
AT SEA
Monday, June 6
DERNA | CYRENE | APOLLONIA | DERNA
This morning, Corinthian II docks in Derna on Libya’s Cyrenaican coast. Take a fullday excursion to Cyrene, one of North Africa’s great cities of antiquity. Founded by Greek colonists from Thera (Santorini) in the 7th century B.C., Cyrene was built on the side of a hill, facing the plain and the sea. Its substantial ruins and monuments testify to its wealth and power. Continue to Apollonia to explore the site and the Museum, which displays excellent mosaics from the region’s early Byzantine churches.
Tuesday, June 7
GYTHEION | MYSTRA | GYTHEION, Peloponnese, Greece
Arrive in the port of Gytheion in the early morning, for an excursion to the spectacular Byzantine town of Mystra, a crossroad for Byzantine and Western culture from the 13th to 15th centuries. Located on the slopes of Mt. Taigetos, overlooking ancient and modern Sparta, Mystra is a purely medieval town. Within its walls are some of the finest 14th to 15th-century examples of Byzantine art and architecture in Greece. An impregnable fortress built in 1249 crowns the summit of the site, with churches, palaces, and houses lining the narrow streets below. Visit the Cathedral, the Palace of the Despots, the Pantanassa, the most beautiful of the churches of Mystra, among others, and wander the narrow streets lined with numerous churches and medieval houses.
Wednesday, June 8
AT SEA
Thursday, June 9
ISTANBUL, Turkey | DISEMBARK
Disembark in Istanbul and transfer to the airport for return flights to the U.S.
