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17 Days Adriatica Adventure Tour Package Duration: 17 Days / 16 Nights Priced From: $3,721 (All pricing reflects per-person Land Only expenses) Dates: Jul - Oct, Apr, May, Jul - Oct  Few destinations could be more ideal for the beginning of an Adriatica tour than Venice, Italy. Between the ninth and eighteenth centuries, Venice was a republic and aptly dubbed "La Serenissima"("the Most Serene"), a description that still holds true today. Centring our focus on St. Mark's Square, we tour the magnificent Doge's Palace and the Byzantine architectural wonder that is St. Mark's Basilica and walk along the maze of canals, sidewalks and bridges that are uniquely Venice. From there, we travel through magnificent scenery into Slovenia, where we spend time exploring centuries-old churches and castles, gazing at idyllic lakes and meandering down the market streets of charming towns, all set against the spectacular backdrop of the Karavanke mountains and the Julian Alps. Crossing the border into Croatia, we head for the Istrian Peninsula, wherein ancient Roman ruins can be found in abundance, and on to the natural wonderland of the Plitvice Lakes. After a walking tour of the beautiful island of Hvar, we enter Bosnia and Herzegovina to take in the remarkable blend of Mediterranean and Oriental architecture, before spending some time in Montenegro and ending our Adriatic tour in Dubrovnik, Croatia, a town hailed as 'The Pearl of the Mediterranean' for its astounding beauty, sophisticated history and culture, and prosperity. Tour Itinerary Day 1 Arrival in Venice Today we arrive in Venice, "La Serenissima" -- the "Most Serene", as the city was called when she was a powerful maritime republic, queen of the eastern Mediterranean and Europe's gateway and entrepot for the wealth of trade coming from the Orient. Our hotel is located in the new city of Mestre, just off the island of Venice. WHY WE STAY IN MESTRE: Past travellers have had considerable difficulty with central Venice hotel arrival transfers. The taxi / vaporetto (water taxi) journey is confusing and the walk from the taxi stand to the hotel is arduous, involving cobbled surfaces, crowds, and multiple steep bridges to cross. Even land / air travellers with escorted transfers found the process difficult and a negative beginning to the tour. Central hotels are also of poor value with tiny rooms and lots of outside noise. Overnight in Venice (Mestre). Elite Hotel or similar. Dinner if required. Day 2 Venice: City Tour On our guided tour this morning we concentrate on St Mark's Square, surrounded with elegant, historic buildings. Napoleon called Piazza San Marco, "the drawing room of Europe". We start with a tour of the Doge's Palace. This former seat of Venetian power has the second largest wooden room in Europe. Of interest as we walk through the council rooms, is Tintoretto's Paradise over the Grand Council Chamber--alleged to be the largest oil painting in the world. The palace is connected to the old prison by the 'Bridge of Sighs.' In the late 16th century the decision was made to build new airier prison cells to replace the original dark dungeons. It was from this new prison that Casanova made his daring escape across the rooftops in 1755. The highlight of the square is St Mark's Basilica, a Byzantine masterpiece. This cathedral was begun in 830 to house the tomb of St Mark whose relics were stolen from Alexandria in Egypt. The inside walls are encrusted with precious art, rare marbles and magnificent mosaics. Behind the altar is the famous gold altarpiece, 'Palla d'Oro,' which is one of the finest examples of gold craftsmanship. (We do not include a tour of the interior of the basilica as lengthy queues usually make this impratical for our programme. We encourage you to visit the site during your free time this afternoon.) Later we take the vaporetto, or public water bus, on the Grand Canal and then walk along the maze of canals, sidewalks and bridges that are uniquely Venice. At the Rialto Bridge we visit the market area. The name Rialto derives from 'high bank' because this area was one of the highest points on the islands that make up the core of Venice and was thus considered a safe gathering point. The market here is vibrant with locals buying fruit and vegetables brought in from the mainland, and a vast array of fish caught fresh in the Adriatic. Balance of the day at leisure. Overnight in Venice. Breakfast and dinner. Day 3 Venice, Italy - Bled, Slovenia Today we travel by road from Venice to Bled. Bled is located on the edge of an emerald green glacial lake. The views upon approach are stupendous, with the town's castle perched above, Bled Otok, the small island with a church in