Itinerary

Ports

Port Descriptions

Venice, often called La Serenissima, “the most serene,” a reference to the majesty, wisdom, and monstrous power of this city that was for centuries the unrivaled mistress of trade between Europe and the Orient and the bulwark of Christendom against the tides of Ottoman expansion. Built entirely on water by men who defied the sea, Venice is unlike any other place. No matter how many times you’ve seen it in movies or on television, the real thing is more dreamlike than you could ever imagine. Its landmarks, the Basilica di San Marco and the Palazzo Ducale, are exotic mixes of Byzantine, Gothic, and Renaissance styles. Shimmering sunlight and silvery mist soften every perspective here, and you understand how the city became renowned in the Renaissance for its artists’ rendering of color. It’s full of secrets and inexpressibly romantic.

Zadar, Croatia’s ancient stronghold on the Dalmatian coast, is an appealing blend of the ancient and modern. Fashionable boutiques and modern office buildings stand beside Gothic and Romanesque churches. A fascinating Sea Organ — actually a series of pipes assembled along the water’s edge – emits ever-changing notes produced by the wave action of the Adriatic. Tranquil offshore islands are accessible by ferryboat, the medieval village of Nin and nearby Paklenica National Park are all part of the scene.

Commanding a splendid coastal location, Dubrovnik is one of the world’s most beautiful fortified cities. Its massive stone ramparts and splendid fortress towers curve around a tiny harbor, enclosing graduated ridges of sun-bleached orange-tiled roofs, copper domes, and elegant bell towers. In the 7th century AD, residents of the Roman city Epidaurum (now Cavtat) fled the Avars and Slavs of the north and founded a new settlement on a small rocky island, which they named Laus, and later Ragusa. On the mainland hillside opposite the island, the Slav settlement called Dubrovnik grew up. In the 12th century, the narrow channel separating the two settlements was filled in, and Ragusa and Dubrovnik became one. The city was surrounded by defensive walls during the 13th century, and these were reinforced with towers and bastions during the late 15th century. The city became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. During the war for independence, it came under heavy siege, though thanks to careful restoration work, few traces of damage remain.

Montenegro is a beautiful country with deep blue sea, crystal clear rivers, dense forests, and splendid lakes. Situated across the Adriatic from Italy, Montenegro is bordered on the south by Albania. Its other neighbours are the former Yugoslav republics of Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Serbia.  The Old Town of Kotor is one of the best-preserved medieval towns in this part of the Mediterranean. It has succeeded in maintaining its original form, typical of towns from the 12th to 14th centuries. A major earthquake in 1979 destroyed many historic buildings that have since been rebuilt.  In the Middle Ages, this natural harbour was an important artistic and commercial centre, with its own famous schools of masonry and iconography. These attributes, in addition to its architectural treasures, led to the inclusion of Kotor as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.

Corfu, Greece is the greenest and, quite possibly, the prettiest of all Greek islands—emerald mountains, ocher and pink buildings, shimmering silver olive leaves. The turquoise waters lap rocky coves and bougainvillea, scarlet roses, and wisteria spread over cottages. This northernmost of the major Ionian islands has, through the centuries, inspired artists, conquerors, royalty, and, of course, tourists.

Katakolon is a tiny enclave clinging to the western Peloponnese coast.  It’s a popular cruise destination because of its proximity to Olympia. Ancient Olympia was one of the most important cities in classical Greece. The Sanctuary of Zeus was the raison d’être of the city and attracted pilgrims from around the eastern Mediterranean, and later the city played host to Olympic Games, the original athletic games that were the inspiration for today’s modern sporting meet. At the foot of the tree-covered Kronion hill, in a valley near two rivers, Katakolon is today one of the most popular ancient sites in Greece. If you don’t want to make the trip to Olympia, then Katakolon is an ideal place for a leisurely Greek lunch while you watch the fishermen mend their nets.

If you come to Athens in search of gleaming white temples, you may be aghast to find that much of the city has melded into what appears to be a concrete mass. Amid the sprawl, the ancient city gives up its treasures. Lift your eyes 200 feet above the city to the Parthenon, and you behold architectural perfection that has not been surpassed in 2,500 years. Today this shrine of classical form, this symbol of Western civilization and political thought, dominates a 21st-century boomtown. To experience Athens fully is to understand the essence of Greece: tradition juxtaposed with a modernity that the ancients would strain to recognize but would heartily endorse. Ancient Athens is certainly the lure for the millions of visitors to the city, but since the late 1990s, inspired by the 2004 Olympics, the people have gone far toward transforming Athens into a sparkling modern metropolis.

Though it is often remarked that Turkey straddles Europe and Asia, it’s really the city of Istanbul that does the straddling. European Istanbul is separated from its Asian suburbs by the Bosphorus, the narrow channel of water that connects the Black Sea, north of the city, to the Sea of Marmara in the south. What will strike you more than the meeting of East and West in Istanbul, though, is the juxtaposition of the old and the new, of tradition and modernity. Office towers creep up behind historic old palaces; women in jeans or elegant designer outfits pass others wearing long skirts and head coverings; donkey-drawn carts vie with shiny BMWs for dominance of the streets; and the Grand Bazaar competes with Western-style boutiques and shopping malls. At dawn, when the muezzin’s call to prayer rebounds from ancient minarets, there are inevitably a few hearty revelers still making their way home from nightclubs while other residents kneel in prayer.

Pricing

Kenward Family Wine fares are per person, based on double occupancy:

*Fares are per person, based on double occupancy. Single and Triple rates available upon request. ** Cruise and air fares are from 75 US and Canadian Destinations, airfare from additional destinations is available upon request.

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