zCrossroads of Civilizations

Upon arrival in Rome, transfer to Civitavecchia and embark Corinthian. Meals D

Arrive in Cagliari, Sardinia’s capital, built on a hill facing the sea. Disembark and drive to the village of Barumini to visit Su Nuraxi, Sardinia’s most important and impressive nuraghic complex and a UNESCO World Heritage site. After lunch aboard, spend time at leisure to explore Cagliari on your own, or take an excursion to Nora, whose ancient remains date from the Carthaginian and Roman periods. Meals B, L, D

Take a morning excursion to Selinunte, Sicily’s most westerly ancient Greek colony. A highland overlooking the sea provides a tranquil setting for the expansive ruins of what was once among the island’s most progressive cities. Spend the afternoon at leisure in Marsala or explore Motya, founded by Phoenicians in the 8th century b.c. Its museum exhibits superb sculptures. Meals B, L, D

Enjoy views from the deck as Corinthian sails into the dramatic harbor of Valletta. In the morning explore the Palace of the Grand Masters, the Co-Cathedral of St. John, and the National Museum of Archaeology. In the afternoon it’s a short drive to the remarkable Tarxien Temples, dating back to 2800 b.c., and onto Hagar Qim, an even older temple that stands atop a hill on the island’s southern edge overlooking the sea. Meals B, L, D

Drive to the stunning small town of Taormina and visit the magnificent Greek theater, which offers dramatic views of Mount Etna (the largest active volcano in Europe) and the Sicilian coastline. Also enjoy time exploring Taormina’s quaint streets and gardens on your own. Meals B, L, D

Palermo became one of Europe’s greatest cities by the 12th century under the Normans and has inherited a tremendous artistic legacy. A morning tour includes La Martorana church, noted for its beautiful mosaics, and the glorious Cappella Palatina (Palatine Chapel), one of Italy’s finest works of art, featuring dazzling mosaics, an exquisitely carved ceiling, and inlaid marble floors and walls. In the afternoon, travel to the small medieval town of Monreale to visit its famed Norman Cathedral and elegant Cloister, with its magnificent series of mosaics. Return to Palermo in the late afternoon with time at leisure to wander its streets independently. Meals B, L, D

From Salerno, choose an excursion to Pompeii, the Roman city both destroyed and preserved by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in a.d. 79. No other place so completely captures the character of life in the early Roman Empire. Alternatively, choose to visit Paestum, the ancient Poseidonia (City of Poseidon), which was founded by Greeks around 600 b.c. and later taken over by the Romans. Paestum is famed for its magnificent Doric temples, which are among the best preserved ancient monuments in the Mediterranean. Meals B, L, D

Disembark and transfer to the airport in Rome for return flights. Meals B