the center of the lake, all set against the spectacular backdrop of the Karavanke Mountains and Julian Alps. Overnight in Bled. Breakfast and dinner. Day 4 Bled - Lake Bohinj - Bled Reflecting the high mountain peaks, Lake Bohinj has always been considered sacred by the locals. Our first visit is to the 11th century castle which houses a small museum and provides magnificent views of town, lake and mountains. After our visit we will catch a small traditional boat, or pletna, the Slovenian answer to a gondola, to visit the country's only island, Bled Otok. On the island we will visit the Church of St. Mary of the Assumption, also known as "Our Lady of the Lake". Legend has it that if you make a wish while ringing the bell your wish will come true. This afternoon we drive through lush green valleys to Bohinj, one of the gateways to the Julian Alps. The name Bohinj refers to the entire valley and its numerous small settlements. Lake Bohinj is the largest permanent lake in Slovenia, and protected from development. It is fed by the Savica waterfall, which Slovenia's greatest poet, Francis Preseren celebrated in his poem "Baptism at the Savica Waterfall". We will visit the Church of St. John the Baptist, famous for its beautiful frescoes, located on the lake's edge in the charming town of Bohinjska Bistrica. Further along the lake's shores we will take a cable car which climbs 1537m / 5,072 ft up to Mt Vogel, the only mountain ski resort within Triglav National Park. On a clear day we can view the peaks of the Julian Alps, some of the highest in the country, and see Mt. Triglav, a holy mountain and national symbol of Slovenia. There is also a spectacular panorama of Lake Bohinj and basin. Upon our return to Bled, you may choose to walk around the shores of Bled, or even swim (!); an excellent path takes you on a 6km (3.75 mi) walk around the lake. Overnight in Bled. Breakfast and dinner. Day 5 Bled - Kropa - Skofja Loka - Ljubljana We depart quite early this morning for Ljubljana, through small hamlets with traditional farmhouses and steepled churches, where crops of potatoes, corn, turnips and hay are grown. We may see kozoleds and tolmins en route, the hayracks that are one of the symbols of Slovenia. We stop in Kropa, a tiny town on the Kroparica River, historically famous for its iron forging industry. The forges here produced iron objects of all kinds that were traded throughout Europe. From the huge spikes which were used in the construction of Venice, to the tiny tacks used in Austrian mountaineering boots, Kropa produced over 130 varieties of nails. Our next stop is Skofja Loka, or "Bishop's Meadow", one of the most charming towns in Slovenia with its historic streets, houses and its castle perched high above. We will wander the Mestni Trg, the main street of the town, see the Granary, St. James' Church, Homan House, and visit the 13th century castle which today houses one of the finest ethnographic museum in the country. We continue to Ljubljana. Overnight in Ljubljana. Breakfast and dinner. Day 6 Ljubljana, Slovenia - Opatija, Croatia This morning we have a walking tour of Ljubljana. A walk through the streets of this charming city reminds one of Vienna and Prague; however, Ljubljana is tiny in comparison. We go up to the highest point of the city to visit the 16th century castle which houses a Virtual Museum with a superb overview of the city's history. We slowly climb up the main tower for a wonderful panorama of the town and surrounding mountains. We also visit the old town on foot, stopping along the way to see the Parliament building, the university, beautiful squares, and unique bridges. We also see the city's Cathedral, with its modern bronze doors commemorating the history of Slovenia and its struggle towards independence. And a tour of Ljubljana would not be complete without a stroll through the great outdoor markets where locals come to buy fresh mountain herbs and flowers, wild mushrooms, and fresh fruit and vegetables from nearby farms. Leaving Ljubljana later this afternoon, we enter the area of the plateau of Primorska; this province extends from Austria to Istria and the Adriatic, known for its warm winds, karst region, fine wines and "prsut", an air-dried prosciutto-style ham. This region was once submerged by a deep sea; today the landscape is characterized by subterranean rivers and caves. Opatija is the oldest established and still one of the most popular Croatian resorts on the Gulf of Kvarner. After a Rijeka businessman built the first villa here in 1844, the Villa Angolina, and soon after, trend-setting Austrian Queen Maria Anna, wife of Ferdinand, spent her holiday here, Opatija became the most fashionable resort of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire