Around the Adriatic - A 13 Day Discovery of Croatia, Montenegro, Albania, Italy & Slovenia

Fly by scheduled flight. Arrive this afternoon and transfer to the MS Monet. Sail this evening.

Once a dominant city on the Adriatic Coast rivalling Venice, Zadar is today a treasured city which has preserved its historical core. Enjoy a morning 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. Return to the ship for lunch and an afternoon cruising as we sail to Rovinj.

Arrive in the atmospheric town of Rovinj where the houses inside the old town are small and lean into each other creating a unique atmosphere. Our guided walking tour will include the Franciscan Monastery, City Palace and the 17th century clock tower before we visit 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. The afternoon is free to explore further or maybe join a tour to the tip of the Istrian Peninsula and the former Roman settlement of Polensium, now known as Pula. Here we will discover one of the best preserved Roman amphitheatres left in the world. The Arena, built in the 1st century AD was designed to host gladiatorial contests with seating for up to 20,000 spectators.

For our day in Slovenia we drive 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. After lunch on board spend the afternoon at leisure in Koper. Maybe visit Tito Square, the impressive Praetorian Palace or the 11th century cathedral.

From our central berth we will take a walking tour to discover the hidden corners of Venice. An off the beaten track itinerary takes us to the Arsenale, a colossal shipyard of the Serenissima Republic; the San Giorgio dei Greci Church and its secret courtyard; Campo Santa Maria Formosa, one of the city’s largest squares and Marco Polo’s House. We end at the Chiesa della Pieta, a former convent and orphanage and an authentic masterpiece of the 18th century by Giorgio Massari. The young orphans that stayed here were encouraged to study music and their most famous teacher was Antonio Vivaldi. It was here that he composed the Four Seasons and we have arranged for an exclusive private concert of Vivaldi themed music performed by a Venetian orchestra. It will be a thrilling experience to hear the music performed where it was created. The rest of the day is free to explore and discover the city at your own pace. Return to the ship as we sail over dinner.

Arrive this morning in the attractive seaside resort of Pesaro, the birthplace of the composer Gioachino Rossini. We will visit the house where he was born in 1792 and the small museum containing some of his original scores and documents. See the Conservatory, built with funds bequeathed to the Town Council on his death in 1868, and the local theatre which was named after him. We also head inland to the UNESCO city of Urbino, birthplace of the artist Raphael, and with a historic centre that appear little changed since the 15th century when it became a centre of culture attracting artists and scholars from all over Italy. See the Duomo, the house where Raphael was born in 1483, which is now a museum, as well as the impressive Palazzo Ducale where we find the National Gallery of Marche containing a stunning collection of Renaissance art.

Continuing our journey south we arrive in Abruzzo. From our berth in Pescara we visit Chieti which lies on a crest along the Pescara River with its unmistakable profile of the high belltower of San Giustino and the Majella Mountains and Gran Sasso in the background. It was a Roman town, Teate, and important medieval centre which is why, when walking through the city one can see Roman and medieval ruins side by side. Of special importance is also the Pinacoteca C. Barbella, hosting works of Abruzzese artists, as well as the Museo Archeologico Nazionale, the richest archaeological museum in the region where we find the Capestrano Warrior statue. The region is also famous for its wines and we will visit a vineyard which produces the benchmark Montepulciano d’Abruzzo and the zesty, savoury pink Cerasuolo.

After a relaxing morning and lunch at sea, we drive into the Puglian countryside which is scattered with ‘trulli’, limestone dwellings built with dome or conical roofs. We will enjoy a pleasant walk in Alberobello, a fairy-tale trulli village and a UNESCO World Heritage Site and see the St Anthony Church also built in trullo style. Alternatively enjoy a free afternoon in Monopoli where you can wander through the historic centre, visit the cathedral or see the Castello di Carlo V. Return to the ship as we sail over dinner.

Our last call in Italy is the port of Otranto in Puglia from where we will drive to Lecce, often referred to as ‘The Florence of the South’ with its amazing collection of Baroque architecture. A guided walk will include a visit to the beautifully decorated Santa Croce Basilica and Piazza Duomo, considered one of the finest and most impressive squares in southern Italy. We return to the ship for lunch and the afternoon is free to explore Otranto independently, maybe walk the winding streets or along the seaside promenade. The highlight is the wonderful cathedral with its Medieval mosaic floor created by the monk, Pantaleone, between 1163 and 1165. You can also see the Chapel of the Dead which shows the bones and skulls of 813 martyrs killed by the invading Turks in 1480. Tonight we sail late for anyone who wishes to dine ashore or take an after dinner stroll.

Spend a relaxing morning at sea before arriving in Albania and into Vlore over lunch. This afternoon we drive to nearby Apollonia, the ancient city of Illyria. Set on rolling hills the city reached its zenith around the 4th to 3rd centuries BC when it is believed the population numbered over 70,000. It was here Octavian learned of the assassination of his great uncle Caesar and set upon his bid for power ultimately becoming emperor. See the city council building with its surviving facade, the library, triumphal arch, theatre, Byzantine monastery and temple of Artemis.

Arrive at the coastal city of Durres which was colonised by the Greeks in 627 BC and still has the remains of a 15,000 seat amphitheatre, the second largest in the Balkans. This morning we will head inland to Tirana where we will see the fascinating nuclear bunker built by the dictator Enver Hoxha in the 1970s and only recently opened to the public. This underground building is packed with original artefacts from the communist period. Afterwards continue walking through the city centre to see the mosque, Clock Tower and the “Bloku” area of the city. After lunch at a local farm we return to Durres to visit the Medieval city and the Archeological Museum before sailing late this evening.

Be on deck this morning as we sail through the stunning fjord-like scenery into Kotor. On arrival at our berth, we will take a morning walking tour to explore this Medieval town and UNESCO World Heritage Site. This really is an extraordinary place full of marvellous architecture and pretty town squares. Our tour will include the 12th century Cathedral of St Tryphon, the ancient town gates, the Maritime Museum and Romanesque churches including St Luke’s. Return to the ship for lunch and enjoy the afternoon to explore at your own pace. Those feeling active may wish to take the strenuous climb to the Castle of San Giovanni which offers wonderful views over the bay and town below.

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

Itineraries are subject to change.