Eastern Mediterranean Cruise - from Istanbul - 111236

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.

Kavala: a modern trading town that has been able to preserve many elements from its past and integrate them into present day life. For instance, in the narrow cobbled streets you can still find old houses in the traditional style, with wooden verandas and flower gardens next to the large squares with the no-nonsense, reserved high-rise buildings. With its modern facilities, recreational areas and taverns the city is perfectly equipped for tourists. The harbour is particularly pretty with all the little fishing boats and the Byzantine castle (16th century) that stands tall over the city. Other sights include the city wall, St. Mary's church (15th century) and "Kamares" (an aquaduct dating from the 16th century). Beautiful sandy beaches just a short distance outside of town are perfect for a day in the sun.

Appointed European City of Culture five years ago, Thessalonica with its historic areas, museums filled with treasures and oriental markets, is symbolic of Greek and Byzantine tradition. This is where hustle and bustle and a cosy atmosphere meet. The second-largest city in Greece with its buildings dating from the late Christian, Byzantine and post-Byzantine eras has been a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site since 1988. Sights include: Agia Sophia church and the Agios Demetrius basilica dating from the 6th century, the apostolic church (8th century), the citadel, the white tower and the Archaeological Museum.

The former pirate's stronghold Kusadasi has developed into a well-known holiday destination in Turkey. The many fish restaurants by the harbour, the tempting boutiques, oriental antiques shops, bars and pavement cafés at the beach promenade are characteristic of this town. Sights include: the old "Mehmet Pascha Karawanserei" which dates from the 17th century, the beautiful marina, one of the most modern yacht marinas in Turkey and the fort on the little island known as 'bird island'.

Rhodes, the island of the Sun God Helios, is the largest and most popular island in the south-eastern Aegean. Due to its favourable geographic position it was once an important link between the Orient and the Occident. The 220 km long coastline is a mix between coves with beautiful flat sandy beaches and steep cliffs. The landscape inland is dominated by mountains, valleys and plateaus. Rhodes' history goes back more than 3,000 years. There are many archaeological excavation sites of ancient buildings, bearing witness to Rhodes' eventful past. Sights include: ruins from the Mycaean era, the ancient theatre, the gothic buildings, the round fort dating from the time of the Knights of St. John, the Turkish mosque and the Turkish baths.

The capital of Crete, also known as "Iraklion" or "Heraklion" is a town with many attractions and a buzzing nightlife. Its many cafés, restaurants and bars are the perfect place to spend an exciting and enjoyable evening. Sights include: the Archaeological Museum, the Venetian fort, churches with icons dating from the 16th century, and the oldest town in Europe, Knossos, which is 5 km from the capital.

Santorini is one of the Cyclades islands in the Greek Aegean. This unique, craggy island was created by a volcanic eruption. Today, its inhabitants live on the edge of the crater of the volcano. White villages lie at dizzying heights close to the edge. The most beautiful of the Cyclades combines blue sea, breathtaking views and a bizarre landscape. The typical architecture of the cyclades consists of cube-shaped houses with coloured window frames and lots of small chapels with blue domes. Sights include: the excavations at Akrotiri, the beach at Mavro Rachidi with its impressive black and red-coloured cliffs, the beach of Perissa with finest black sand, the rock massif of Mesa Vuno, Dorf Pyrgos.

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.

Argostoli is the capital of Kefalonia, the largest of the Ionian islands. Sights include: the ruins of the Venetian castle "Agios Georgios", the 17th century monastery "Agios Andreas" with interesting frescoes and the remnants of the ancient city of Krani, which was the island's capital in the Mycenean age. The main attraction of the islands are, however, the "Sea Mills", which are not far from the town. They are driven by sea-water surging along a channel cut through the rock and then disappearing into hidden underground passages. For many years where the water went was a mystery until scientists finally discovered that the water flows through caves below the island before re-emerging on the east coast of the island.

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.

The former resort of Saranda at the Ionian Sea has become a popular meeting place, primarily for visitors from Greece. From here, one can visit the town of Butrint, where there has been a settlement since the first century B.C. and which has city walls from various epochs. The extensive excavations from ancient times include theatres, an altar to Dionysos, the Asklepius temple, nymphaeum, Roman houses and baths, early Christian basilica and an early Christian baptistry with one of the most beautiful mosaics ever found. The Lion's Gate and the Venetian fort on the former acropolis are must-sees. A ferry leaves Saranda twice daily for the island of Corfu, which is just 10 km away. But the small harbour town has wonderful beaches of its own and welcomes tourists.

The port of Bari has two contrasting images: on the one hand, the spacious new town built in a regimented pattern with seemingly endless shopping streets and countless boutiques, and on the other the charming, almost provinical, picturesque old town with its winding narrow streets. Sights include: the Romanesque cathedral, the San Nicola basilica, dedicated to the town's protector (which also has a museum), the Byzantine castle, the Museum of Archaeology and the district's art gallery with works of art by Venetian, Neapolitan and Apulian masters.

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.