Autumn in the Adriatic

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Itinerary

1. 1

   Day 1 London to Bari, Italy.

   Fly by scheduled flight. On arrival transfer to the MS Monet in Bari and embark. Enjoy a welcome dinner on board and sail this evening.

2. 2

   Day 2 Manfredonia.

   Our first call is on the Gargano, a mountainous promontory in the northernmost part of Puglia with a wonderful mix of beaches, lagoons and mountains. For centuries this region was isolated, and modern development was thwarted when the peninsula became a national park in 1991. This morning, we will follow the pilgrim trail to Monte Sant'Angelo where it is claimed archangel Michael made four appearances in the 5th century making this one of the earliest Christian shrines in Europe. We will visit the cave church dedicated to St Michael, the Medieval baptistery ‘Tomba di Rotari', and the church of Santa Maria Maggiore.

3. 3

   Day 3 Ancona for Urbino or Loreto.

   We begin with a visit to the historic town of Urbino, one of the most remarkable Renaissance centers in Italy. Once there, the guided walking tour starts through the charming streets of this UNESCO-listed town, renowned for its artistic and cultural heritage. The visit includes the Botanical Gardens of the University of Urbino, a peaceful green space preserving a wide variety of plant species, and the Church of St. Francis, an important religious landmark of the city. We stop to admire the exterior of Raphael's birthplace, the house where the celebrated Renaissance painter was born. The tour continues with visits to the Oratory of St. John and St. Joseph, famous for its remarkable fresco cycle. We then continue to the magnificent Ducal Palace, admired from the outside as one of the most iconic examples of Renaissance architecture in Italy, before entering the Cathedral of Urbino, an important spiritual and artistic site located in the heart of the city. Enjoy lunch in a local restaurant before returning to the MS Monet in Ancona. Alternatively, visit the town of Loreto, where millions of worshippers gather each year at the shrine of the Holy House of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Explore the holy square with its famous basilica, before enjoying some free time in the town. Return to Ancona in time for lunch.

4. 4

   Day 4 Chioggia & Padua.

   Over breakfast we sail into the Venetian lagoon for our visit to the city of Padua which is situated on the Venetian Plain. This historic city is home to one of the oldest universities in the world. Founded in 1222, the university has played host to names such as Galileo and Copernicus, and the botanical gardens have been granted UNESCO status. The city is also home to the Basilica di Sant'Antonio, an important pilgrimage site, and burial place of Saint Anthony of Padua. Admire the architecture and grand buildings of the historic city centre before returning to the vessel for lunch. We will spend the afternoon exploring the charming town of Chioggia. Affectionately named ‘Little Venice', the colourful houses, bustling markets, and picturesque canals of the town offer a slower paced experience, without the crowds. Explore the fish markets that are still popular with many locals or admire the tranquil canals and Medieval churches of the old town.

5. 5

   Day 5 Trieste.

   Overnight we sail to the port of Trieste. Tumbling down to the Adriatic from a wild, karstic plateau, the city is almost entirely surrounded by Slovenia and is geographically and culturally isolated from the rest of the Italian peninsula. As such, it preserves its own unique border-town mentality and retains a fascinating air of fluidity encapsulated in the ‘Triestino' dialect, a strange mix of Italian, Austrian-German, Croatian and Greek. Exploring the city we see the Piazza Unita' d'Italia, Italy's largest sea-facing piazza and the 19th century city hall, which is flanked by the city's grandest palazzi, including Palazzo del Municipio. Later we drive the short distance along the coast to the Castle of Miramare, located on the northern point of the Adriatic Sea. Formerly the home of Emperor Maximillian its interior is unique as each room resembles a different passion. The extensive 22-hectare castle grounds and gardens are rich and lush and feature thriving tropical species of trees and plants.

6. 6

   Day 6 Koper & Piran, Slovenia.

   Over breakfast we sail the short distance to Koper for a day in Slovenia. This morning, we drive to Lipica, the village giving its name to the Lipizzan horse breed. We will visit the Lipica Stud Farm, one of the very first farms to develop the Lipizzan breed in the 16th century, for a guided tour and to learn more about their majestic horses. After lunch on board join the afternoon tour to Piran, one of the most photogenic cities in the Mediterranean. Influenced by the Venetian Republic, which left its mark on most Istrian towns, Piran has maintained the clustered Medieval structure of narrow winding streets, houses huddled close together and numerous squares and churches. Tartini Square is the gem found in the very centre of the city and named after the violinist and composer Giuseppe Tartini.

7. 7

   Day 7 Rovinj, Croatia.

   Sail today to the atmospheric town of Rovinj where the houses inside the old town are small and lean to each other creating a unique atmosphere. Our guided walking tour will include a visit to the town's main landmark, St Euphemia Church, which is built on the top of a small hill. This Baroque building built in Venetian style was dedicated to the saint and martyr whose sarcophagus, according to a legend, was miraculously washed ashore somewhere around 800 AD.

8. 8

   Day 8 Zadar.

   After a morning sailing, we arrive at Zadar. Once a dominant city on the Adriatic Coast rivalling Venice, Zadar is today a treasured city which has preserved its historical core. Enjoy an afternoon walking tour strolling around the old town with its Roman columns and portals, Romanesque churches and Renaissance and Baroque palaces. Of particular interest are the 9th century circular Church of St Donat, and the 13th century Romanesque cathedral. Sail this evening.

9. 9

   Day 9 Korcula.

   Spend the day on the island of Korcula, the reputed birthplace of the explorer Marco Polo. A morning guided tour will include a walk along Korcula's crooked Medieval streets revealing elegant squares flanked with palaces of the old nobility. After lunch on board, we drive to the interior of the island, past olive groves and vineyards offering views down to the coast below. On our visit to a winery, we will learn more about the, mainly white, wines that have been cultivated on the island for centuries before enjoying a tasting.

10. 10

    Day 10 Split.

    After breakfast we will take a guided walk through the town including the Palace of Diocletian which was built by the emperor in 295-305 AD as his retirement villa. Much of this large building is well preserved and the palace contains Split's Old Town within its walls, making it the only Roman palace that has been continuously inhabited since Roman times. It is a wonderful spot to wander the maze of streets. Return to the ship for lunch and enjoy an afternoon at leisure to explore further at your own pace. Alternatively, join us as we drive the short distance to the ancient site of Salona, the Roman capital of Dalmatia. Archaeologists have excavated the remains of temples, amphitheatres, early Christian churches and baths that served a city of over 40,000 people at its height.

11. 11

    Day 11 Split to London.

    Disembark this morning and transfer to the airport for our scheduled flight to London.

Meet your Experts

A distinguished team of guest lecturers, expedition leaders and specialist hosts will be travelling with you on selected departures — enriching your voyage with their insight, expertise and company.

John Davie

John Davie is a classicist, translator and author, now living in South Devon. After graduating with First Class Honours from Glasgow University he spent three years at Balliol College as a Snell Exhibitioner and graduated as Bachelor of Letters with a thesis on Greek tragedy (also winning a Blue at golf). He taught at Harrow before becoming Head of Classics at St Paul's School in London, and for the last 15 years of his career he taught Classics to undergraduates at various Oxford colleges, including Trinity, where he was awarded a lectureship. He has written widely on classical literature and its influence on later authors, especially Shakespeare. He has translated the 19 surviving plays of Euripides for Penguin Classics and various works of Seneca, Horace and Cicero for Oxford World's Classics. A Visiting Lecturer for the Hellenic and Roman Societies, he has a special interest in the a

The Ship

Monet

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