Edge of the Ancient World – Athens to Lisbon

Climb up the magnificent Acropolis and stand in awe of the Parthenon, the beautiful temples and the view over Athens stretched out before you. See city highlights including the new and old Olympic stadiums. Journey to Cape Sounion and the temple of Poseidon overlooking the sea, or visit ancient Corinth and the narrow Corinth Canal cut through miles of solid rock.

Enjoy wandering through the narrow, winding streets of this delightful seaside village with its whitewashed houses, flowers and brightly painted shutters and doors. Stand beneath the windmills on the hill. Visit the archaeological museum and an old bakery still using a 15th century wood-burning stove.

Explore this bustling city’s ancient roots, and visit the huge castle perched on the hill – the beautiful Greek theater that the Romans repaired and then copied back in Rome! See the impressive Cathedral and the Church of St. Nicholas, converted from a mosque. Enjoy the Archaeological Museum or one of the fine art museums with collections of important works. Venture into the old quarter near the waterfront to enjoy the old Turkish mansions or into the countryside and discover quaint villages where time has stopped.

Tenedos, or Bozcaada in Turkish, is an island of Turkey in the northeastern part of the Aegean Sea. Administratively, the island constitutes the Bozcaada district of Çanakkale province. With an area of 39.9 km² it is the third largest Turkish island after Imbros and Marmara.

Indulge your eyes and senses in this magnificent city astride two continents. Visit beautiful Topkapi Palace, the awesome Hagia Sophia and the impressive Blue Mosque. Cruise the Bosphorus to see the city and its surroundings from another perspective. Visit one of the many museums or stroll through the spice market and the famous Grand Bazaar.

Indulge your eyes and senses in this magnificent city astride two continents. Visit beautiful Topkapi Palace, the awesome Hagia Sophia and the impressive Blue Mosque. Cruise the Bosphorus to see the city and its surroundings from another perspective. Visit one of the many museums or stroll through the spice market and the famous Grand Bazaar.

Meander through the ruins of ancient Ephesus and marvel at the famed Library of Celsus, the huge amphitheater, the marble roads with their chariot marks, the amazing mosaic sidewalks and the superb, rarely opened Terrace Houses. Or journey to three monumental cities of antiquity – Priene, Miletus and Didyma – renowned for their majestic temples and impressive, beautifully preserved stadiums.

Turkey’s most notable beach resort, Marmaris has a chic and tony ‘Riviera’ feel to it. An elegant, palm-lined promenade weaves its way around the shoreline, while the marina plays host to a flotilla of gleaming white yachts. Ancient and natural history are served up in Dalyan or discover a Turkish tradition with a visit to a hammam or Turkish bath.

Discover this delightful ancient town and its many treasures, from the superb artifacts in the museum to Ottoman mansions, Byzantine churches and mosques, Hadrian’s Gate, and the ancient Roman harbor now restored and alive with cafés and pleasure boats. Or head for the magnificent ruins of Perge and Aspendos and imagine the history of these cities, from Alexander to St. Paul and from the Romans to the Arabs. Stand in awe of the huge Roman theater and the crumbling aqueduct.

Limassol is the jumping off point to explore the ancient riches of Cyprus. See ruins, majestic mountains and scenery, stunning beaches, and vast groves of lemons, oranges and olives. Visit Lemesos Castle, where Richard the Lionheart married Berengaria of Navarre, and its fascinating museum. Or stroll through ancient Curium and admire its stunning mosaics, theater, basilica and panoramic views over the sea. Venture inland to Nicosia and its wonders like the Cathedral of St. John, the Venetian fortifications, a restored old town and mosque, and the Cyprus Museum.

Enjoy a walking tour of the old fortified city and stand in awe of the impressive Grand Master’s Palace. See where the Colossus of Rhodes once stood and savor the charm of this remarkable walled town. Or drive along the scenic coast to Lindos. Enjoy the whitewashed little town and climb to the ancient acropolis, its temples and wonderful views.

