7-night A Journey from Marco Polo’s Venice to Athens Cruise

Venice, Italy, is romance: a bridge arching over a canal, a gondola gliding by, the moon reflecting off water. Venice is history: the Palazzo Ducale (Doge's Palace), Piazza San Marco, the Grand Canal, great art and great museums. Venice is modern: the headline names and paparazzi of the Venice Film Festival, the buzzing excitement of Carnival in the 10 days before Lent begins.

Venice has a plethora of world-famous museums and artistic treasures. The Basilica di San Marco, with its spectacular Golden Altar; the Bridge of Sighs, where prisoners could enjoy one last glimpse of the beautiful city before entering the dark jail; the Gallerie dell'Accademia, with its collection of art of the 14th-18th centuries; the Peggy Guggenheim Collection of 20th-century art—the list is long. Pick and choose which places you'll visit in-depth, or just skim the surface and soak up the atmosphere.

Venice is set on islands connected by bridges, with the Grand Canal as its main thoroughfare, and traffic moves by boats that range from the traditional gondolas to refuse barges. The absence of automobile noise means you can hear the laughter of children from your window, as well as footsteps seemingly just around the corner. But what makes Venice so unique also challenges its existence. The rising sea levels of global climate change threaten the city, and now, more often than in the past, high tides from the Adriatic Sea can flood whole sections of the city.

Although the resident population in Venice has declined as many young people have moved to the mainland, where real-estate prices and the cost of living are lower, the city continues to draw tourists. In fact, the central areas can be packed, people may be brusque, and prices are high. Even so, Venice remains a treasure to be savored.

Hvar Island is a vineyard-and-olive-grove-covered island surrounded by a translucent cobalt sea. A particularly rich cultural and monumental heritage complements its natural and unique beauty. The island was one of the greatest centers of early Croatian literature, architecture, sculpture, painting and music. Called the Croatian Madeira, Hvar is said to receive more hours of sunshine than anywhere else in the country. Other sights include Hvar Theater - founded in 1612 and the oldest community theater in Europe; Crvene Stijene (Red Rocks) - an unusual and picturesque natural phenomenon; Pakleni Otoci - a beautiful and unique group of about 20 charming islets situated opposite the town of Hvar.

Take a step back in time and visit the old town of Kotor, one of the best-preserved medieval towns in this part of the Mediterranean. The asymmetric structure of the narrow streets and squares, combined with the awesome monuments of medieval architecture, contributed to Kotor being placed on UNESCO’s “World’s natural and cultural inheritance” list. From ancient fortification systems surrounding the city to 12th century cathedrals, Kotor is a dream come true for those who revel in history. Entrance to town from the Gurdic spring, consists of 3 separate gates, built from the 13th, 16th and 18th centuries. The Cathedral of St. Tryphon is one of the most visited and impressive churches in the city. According to some texts, the original church was erected in the 8th century and rebuilt in 1166. Two earthquakes, one in 1667 and one in 1979 seriously damaged the cathedral and it continues to be restored to this day. The city is breathtaking in every respect and only a visit will truly reveal all it has to offer.

Rich in history Brindisi sit's on the boot's heel of Italy and is one of the three main towns of the Salento peninsula. From here Crusaders sailed for the Holy Land and traders sold goods from the Silk Road. Visitors can visit the local Archaeological Museum and view bronze Greek statues rescued from ancient shipwrecks. To the south are Otranto and Gallipoli where there is exciting nightlife and beautiful beaches. Festivals, cultural events and sagras - occasions usually linked to the commemoration of the local saint - combined with delicious seafood and wine, make this an ideal holiday destination.

Piraeus is the seaport for Athens, the capital of western civilization, which boasts a fantastic mix of classical ruins and vivacious modern life. Climb the hill of Acropolis to wonder at the Parthenon, join the lively Athenians in Constitution Square, and find a welcoming taverna for spirited bizouki music, plenty of ouzo to drink, and energetic Greek dancing. Piraeus is the largest harbor in the country. The white chapel of St. George at its summit has a theater bearing the same name. The hill of Nymphs is the site of a planetarium, which is located above magnificent Thesseio temple. Among all of these hills, Acropolis is the one that glorified Athens and the whole Greek world and became the symbol of the western civilization. Bays and small rocky or sandy coves dot the area and during the summer are filled with Athenians and foreigners enjoying their beauty.

Ravenna is located in the Emilia-Romagna region of Northern Italy and is connected to the the Adriatic Sea by the Corsini Canal. The city is famed for its buildings that date from the 5th, 6th, and 7th centuries and for the mosaics that decorate many of the interiors. Most notable are the tomb of Galla Placidia; the octagonal baptistery of Archbishop Neon (flourished 5th century), which may have been transformed from a Roman bath; the octagonal Arian Baptistery (5th-6th century); and the Church of San Vitale (consecrated in 547). Ravenna also contains the tombs of the Ostrogothic emperor Theodoric, and of Dante.