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Windstar Cruises
Rome Athens Itinerary
Saturday - ROME CIVITAVECCHIA, ITALY
2,500 years of history are woven into the fabric of modern Rome. You can feel it in the glory of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican. Or as you wander sidestreets that open onto piazzas, fountains, Bernini sculpture, and elegant courtyards. Famous treasures are legion in Rome: the Colosseum…the Forum…St. Peter’s Cathedral…the Trevi Fountain…the Spanish Steps. Take time out between sights to do as the Romans do: enjoy a three-hour lunch, shop, people-watch, or savor the best gelati in the world.
Sunday - CAPRI, ITALY
Geologically Capri is limestone; its dolomite cliffs, which at many points tower perpendicularly out of the sea, have been chiseled and tunneled by time into fantastic shapes and marvelous caves (grottoes). There are two main massifs: on the east Monte Tiberio (1095ft) and on the west Monte Solaro (452ft). The town of Capri (from which the island takes its name) at 452ft is located between them, in a position, which has Marina Grande to its north and Marina Piccola on its southern side. The island's second residential center, Anacapri, lies in a sweep of lush countryside to the west of Monte Solaro. For the etymology of the name Capri, one must look back to the Hellenic colonists who first inhabited it in historic times.
Monday - CRUISING STRAIT OF MESSINA
MESSINA, SICILY
This ancient city of cobblestone streets and friendly people is the gateway to the sunny island of Sicily, a mountainous and rugged place which remains in the shadow of its still-active volcano, Mt. Etna. In addition to its own enchanting landscape, Messina is the launching point for visits to the classical ruins at Taormina and the Church of the Black Madonna in Tindari.
Tuesday - AT SEA
Wednesday - GYTHION, GREECE
Truly one of the world’s original great urban centers, the port city of Gythion was founded by the ancient Phoenicians prior to 400 B.C. Gracing the isolated southern edge of the Peloponnese, the city has a rich political and cultural heritage which is still in evidence today. The castle of Mistras, with its elaborate Byzantine frescos, carved throne and majestic cathedrals will impress even the most seasoned traveler. Or visit the beautiful Caves of Diros, with their incredible underground lakes and fossils dating back 2 million years.
Thursday - NAVPLION, GREECE
Once a powerful city-state ruled by Agamemnon, the conqueror of Troy, this hilly village now offers you a chance to soak up some history over a glass of retsina in one of its many waterfront cafés.
Friday - ERMOUPOLIS (SYROS), GREECE
The Cyclades: mystical islands of mountainous beauty, picturesque fishing villages, fertile valleys and sandy beaches surrounded by a pristine sea. At the center of it all lies the island of Siros and its capital city of Ermoupolis. The captivating neoclassical architecture of Ermoupolis stands out from the other Cyclades and is reminiscent of the island’s former splendor and power. This rocky, mountainous land offers many natural gulfs, as well as prehistoric ruins that have been fascinating visitors for centuries.
Saturday - ATHENS (PIRAEUS), GREECE
Above the city, looking out towards the blue Aegean, stands the Acropolis. Here lie the ruins of a culture 2,500 years old: the Propylaea; the Temple of Athena Nike; the Erechtheum temple, and, most famous of all, the Parthenon.
Meanwhile, modern Athens buzzes busily below, a city of chic restaurants, lively bazaars, sophisticated banking, historical museums, and the sights and smells of the Plaka district.
Cost of This Itinerary
7 Night Trip:
The least expensive cabin costs:
$321 per person per night in low season and
$371 pp pn in high season
The most expensive stateroom costs:
$500 per person per night in low season and
$543 pp pn in high season
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