Explore & Restore Chopra Cruise from Palermo to Piraeus

A feast for the senses, Sicily’s capital is an intoxicating and chaotic melting pot. Bustling street markets, ancient buildings, opulent palaces, and millennia of history await those ready to embrace Palermo for all that it offers. Palermo’s history is complex, to say the least. Middle Eastern, Northern African, and European influences are all melded together here. The Greeks, Romans, Carthaginians, Arabs, Goths, and Vandals have come and gone through the ages, leaving countless treasures in their wake. The 12th-century Arab-Norman cathedral, built over a 9th-century mosque, houses the tombs of the Norman rulers and is a fitting manifestation of the city’s convoluted past. The opulent Palazzo de Normanni, once the seat of power for the kings of Sicily during Norman rule, is a dazzling display of the opulence that the city’s rulers once enjoyed.

The largest of the Aeolian Islands, Lipari is typically Mediterranean in its landscape. The island’s lava quarries, low-lying shrubbery and precipitous cliffs feel familiar yet unchartered. Lipari Town is a busy little port with pretty pastel-coloured buildings lining the harbour and plenty of cafes and restaurants where visitors can watch the world go by. Above the harbour is the fortified citadel and castle, built by the Spaniards in the 16th century. The fascinating citadel houses archaeological findings that span aeons and empires, some thought to be as much as 6,000 years old.

Lipari Island Tour And Winery

Optional

03 h 45 m

Work up an appetite with a sightseeing tour of of the island’s most panoramic viewpoints
Visit the underground barrique cellar, built in the traditional style of the region
Learn about the windcatcher’s thermal labyrinth and chimney used to create a natural air-conditioning system

Lipari Island Tour

Included

04 h 00 m

Take a moment to appreciate the unique mining practice of the volcanic materials pumice and obsidian
Enjoy stunning views of the sparkling sea, red and grey volcanoes and lush green vegetation
Stop by the Church of San Bartolomeo for pictures of its beautiful facade

Stromboli is a small island in the Aeolian archipelago in the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is one of the world's most active volcanoes and has erupted almost continuously since 1932. The island also has beautiful beaches and crystal-clear waters.

Giardini Naxos is a seaside town on the eastern coast of Sicily known for its beautiful beaches and crystal-clear waters. The city also has a rich history and culture, with many ancient ruins and historic sites to explore. Some popular attractions include the ancient Greek city of Naxos, the Church of San Pancrazio, and the Museum of Archaeology.

Taormina Highlights

Included

04 h 15 m

Take in the incredible views of Mount Etna and the surrounding waters
Pay homage to the ancient art of performance at the Roman Theatre Corso Umberto
Visit one of the many local handicraft shops that populate the small lanes, the Viuzze

The Godfather Tour - Afternoon departure

Optional

04 h 30 m

Visit the Cappuccini Church, whose crypt houses the so-called catacombs with 37 mummified bodies of friars and noble people who lived there in the 18th and 19th centuries
Stop in at several remarkable churches of the 15th and 16th centuries like Chiesa Madre, Santa Lucia and San Michele
Head to the village of Forza d’Agrò, overlooking the Arab-Norman castle of Capo Sant’Alessio and the coastline towards Messina

Cruise along the Calabrian coast and enjoy the scenery of rugged cliffs and sandy beaches. As we pull into the port town of Crotone, notice the 16th-century fortress, Castle of Charles V. Inside its museum is a golden tiara, found nearby in the Capo Colonna Archaeological Park named for its column that stands proud on a promontory. Crotone itself is a delightful mix of old and new, from the ancient city walls to the cathedral notable for its icon of the Black Madonna alongside Calabrese restaurants serving traditional pasta and sausage dishes.

Santa Severina & Farmhouse

Included

04 h 25 m

Clinging to a tuff buttress overlooking the Neto River Valley, this charming town will instantly captivate you with its fairytale-like appearance
See the magnificent stucco decorations and Baroque paintings by Francesco Giordano at the Carafa Castle
Your excursion will also include a visit to the cathedral, the beautiful Byzantine baptistery and the Diocesan Museum

Cirò Wine: The Drink of the Greek Gods

Optional

04 h 30 m

Visit the small village of Ciro, know for the wine production
At the wine estate discover the secret of this wine and taste delicious local food

Highlights of Magna Grecia

Optional

04 h 20 m

Drive along the coast to Le Castella, to visit the fortress, built by the Aragons around an existing Anjou fortification
Discover Capo Colonna Archaeological Park, made up of roughly 7½ acres of excavation terrain

Otranto is a town in the province of Lecce in the Puglia region of Italy. It is located on the Adriatic Sea and is famous for its rich history and culture, with many ancient ruins and historic sites to explore. Some popular attractions include the Otranto Cathedral, the Aragonese Castle, and the Church of San Pietro.

