Eastern Mediterranean Cruise - from Istanbul - 130176

A world city with a unique character. A city filled with beauty and contrast, with a breathtaking history - from Byzantium to Constantinople to the present day. But Istanbul has more to offer than culture - inexpensive shopping, oriental cuisine or meeting new people are just examples of the many things one can do here. The city is full of buildings, monuments, churches and mosques, all steeped in history.

Lovingly referred to by the Turks as "beautiful Izmir", the town lies at the opening of a broad gulf, busy with ships and yachts. Behind the palm-lined waterside promenade the city is built in terraces up the slopes of the surrounding mountains. The Jewish quarter 'Asansör' has many lovingly restored houses. The Archaeological Museum not far from Konak square has an excellent collection of ancient works of art. The Hisar mosque is the largest and most important in the city.

Die Hafenstadt beherbergt den größten Teil der ca. 3.500 Einwohner der griechischen Insel Mykonos. Die Altstadt ist am besten vom Ufer aus zu betreten. Im Zentrum der Stadt befindet sich der Drei-Brunnen-Platz "Platia Tria Pigadia" mit drei Ziehbrunnen, die noch bis in die Fünfzigerjahre des 20. Jh. hinein die Altstadt mit Wasser versorgen. Sehenswürdigkeiten: "Nautiko Moussío", eines der reizvollsten Museen aus dem 19. Jh. zum Thema Seefahrt in Griechenland mit schönem schattigen Garten, das "Haus der Lena", das ca. 200 Jahre alt, mit Möbeln und Kunst ausgestattet ist und einen Einblick in ein Bürgerhaus des 19. Jh. gibt, die kleine "Agios-Nikolaos-Kirche", das Rathaus mit rotem Ziegeldach.

Piraeus, today a modern port town, has been Athens' port since ancient times and used to be connected with the capital by means of city walls. Only remnants of these wall remain. Piraeus has made a name for itself primarily on account of its appealing nightlife and the romantic fish restaruants by the sea. Sights include: the ancient harbour Zea Marina, the remnants of the long walls (5th century B.C.), the Archaeological Museum with ancient shipwrecks, statues of Apollo and Athena, the Hellenic Marine Museum and the Veakio Theatre.

The inviting capital city is located on a peninsula at the centre of the East coast. The old town is full of narrow strees and tall houses. It combines Venetian, French, British and traditional Greek architectural elements to a harmonious overall style that is truly unique. The city was heavily fortified by the Venetians; visitors still always immediately notice the two citadels. Sights worth seeing include: the new fort (Nero Frourio), the old fort (Paleo Frourio), the esplanade or 'Spinada', the Museum.

Kotor is a picturesque little town in the bay of the same name which was founded by Greek settlers. It now belongs to the Republic of Montenegro. Despite the severe earthquake in 1979, all of the old buildings stayed standing. These buildings are also the most important sights: the 12th century Romanesque cathedral of St. Tripun with its opulent interior, St. Luka church, built in the Greek-Byzantine style, a clock tower dating from the 17th century and the fortress St. Ivan with its triple defensive wall. The maritime museum is also worth a visit. The Bay of Kotor, "Boka Kotorska", has some of the most beautiful scenery in Europe. It cuts deep into the land in the shape of a fjord and is surrounded by high mountains. Several small bays are perfect for swimming. The asymmetric fronts of the narrow streets and squares feature many precious monuments in the medieval architectural style, which helped Kotor gain its status as a World Heritage Site.

The Croatian port of Dubrovnik is known as an important spa resort. It was founded by the Slavs at around the beginning of the 7th century. Today, the city by the Adriatic Sea is known for its excellent shopping, many shops and cultural facilities. The main street of the old town is the "Stradun" (also called "Placa"). From here, all of the important sights in the city are just a short walk away. The entire old town has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1980. Sights include: the city walls dating from the 13th century, a Franciscan monastery with its own apothecary, the 15th century Duke's palace, "Sponza Palace", the Museum of Popular Art, the Cathedral and St. Blasius' church.