Voyages To Antiquity

GRAND VOYAGE ACROSS THE MEDITERRANEAN FLY FREE from Melbourne to Venice. 22 night Grand Voyage Across the Med Venice to Cannes incl 2 nights onboard in Venice Save up to $1,000 per cabin

Venice to Cannes 23 days Grand Voyage Fly, Cruise and Stay ex Melbourne Aegean Odyssey departs 7 May 2013 Outside from $9,495pp Deluxe Outside from $12,495pp  Deluxe Balcony from $14,750pp  Ports: Venice, Split (Croatia), Korcula (Croatia), Dubrovnik (Croatia), Syracuse (Sicily, Palermo (Sicily), Sorrento (Italy), Rome, Elba (Italy), Livorno (Italy), Bonifacio (Corsica), Palma (Majorca), Barcelona (Spain), Sete (France), Marseilles (France), Cannes.

Fly, Cruise & Stay package Includes: FREE return economy class flights from Australia to Europe* 22 nights onboard Aegean Odyssey All meals whilst onboard the Aegean Odyssey Selected beer, wine and soft drinks with dinner onboard Comprehensive shore excursion programme Expert guest speakers & lecture programme Transfers^, gratuities and port charges

 Venice, Italy
Breathe in the romance and Italian exuberance of this spellbinding city. Explore its mysterious and watery streets. Take a gondola ride to truly appreciate the atmosphere and architecture of the city. Sip a cappuccino in St. Mark’s Square or ride across the lagoon to the islands of Murano and Burano. From the Gothic arches of the Doges Palace to the intricate façade of St. Marks Cathedral, a day in Venice is bound to enchant you.

Split, Croatia
Split has a long tradition of collecting and caring for monuments. This interest appeared as early as the Renaissance. Diocletian's Palace, Mestrovic Gallery, the Archaeological Museum and the Temple of Jupiter are just a few of the impressive museums and galleries that shouldn't be missed.

Korcula
Korcula Island is one of the greenest islands in the Adriatic sea. It is also one of the most popular travel destinations in this part of Croatia. The majority of inhabitants live off tourism and agriculture (vines, olive-trees, vegetables and citrus fruits).

Dubrovnik, Croatia
On the beautiful Adriatic coast sits the ancient walled city of Dubrovnik, where medieval ramparts encircle a tight maze of narrow streets and ornate stone buildings. The walls, completed in the 13th century, have a circumference of more than a mile and a half, and along with the Old City, have been designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Syracusa

Palermo, Italy
Immerse yourself in the glorious history of this ancient city and its magnificant 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 archaelogical museum

Sorrento, Italy
Renowned for its serene way of life, this romantic port exudes a special magic. Its dramatic bluffs and surrounding flowered hills bid travelers welcome to a town overflowing with charm and character. It is easy to relax in this languid southern Italian atmosphere

Civitavecchia, Italy
Civitavecchia is the closest port to Rome. It serves mostly as a gateway, however there are still a few points of interest in this seaside town. Most notably the Fort of Michelangelo, built in the 1500s as a major defence post. Also of interest are the ancient ruins of the Baths of Traiano, a complex of Roman Baths once used for their therapeutic benefits.

Elba, Italy
As soon as you step ashore in Elba's cruise harbour Portoferraio, you will feel the centuries slip away as you imagine how Napoleon felt when he arrived to start his first period in exile. Steeped in history running way back to the Romans and Etruscans - Greek mythology even has it that Jason's Argonauts came this way too - Elba has prospered ever since the medieval Medicis arrived. You will see an imposing Medici fort, as well as a Martello Tower and second fort (Stella), looking down on you as you cruise into the harbour and then walk through the Porta a Mare archway into an old town full of cafés, bars and shops. Touring around Elba, you will enjoy beautiful scenery and discover hidden coves and beaches. You can even take a funicular to enjoy the panoramic views from the top of 3,200ft Mount Capanne. A visit to Napoleon's ornate summerhouse and gardens at San Martino will also be on your wish list.

Livorno, Italy
The lovely seaport of Livorno serves as a gateway to the opulence and artistry of Florence and the quiet intimacy and history of Pisa. Florence, the jewel of the Renaissance, symbolizes the wealth and power of Italy's golden age more than any other city in Italy.

Bonifacio, France
Stroll down the narrow, twisting lanes of this lovely walled cliff top medieval town past ancient buildings where native son Napoleon walked when he commanded the local garrison in 1793. Visit stunning churches like Ste. Marie-Majeur, a 12th-century structure with a fountain that collects rainwater and the old market. Or explore the starkly beautiful countryside and Sartène, a traditional Corsican town.

Palma, Spain
Mallorca is the Balearic Island's -- largest land mass and a sun worshipper's paradise. Its capital city of Palma boasts dramatic Gothic architecture, charming hilltop villages, olive groves and hidden beaches.

Barcelona, Spain
Explore Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia, and you’ll discover the ornately wrought works of Antonio Gaudi. A local architect, whose works culminate in the surrealistic spires of the yet to be finished Sagrada Familia. Take a stroll down the colourful Ramblas. Explore the Gothic Quarter. Ride a cable car to the summit of Montjuic. Or sample local wines and authentic tapas as you watch the hustle and bustle of daily life pass you by.

Sete, France
In the beginning, under the gallo-romans Sète was known as Ceta or Sita. It was a town on the island of Mont Saint Clair, and made a name for itself in the production of pickled fish. Soon fishing built the towns wealth, making it the envy of local lords and barons. Under the control of the Abbot of Aniane since the 9th century, Sete came under the bishop of Agde in 1246, no doubt to provoke the King of Aragon and the bishops of Maguelone. During this time the lagoon closed up creating the Bassin de Thau. Similarly, silt forced the eventual closure of the then sea ports of Aigues Mortes, Agde, and Narbonne. Under the Duke of Montmorency, Governor of Languedoc, Sète became the definitive Languedoc port, replacing those that had died under the mud. It became the base to hunt the last of the privateers led by the infamous Barbe Rousette. In 1596, construction work was started on a jetty that was to serve to protect the port from the storms of the sea. Because of financial problems the jetty was not completed until 1666 by Colbert. Finally Sète was a secure anchorage for commerce and the royal fleet, as well as a sea entrance for the Canal du Midi. The town was officially created by a decree of the Council of State on 30 September 1673. Forty years later in July 1710, the English attacked and seized the port with apparently little difficulty, before eventually being hunted out. Consequently Languedoc immediately improved the defenses at Fort Saint Pierre and the Citadelle Richeleu. Two centuries later the town was almost totally destroyed whilst being liberated by the allies at the end of the second World War. However, Sète was quickly reborn to become the principal fishing port for France on the Mediterranean.

Marseille, France
Marseille, the largest port in the Meditterranean and the second largest city in France, serves as your gateway to the lush fertile region of Provence and all its cultural contributions to gastronomic excellence, Impressionistic art, and ancient architecture.

Cannes
Thanks to its international film festival, Cannes is known throughout the world. Indeed to many people it is the festival that makes Cannes synonymous with glitz and glamour.