until World War I. Famous visitors of the past include the royal families of Romania, Sweden, the Tsars of Russia, Gustav Mahler, Puccini, and Isadora Duncan, just to name a few. This evening you can enjoy a walk along the "Lungo Mare" (Seaside Promenade). NOTE: Due to limited hotel availability, we may overnight in the resort town of Rijeka just 15-20 minutes away. Overnight in Opatija. Breakfast and dinner. Day 7 Opatija - Istrian Peninsula - Opatija Today's tour of the Istrian Peninsula reveals the multi-cultural roots of this alluring spit of land jutting into the Adriatic, at various times a vassal of Venice, the first Austro-Hungarian Empire, Fascist Italy, the Yugoslav Federation, and finally, Croatia. Istra, as it's known, boasts an interesting history, mild Mediterranean climate, lovely scenery, and good wines. Our first stop is in the port of Pula, called Pola by the first Illyrian settlers and Polensium by the Romans. We visit one of the most impressive sites in town, the amphitheater, located near the harbour. Built entirely of local limestone, the amphitheater was designed to host gladiatorial contests and could accommodate up to 22,000 spectators. We continue on to Rovinj, a charming old Venetian port. The population of the this beautiful fishing town still speaks Italian as well as Croatian. Shops lining the streets of the old town sell Istrian specialties, including wines, olive oils, and truffles. We visit the church of St. Euphemia, the largest Baroque building in Istria, and walk through the picturesque vegetable and fruit market at the base of the citadel. Today we include lunch at a local farmhouse where all the food is home-produced and where you can admire their "prizewinning bull." This is a 3-course lunch with a glass of local wine. We return to Opatija. Overnight in Opatija. Breakfast and lunch (dinner on your own tonight). Day 8 Opatija - Zagreb: City Tour Today we travel inland to the capital, Zagreb and have a city tour on arrival, including Governor Jelacic Square, undoubtedly the very heart of the capital. Located in Zagreb's center, the square is dominated by the statue of Josip Jelacic who became the governor of the triple Kingdom of Dalmatia, Croatia, and Slavonia on the 23rd of March, 1848. Zagreb is located on the intersection of several important routes betwen the Adriatic coast and Central Europe. It offers visitors the Baroque feel of the Upper town, picturesque open-air markets, and various kinds of shops. Overnight in Zagreb. Breakfast and dinner. Day 9 Zagreb - Plitvice Lakes This morning we depart for Pltvice, where 16 lakes, each at a different level, join each other in a series of cascading waterfalls. Surrounded by dense woods, this is a region of unique beauty. The travertine terraces have been continuously reforming themselves over 10,000 years as calcium carbonate dissolves and settles, forming barriers and cascades. The lakes are also home to a huge variety of flora and fauna including 120 species of birds and a variety of mammals and fish species. The entire area is protected as one of UNESCO's Natural World Heritage Sites. Wooded paths at the edge of pine, beech and fir forests follow the successions of lakes and waterfalls which we will follow on our easy walk around the Lower and Upper Lakes, ending with a short boat ride across the largest lake. Overnight in Plitvice. Breakfast and dinner. Day 10 Plitvice Lakes - Zadar - Trogir - Split Today we travel to the coast via Zadar, the ancient capital of Byzantine Dalmatia. This large city has its historic center crowded on a small piece of land jutting into the Adriatic When it was occupied by the Germans in 1943, Allied bombings destroyed about 60% of the city. Zadar was rebuilt one more time, as it had been many times over its tumultuous history; it is for this reason that one can find a variety of architectural styles, from Roman Corinthian columns to Romanesque churches. We enter the city through one of the Venetian gates and proceed to the Roman Forum, the Church of St. Donatus and Cathedral of Anastasius, and visit the Archaeological Museum, with a fine collection of artifacts dating from Roman and medieval times. NOTE: In the event that the Archaeological Museum is closed, due to erratic opening hours, the Museum will be replaced with a visit of the Treasury, a collection of relics attended to by the order of Benedictine nuns in the Church and Nunnery of St. Mary. We continue on to the medieval town of Trogir, one of the most beautiful and popular towns of the Dalmatian Coast. The heart of this Venetian walled town is Narodni Trg, with its white stone paved square, Cathedral, Communal Palace and Loggia. We visit the Cathedral of St. Lawrence, built between the 13th and 