Visit the beautiful whitewashed hilltop towns of Oia and Fira and their breathtaking views of the caldera below. See the stunning artifacts in Fira’s museum, including recent finds from the excavation of Akrotiri, thought by many to be the legendary city of Atlantis, or visit a winery. Stroll through the winding streets with fantastic views around every corner.

Visit the great Minoan ruins of the Palace of Knossos, famous as the home of the labyrinth where the Minotaur roamed, and the archaeological museum that houses many superb artifacts from the complex. Explore the stunning, mountain-fringed Lassithi plateau with its orchards, 7,000 windmills and ancient villages.

Discover the myriad of cultural layers of Malta, from its amazing prehistoric temples at Tarxien to beautiful walled medieval Mdina, nearby Rabat, and Marsaxlokk, a colorful fishing village. Admire the stunning scenery and wander through imposing churches and down the streets of fortified towns where the Knights of St. John once held sway.

Meander through Tunis’ opulent, historic medina with its winding alleys and souks. Visit the superb Bardo Museum with its spectacular Roman mosaics or the lovely whitewashed village of Sidi Bou Saïd, perched on a cliff above the sea, a charming spot of cobbled streets, flower-filled courtyards and ornate window grills painted deep blue.

Immerse yourself in the glorious history of this ancient city and its magnificent monuments, like the imposing Norman cathedral and the majestic 9th century Arab palace and its breathtaking Palatine Chapel. Admire the marvelous opera house and the artifacts in the archaeological museum.

Spend a day exploring the fabulous ruins of ancient Pompeii or Herculaneum with their stunning temples, frescoes and mosaics. Explore fascinating Naples and its famed museums, visit charming Sorrento or take a boat trip to the beautiful Isle of Capri.

Travel to Rome and revel in the magnificent monuments, from the ancient Roman Forum and Coliseum to the splendor of St. Peter’s Basilica with Michelangelo’s Pietà and his breathtaking frescoes in the Sistine Chapel. Or enjoy a drive through the lush farmlands of the Roman countryside to lovely medieval Castelgandolfo.

Spend a glorious day amidst the fabled architecture of this Renaissance city. See the Duomo with Brunelleschi’s dome, the famous baptistry, Michelangelo’s magnificent David, the bridge over the Arno and the astonishing Uffizi Gallery. Visit Pisa’s superb Campo dei Miracoli and its beautiful cathedral and famed campanile. Or enjoy the Tuscan countryside, Siena and San Gimignano, renowned for its medieval towers. Shopping: Find leather goods, lingerie, gold jewelry, Florentine mosaic, lace, marbled paper items, antiques and fine art. Dining: Savor the prosciutto, pecorino cheese and infinite variety of breads, cakes and salamis.

Beautiful Calvi on the island of Corsica is a beach town with a medieval past. Stroll through the village and enjoy a café meal adjacent to the distinctive Église Sainte-Marie, a historic pink church. Or traverse the cobblestones a bit further to see the stunning view from the citadel, a 15th-century fortress overlooking the bay. On the way, be sure to keep an eye out for a plaque indicating the home that is said to be Christopher Columbus’s birthplace.

The quintessential Côte d’Azur resort town, Cannes has long been a playground for the rich and famous. Its epicenter is La Croisette, a boutique-lined boulevard with a legendary seven-mile beach. While it’s easy to spend a day here people-watching, be sure to venture up Susquet Hill and wander the winding streets of the old town. The 12th century Chapel of St. Anne and the eclectic collection of art in the Museum of the Castre will be of interest. The hilltop also affords phenomenal views of Cannes and the Lérins Islands lying just offshore.

Lying on a natural harbor on the French Riviera, Toulon is France’s principal naval base, and the waterfront is always full of life. Designed around stately fountains and small squares, the Old City is tucked between the harbor and boulevard de Strasbourg, and its Cathédrale Saint-Marie-Majeure is noteworthy for its Romanesque architecture. The city is also rich in history, much of it on display in the marine museum and the Museum of Toulon, celebrated for its Provençal paintings. For the ultimate view of Toulon, ride the cable car to Mount Faron.

