ITALY, GREEK ISLANDS & SPAIN: SAIL & RAIL

Arrive in Rome where you have 2 nights to explore the city.

This morning, it’s time to tour the Vatican City, taking in the amazing artifacts in the Museum and admiring the breath-taking beauty of Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel. This is a visit that will live long in the memory. Take advantage of your skip-the-line tickets to“step back in time” as you explore the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. Your knowledgeable guide will be sure to regale you with all manner of fascinating facts as you immerse yourself in the history of this great city. In the afternoon, why not take a leisurely stroll through the fascinating squares and streets, admiring the wonderful architecture – don’t forget to visit the Trevi Fountain and toss a coin over your shoulder, so that you will be able to return in the future!

Today you’ll take the train for the short journey from Rome to Civitavecchia where you have 1 night pre-cruise.

Civitavecchia, the bustling port town of Italy, offers a delightful blend of history, culture, and coastal charm. Explore the impressive Fort Michelangelo, a 16th-century fortress that overlooks the harbour, or wander through the picturesque old town with its narrow streets and vibrant piazzas. Don’t miss the local markets for fresh produce and artisan goods. Enjoy a leisurely stroll along the seafront promenade, where you can savour delicious seafood at seaside restaurants.

Italy’s third-largest city, Naples is a bustling metropolis famed for it stately buildings, crowded streets, pizza – and notoriously bad traffic. However, this beautiful city is rich in centuries-old culture and customs. Naples is also your gateway to the Isle of Capri, the fabled Amalfi Coast and the ruins of Pompeii, buried in ash by the cataclysmic eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 A.D.

Naples boasts an ideal location, with both the ruins of Roman cities and the stunning Amalfi Coast in easy reach.

Chania is a city on the northwest coast of the Greek island of Crete. It’s known for its 14th-century Venetian harbor, narrow streets and waterfront restaurants. At the harbor entrance is a 16th-century lighthouse with Venetian, Egyptian and Ottoman influences. Opposite, the Nautical Museum has model ships, naval objects and photographs.

Istanbul rises from the Bosphorus, a vision of minarets and domes sparkling in the light. The capital of vanished empires, Istanbul is a true crossroad, the only city on Earth to span two continents. This meeting place of Europe and Asia, of Christian and Muslim, is one of the great adventures a traveler encounters. Browse the stalls of the world’s largest bazaar, explore ancient mosques and churches, and gaze at the stunning jewels in the Topkapi Palace.

Istanbul has dominated the Straits of Bosphorus for 25 centuries. As Constantinople, capital of the Eastern Roman Empire, it was a metropolis of stunning splendor when the great cities of Europe were mere villages.

Thanks to its proximity to the mainland, Mykonos was one of the first Greek islands to become an international travel destination. During the late ’60s and early ’70s, Mykonos was famed as a haunt for the rich. The island’s nightlife – then and now – was a glittering whirl of colored lights, music, and parties. But there’s another side to Mykonos – the neighboring island of Delos. In classical mythology, Delos was the birthplace of Apollo and his twin sister Artemis. Travelers to Delos can stroll among the island’s vast ruins, which include three temples consecrated to the Sun God and the famed Lions Walk.

Mykonos town features hip boutiques, restaurants, jewelry stores, souvenirs, taverns and cafés. The island’s famed windmills are found just south of the waterfront.

The past maintains a vibrant presence in the cradle of Western civilization. Atop the Acropolis, the serene Parthenon sails above the commotion of the modern city. The tragedies of Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides were performed in the Theater of Dionysus at the foot of the Acropolis. On Pnyx Hill, citizens of a fledgling democracy gathered to cast their votes on Athens’ destiny. Then there is the hustle and bustle of the modern city, a metropolis of 4.5 million that spreads out from the foot of Mt. Lycabettus and across the plain. Packed with busy shops and lively tavernas, modern Athens is a colorful counterpoint to classical Greece.

Piraeus is the port city for Athens and has been Athens’ port of entry for over two millennia.

