Highlights
of Greece & Turkey 8-days 7-nights Cruise
Ports
of Call
|
The
cruise departs from and returns to: Athens, Greece: Capital of Greece, cradle of democracy, birthplace of Western Civilization - Athens is a vibrant city where the ancient and the modern co-exist. The majestic Acropolis with Parthenon rises above the city, its ancient glory still visible in the timeworn stone, and the National Archaeological Museum holds countless treasures from Athens' Golden Age. |
| Istanbul,
Turkey: As you approach Istanbul from the sea, the graceful minarets of countless mosques appear on the horizon and the Islamic call to prayer carries over the water. Istanbul's blend of East and West has resulted in some of the most magnificent architecture in the world, including the Agia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. At the Topkapi museum, formerly the Sultan's palace, the treasures of the Ottoman empire are on view. You can also bargain for your own treasures in one of the Grand Bazaar's 5,000 shops. |
|
|
Mykonos,
Greece: This cosmopolitan and picturesque island is well known for its graphic paved streets with hundreds of boutiques and Cycladic art shops. Beneath the sophisticated surface of Mykonos lies a quintessential Greek Island. Hundreds of tiny chapels dot the island and sheep graze in the shadow of white-washed windmills. Find a table on the waterfront and bask in the serenity of sunset over the picturesque harbor. |
| Izmir,
Turkey: Once the ancient city of Smyrna, Izmir is now a modern and busy commercial center, yet maintaining an exotic flare. The broad boulevards, glass-fronted buildings and modern shopping centers are dotted with traditional red-tiled roofs, an 18th century market, and old mosques and churches. Very close lies the ancient Greek city of Pergamum (also spelled Pergamon, meaning citadel in ancient Greek). A visit to the Acropolis of Pergamum and to the Asklepion should not be missed. |
|
|
Kusadasi
(Ephessos), Turkey: A tour to nearby Ephessos should not be missed, for here history truly comes to life. Walking towards the ancient harbor, down a marble road rutted by the wheels of countless chariots, you pass architectural masterpieces like the Magnesian Gate and the Library of Celsus before arriving at the Great Amphitheater where St. Paul was arrested and cast out of the city. |
| Patmos,
Greece: This island is known as the site of the apocalyptic Revelations of St. John the Divine, written here during his exile from the Roman Empire. The cave where he lived is now the site of the Monastery of the Apocalypse. The Monastery of St. John, built on one of the island's highest points, houses priceless icons and manuscripts in its Treasury. |
|
|
Heraklion
(Crete), Greece: Heraklion, the capital of Crete island and its principal commercial port, is just three miles away from the fantastic ruins of the Palace of Knossos. Discovered in 1899 by Sir Arthur Evans and partially reconstructed, the elaborate Palace is believed to be the mythical Labyrinth of King Minos and the seat of ancient Minoan culture. The Archaeological Museum in Heraklion displays many of the treasures found during the excavations. |
| Santorini,
Greece: The island of Santorini is perhaps the most breathtaking and beautiful of all the Greek Islands - it is the ideal place for enjoying the most romantic sunsets. The town of Thera's white-washed houses, narrow streets, open-air cafes and glittering boutiques cling to steep cliff, accessible by cable-car or donkey. To the south is Akrotiri, where recent Minoan excavations support the theories that Santorini might be the fabled lost continent of Atlantis. 
|
|
Click here to view some more photographs
Back to the Previous
Page |