Visit the magnificent Gothic cathedral and the amazing La Sagrada Familia, Antoni Gaudí’s unfinished masterpiece. Enjoy the lovely Montjuic Gardens, Gaudí’s other fabulous structures, the charming squares of the old Gothic Quarter and the Ramblas, Barcelona’s famed downtown promenade. Or visit beautiful Montserrat and its monastery in a breathtaking setting high in the mountains.

Explore this beautiful island beginning with the magnificent Seo Cathedral and Bellver Castle. See the windmills and impressive manor house in the verdant countryside. Discover the amazing natural wonders in the Drach Caves. And for romance, visit the former Carthusian monastery in Valldemosa, where George Sand and Chopin spent a winter.

This walled city has always been a major naval port due to its natural harbor and strategic location. Enjoy a hilltop view from Concepción Castle, which served as a fortress for the Carthaginians, Romans and other peoples who once occupied the city. Visit the 1st century B.C. Roman Theater, the remains of the 13th century Cathedral of Santa Maria and the Naval Museum. For modernist architecture, see the City Hall, Grand Hotel and Casino.

Spend a day in Granada seeing the magnificent Alhambra and Generalife Gardens, last stronghold of the Moors, or venture into the mountains to the picturesque Mijas, one of Andalusia’s dazzling “white” towns. Explore delightful Málaga, its Alcazaba, Roman theater and beautiful cathedral, or discover the charming resorts of Marbella and Puerto Banus along the famed Costa del Sol.

Agadir is the capital of the Agadir Ida-U-Tanan Prefecture and of the Souss-Massa economic region. The majority of its inhabitants speak Amazigh language, one of the two official languages of Morocco. It was the locale for the Agadir Crisis of 1911 between France and Germany that presaged the First World War.

Soft breezes caress this small volcanic island just 79 miles off the west coast of Africa. A land of contrasts: you can explore some of the world’s most spectacular caves in the morning and relax on a white sand beach in the afternoon.

Las Palmas is a capital of Gran Canaria, one of Spain’s Canary Islands off northwestern Africa. A major cruise-ship port, the city is known for duty-free shopping and for its sandy beaches. At Playa de Las Canteras, a coral barrier lines the beach and shelters swimmers. The annual Las Palmas de Gran Canaria carnival brings together flamboyantly costumed performers, music and dancing.

Volcanic in origin, Tenerife is the largest of the Canary Islands. While in port, you’ll notice the Auditorium of Tenerife, an amazing, organic structure that instantly became an icon when completed in 2003. Another modern landmark is the Oscar Domínguez Institute, a contemporary art gallery named after the 20th century surrealist. For a respite from the urban environment, visit the Palmetum, a botanical garden with more than 400 species of palms.

Stroll along Calle O’Daly, the pedestrian district named after an Irish banana merchant and lined with historic residences. Visit the Town Hall and the church, Iglesia del Salvador, both of the 16th century. There is an interesting museum of natural science as well as a naval museum.

Breathtaking vistas await throughout this beautiful island. Take a cable car up to Monte for spectacular views of the botanical gardens and the charming town. Drive along the coast to a village where Winston Churchill painted seascapes or out to the stunning cliffs of Cabo Girão and enjoy a visit to a quaint fishing village.

Situated on the sun-kissed coastline of Algarve, Portimão is a colorful city with a bustling waterfront and a charming city center decorated with parks and plazas. The Museum of Portimão traces the history of human settlement in the area as far back as the Roman and Islamic periods. Enjoy beautiful views and explore hidden caves on a scenic boat trip up the coast and along the Rio Arade.

Visit the ornate Belem Tower and Jeronimos Monastery and stroll the narrow, winding streets of the charming Alfama district. Enjoy marvelous old Sintra, a royal country retreat, and Cascais, a beautiful seaside resort. Explore medieval Obidos or make a pilgrimage to Fatima, where the Virgin Mary appeared repeatedly to three shepherd children in 1917.