Did the catastrophic volcanic eruption that ravaged Santorini circa 1600 B.C. destroy Crete’s ancient Minoan civilization – and give birth to the myth of Atlantis? In 1967, archaeologists on Santorini unearthed the remains of a Bronze Age city that may have been home to as many as 30,000 people. Whether the Lost Continent of Atlantis is rooted in myth or reality, an undisputed fact remains. The eruption created a caldera – and one of the most dramatic land and seascapes in the entire Mediterranean. On Santorini, whitewashed buildings cling to vertiginous cliffs that plunge to a turquoise sea. Part of the Cyclades Archipelago, the three-island group of Santorini, Thirasia and uninhabited Aspronisi present the traveler with unforgettable vistas.

The island has had a number of names throughout history – from Strongyle or “Round” to Thera in honor of an ancient hero. Santorini is more recent and stems from the island church dedicated to St. Irene – Santa Rini to foreign sailors.

Kotor lies at the head of Boka Bay. Bordered by towering limestone cliffs, the winding bay is actually Southern Europe’s longest and most dramatic fjord. The port itself is a medieval gem: its narrow, asymmetrical streets are lined with ancient stone houses, old palaces, and churches dating from the 12th century. Kotor is also your gateway to the cultural and scenic wonders of Montenegro, from the old royal capital at Cetinje to the marshes and wildlife of Lake Skadar National Park.

Kotor is renowned for its nightlife: the streets of the old port are lined with pubs, taverns and cafés. The city is also host to a renowned summer carnival.

Kotor is an anchorage port. Passengers transfer to shore via ship’s tender.

The lush and verdant island of Corfu lies in the Ionian Sea, midway between Greece and Italy. The island has a long and colorful history. First colonized by the city-state of Corinth, Corfu has been ruled by the Romans, the Venetians, the French and the English. Corfu Town boasts fortresses bearing the insignia of the Venetian Republic, an esplanade lavishly planted by the French during the Napoleonic Wars, and an English cricket pitch. The island also offers some of the finest coastal scenery in the entire Mediterranean.

Messina has played a major role in European history since its founding as a Greek colony in the 8th century B.C. During the Roman Empire, the city was a major port and commercial center, during the Middle Ages, Messina was the major port of departure for Crusaders. History has also left its scars: a massive earthquake leveled much of the city in 1908 and the World War II campaign for Sicily devastated Messina. Yet Messina emerged from that devastation with some of its historic treasures intact, including the 12th-century Annunziata dei Catalani Church. Messina is also your gateway to the rugged beauty of southeast Sicily, from the seaside resort of Taormina to Mt. Etna.

Between the fall of Rome and the 1861 unification of Italy, the Arabs, the Normans, the Germans, the Spanish and the French ruled Sicily.

You’ll disembark in Barcelona today where your next adventure begins. Enjoy 1 night in Barcelona to explore the city.

Take the train from Sant’s station to Granada and check-in at your hotel for a 2-night stay. Later you will be transported to another world where you will enjoy the music and dancing of an authentic Flamenco show.

Today is a day that will live long in the memory. You will be transported from your hotel to the breath-taking Alhambra Palace for a tour of the vast complex and pristine Generalife gardens. Make sure to see the gorgeous Cathedral in the centre of Granada, and in the evening perhaps make your way to theAlbaicínneighbourhood to watch the spectacular sunset over the Alhambra Palace.

Following breakfast at your hotel make your way to the station for your train to Madrid, and once you have arrived in the city head to your hotel for a 2-night stay. Once settled in take a stroll along the Grand Via, then enjoy a glass of wine and some fine tapas on Plaza Mayor or another of Madrid’s many squares.

Enjoy all this great city has to offer today thanks to your included Sightseeing Pass. Take a tour of the huge Royal Palace, wonder at some of the amazing pieces of art in the Prado Museum or take a stroll around the gorgeous Retiro Park.

Your holiday comes to an end today. Interested in extending? Ask us about our amazing range of sightseeing, touring and accommodation packages.