This mammoth, near-month-long odyssey to explore the heart and spirit of the Mediterranean gets underway in the ancient city of Tripoli, the historical capital of the country that rests on the edge of desert and sea. Archaeological sites of interest encompassing the legacies of a multitude of civilizations stretching as far back as the Neolithic Age are abundant in Tripoli. Originally built by the Phoenicians in the 6th century BC as a trading post, the city has in its history been governed by: the rulers of Cyrenaica; the Carthaginians; the Romans; the Muslims; the Knights of St John; and the Turkish Ottoman Empire.
En route to the World Heritage Site of Ghadames - where we admire the acclaimed beautiful and inventive Saharan architecture which was specifically designed to accommodate living in the harshest of conditions - we stop in at ancient granaries and small, mountaintop villages, which give us an idea of how people lived 800 years ago. Roman, Hellenic and Byzantine relics lie on every corner as we travel through Appolonias - founded by Greek colonists - to Cyrene - the best-preserved of the Greek cities of Cyrenaica - and on to Leptis Magna - one of the great cities of Roman Africa. The golden Mediterranean sands of Malta are next on our destination list and here we find a land as rich in fascinating heritage as in scenic beauty.
We sail the routes once traveled by the Knights of St John and the fleets of Suleyman the Magnificent, an Ottoman sultan who brought the Ottoman Empire to its zenith and who was considered one of the pre-eminent leaders in the world; we see centuries-old churches, fortifications and hospitals, as well as monuments dating from the Copper Age; we tour grand palaces and caves once inhabited by Neolithic peoples over 6,000 years ago; we explore early Christian catacombs and incredible megalithic sites, like the Tarxien Temple complex; and we enjoy the fluorescent blue waters of the Blue Grotto, the fabled home of the legendary sirens who lured sailors to their dooms with enchanting melodies.
Last, but by no means least, is the ‘Bel Paese’ (‘beautiful country’ in the native tongue). We begin this leg of the tour in Palermo, the capital of Sicily, where we wander through the narrow streets of outdoor markets and marvel at centuries-old Renaissance fountains, Arab-Norman style churches, Byzantine mosaics and, of course, the magnificent cathedral at Royal Mountain. We embark on walking tours through the cobblestone streets of picturesque towns, visit 19th century wineries and abundant museums, and see elevated Greek temples, the remnants of Roman villas and medieval fortresses.
Crossing over to the Italian mainland, we gaze in awe at the Greek temples of Paestum, which rival those of Sicily and Athens, and enjoy highly scenic landscapes of rolling mountains and colorful flora around Sorrento, before we take a trip to re-discover Pompeii, a town that was buried in volcanic ash after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79AD and which has since been excavated; today it stands as an incredible historical record that documents the everyday lives of peoples of the ancient world. We drive along scenic winding coastal roads en route to the bustling city of Naples - the birthplace of pizza - where we visit 12th century fortresses and the museum that houses the world’s most comprehensive collection of Greek and Roman antiquities, before we head to Rome and the Vatican City; two destinations without which a tour through Italy would be incomplete.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price Includes:
- Breakfast and dinner (hotels & local restaurants) daily
- All sightseeing and entrance fees for sites noted as ‘visited’ in the detailed itinerary
- Gratuities for local guides, drivers, restaurant staff, porters
- Domestic flights via local scheduled carriers as per the itinerary
- Airport transfers for land / air customers arriving / departing on tour dates.
Price Excludes:
- Tour Leader gratuities, lunches, drinks, personal items (phone, laundry, etc), international (if applicable) and domestic air taxes, visa fees, excursions referenced as ‘optional’
- Airport transfers for early / late arrivals / departures or Land Only customers
- Our post-reservation trip notes offer further guidance on optional meal costs, shopping and visas.
Also see tour packages in:
Africa
Libya
Malta
Italy
Cultural Journey
Archeology/History
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