Greek Mythology & History
Departs 6th May 2008, from Dover, for 22 nights.
Overview | Lecturers | Shore Excursions | Itinerary | Price | Deck Plans
A relaxing few days at sea delivers us to Cartagena, whose streets tell the story of 2,500 years of history. Founded in 227 BC, the city was later dominated by the Romans following the Second Punic War. We first visit Concepcion Castle, situated on one of the five hills that protected the city and then go on a tour of the city, including the amphitheatre, cathedral
and the Calle Mayor.
From Tunis we travel to Thuburbo Majus. Built in the 1st century BC, it's famous for its Palestra, the Capitol, the Mercury and Baalat Temples and the Summer and Winter Baths, all of which we visit.
In Valletta it's a short trip to the city centre and the National Museum of Archaeology, housed in the Baroque Auberge.The building itself is the best preserved of the former residences of the Knights of Malta.We also visit the Inquisitor's Palace and enjoy a panoramic tour.
We visit Delphi from Piraeus. A beautiful drive through central Greece brings us to the slopes of Mount Parnassos where the town is situated, on a cliff overlooking the Gulf of Corinth.We are taken along the Sacred Way, to the Temple of Apollo and past the many other notable classical relics, including the 4th century BC Theatre and Stadium.
A place of worship to the Ionians, Delos is now one big open-air museum, with many of its ancient monuments and buildings remarkably intact. Its sites include the Sacred Lake, where Apollo is said to have been born.
The ancient city of Kamiros is only a short drive from the port of Rhodes. After touring its notable sites, including an altar to the sun god Helios, we also visit the ancient city of Ialyassos where we'll see remains from the Archaic, Byzantine and Knights' periods. From Benghazi it's a 70 kilometre drive to the ancient Greek city of Tocra, youngest of the five cities of Cyrenaica. After which we visit Ptlomias, one of the five cities of the Pentapolise, which though later
colonised by the Romans fell into decline with the arrival of Arab armies in the 7th century.
Our tour of Gibraltar takes us around its major fortifications and labyrinth of tunnels, as well as to the top of the Rock to visit the legendary Barbary Apes.
A port since the 13th century, our tour of the Portuguese capital includes the Ajudas Palace, the country's last Royal residence before it’s declaration of a Republic in 1912.We also visit the city's Alfama district, a village within the city its a maze of narrow alleys and steps and has a real medieval and Moorish feel.