Otranto City Tour

Included

04 h 00 m

Visit the inside of the mysterious Skull Cathedral and pay your respects to the Martyrs of Otranto
Be fascinated by the rich history of the Aragonese Castle
Enjoy a typical Italian Ice cream

Otranto Coastal Drive & Wine Tasting

Optional

04 h 00 m

Enjoy one of the most spectacular panoramic routes of Apulia
Visit the wine-cellar and the underground-oil mill
enjoy a wine tasting and typical Apulian products before returning to the ship

Lecce - Florence Of Southern Italy

Optional

05 h 00 m

Admire the Roman Amphitheater dating back to the second century A.D. and could hold up to 20,000 spectators
Discover a remarkable architectural style known as the “Barocco Leccese”
Visit Piazza Duomo, where the Cathedral as well as the Archbishop’s Palace are located

The Albanian Riviera stretches along a beautiful section of the Ionian coastline, packed with stunning beaches and ancient history. Once overlooked as a result of Albania’s political isolation from the rest of Europe, the area is now being rediscovered. Sarandë is its unofficial capital, whose original settlers were said to be the descendants of the ancient Greek hero Achilles. Today crowds flock to Sarandë in the summer months to enjoy the beaches and bustling nightlife. Just outside the city a plethora of ancient ruins, including several UNESCO World Heritage Sites await. This includes the Ancient City of Butrint, which is considered one of the most important archaeological sites in Albania.

The Ancient City Of Butrint

Included

04 h 00 m

Visit the archaeological site of Butrini. Inhabited since prehistoric times
Enjoy the special atmosphere created by a combination of archaeology, monuments and nature in the Mediterranean
Be surprised by the authenticity of the World Heritage property Butrint related to its excellent preservation on a site

Jeep Safari Adventure

Optional

07 h 30 m

Admire the blue waters of the Borsh waterfalls
Discover the village of Piluri and the breathtaking views
Visit the ruins of Ali Pasha castle

Unesco World Heritage, Medieval City, Reach architecture

Optional

06 h 00 m

Visit the fortress of Gjirokastra, one of the biggest in the Balkans
Discover the Medieval City, today UNESCO world heritage
Admire the architecture while walking arround

Located at the mouth of Amvrakikos Gulf in Western Greece, Preveza is a charming city with bundles of character. The yacht-filled marina and carless seafront offer the perfect setting for a pleasant stroll. Sit and watch the world go by at the many restaurants and tavernas, or indulge in some retail therapy in the many interesting shops. Further afield you’ll find the ancient city of Nikopolis, founded by the Roman Emperor Octavian. During the Roman and early Byzantine periods, the city flourished as the capital of Old Epirus. Today visitors can explore the ruins of the Roman city walls, odeum, theatre and many other preserved archaeological features.

Traditional Arta

Optional

04 h 00 m

Visit Arta's Bridge learn the history of its construction and myth
Admire the church of the Panayia Parigoritissa,dating back to the 13th c. is dedicated to the Annunciation
Learn about the hidden secrets off Preveza

Nikopolis Arch. Site & Museum

Included

03 h 00 m

Visit Nikopolis, the amazing largest ancient city in Greece, built in the 1st c. AD
Learn why the impressive theatre isn’t like the others ancient Greek ones
Take some time to listen to the stories of the different basilicas

An important historical place, the harbour town sits below Mount Parnassus, home to the mythical Muses, and is near the ancient Greek sanctuary of Delphi, where Pythia, the Oracle, prophesied the words of Apollo to those who sought divine advice for the future. Parnassus was also home to the winged horse Pegasus of Bellerophon. More recently, Itea was the site of the Battle of Agali during the Greek War of Independence where Greece defeated the Ottoman–Egyptian fleet on 29/30 September 1827. The mountain area is also home to Greece’s largest olive grove and one of the oldest in the world.

Mythical Delphi

Included

03 h 50 m

Visit the UNESCO World Heritage listed site of Delphi and see the Theatre, the Athenian Treasury, the Temple of Apollo famous for its oracle, Pythia, the Navel of the Earth
Experience the Archeological Museum, one of the most important in Greece with its spectacular collection of artifacts, including the Naxian Sphinx, the Charioteer and the Statue of Antinoos
Discover the incredibly diverse Greek coutryside of Itea

Ossios Loukas Monastery

Optional

04 h 00 m

Discover the beautiful Monastery of Ossios Loukas adorned with these mosaics and frescoes of the Great Church
Breathtaking mountain scenery passing by the village of Arachova
Visit the mountainous village nestling picturesquely at the foot of Mt. Parnassos, Arachova

Galaxidi Walking tour

Optional

03 h 00 m

Walking tour of town of the Golf of Corinth
Visit the Naval Museum of Galaxidi which exhibits models of the ship
Admire a mountainous landscape and discover the impressive church of Agios Nikolaos

The Corinth Canal connects the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf in the Aegean Sea. It cuts through the narrow Isthmus of Corinth and separates the Peloponnese from the Greek mainland. The canal is 6.4 kilometers long and only 21.3 meters wide at its base, making it impassable for most modern ships.

Greece’s buzzing cosmopolitan capital is served by Piraeus port and is an exciting mix of ancient and modern. Walk the Grand Promenade that winds beneath the city’s most famous landmark, the Acropolis. This walkway, built during the 2004 Olympic Games, links the city’s main archaeological sites. No visit to Athens is complete without seeing the Acropolis itself of course. Start with the Acropolis Museum for some informative context and then walk the marble path up Filopappou Hill for majestic views of the ‘high city’ with the iconic Parthenon perched on top (a temple dedicated to the goddess Athena, patron of the city).

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From Magna Graecia to Greece

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