15th centuries by Slavic masters. The entire town has been preserved as yet another UNESCO World Heritage Site. We continue to Split (ancient Spalato), the second largest city of Croatia. The historic city center actually lies in the walls of the enormous retirement Palace of the Roman Emperor Diocletian, built between 295-305 AD. The palace served as a palace, military fortress, and later, a fortified town. The city is enclosed by huge walls, pierced by 4 main gates, one on each side of the rectangular plan. Later you may wish to walk the promenade along the harbour when it comes alive with locals taking an evening stroll or relaxing in the seaside cafes outside the ancient palace walls. Overnight in Split. Breakfast and dinner. Day 11 Split - Hvar This morning we have a walking tour through the heart of ancient Split. We will visit the cryptoporticus (underground vaults) of the Palace, the Mausoleum and Church of St. Donatus, the Peristyle court, and explore the ancient narrow streets still paved with the lustrous white stone of Brac Island. We will also exit the Golden Gate of the palace to see the huge bronze statue of St. Gregory of Nin made by Ivan Mestrovic, the most celebrated sculptor of modern Croatia. Later we take a short ferry ride to the island of Hvar. En route we will pass the island of Brac, which provided the lustrous white stone for the construction of the Cathedral of Sibenik, Diocletian's Palace at Split, the Cathedral of Liverpool, and the White House of Washington, DC. The island of Hvar receives 2,724 hours of sunshine per year, more than anywhere else in Croatia, and is thus called the "Island of the Sun". Greeks from Paros first settled on the island in the 4th century BC in Pharos, the modern town of Stari Grad. In the 13th century, the capital of the island was transferred to the town of Hvar (a mutation of Pharos in Slavic) and prospered during the 3.5 centuries of Venetian rule. This picturesque town and marina is alive with the constant hum of activity. Overnight in Hvar. Breakfast and dinner. Day 12 Hvar: Walking Tour This morning we have a walking tour through narrow streets to the 15th century Franciscan Monastery, visit the Renaissance cloister, the old rectory that today houses a collection of lace, manuscripts and books; and the church with its remarkable collection of paintings. We visit St Stephen's Cathedral, the Arsenal, a thick walled fortress overlooking the harbour. Europe's oldest community theater, opened in 1612, is located inside the Arsenal. The afternoon is free for independent exploration on this beautiful island. For those interested, there is an excellent hike up to the Venetian castle above town. Overnight in Hvar. Breakfast and dinner. Day 13 Hvar, Croatia - Mostar, Bosnia-Herzegovina Today we depart Hvar by ferry to Drvenik from where we drive along the coast to Opuzen where we turn inland to the border crossing at Metkovic. After crossing into Bosnia, we drive to Pocitelj where we have a chance to stop and discover the exquisite blend of Mediterranean and Oriental architecture. From Pocitelj we will continue our drive to Mostar arriving in the afternoon. Despite great damages suffered in the last war, the city on the emerald green River Neretva has preserved a great part of its authentic Oriental architecture and the way of life conceived on the boundaries of civilizations. Overnight in Mostar. Breakfast and dinner. Day 14 Mostar, Bosnia-Herzegovina: Walking Tour - Dubrovnik, Croatia We begin our day with a walking tour of Mostar. Our tour will include a visit to the ancient city dating to the 16th/17th centuries, a visit inside a traditional house dating to this period, and a visit to the recently rebuilt Mostar Bridge, the emblem of the city. After our tour of Mostar, we will begin our journey to Dubrovnik. En route we will stop at the historic, fortified town of Ston. We arrive into Dubrovnik in the late afternoon. The history of Dubrovnik, or ancient Ragusa, begins in the 7th century, when it was under the protection of the Byzantine Empire. In the 12th century Ragusa, formerly an island, merged with mainland settlements and the channel between was filled in with carted-in material. Today this area is the main street of the old city named the Placa or Stradun. After shaking off the yoke of Venice in 1385, Ragusa became an independent republic. It remained one of the most powerful maritime powers in the Mediterranean for over four centuries (until 1808). Ragusa was the link between the Mediterranean and the Balkans and hence developed into an important centre of trade and shipping. Dairy products, wax, honey, timber, coals, salt, silver, lead, copper, wine, oil, fish and slaves were all traded. During the "Golden Age" of Ragusa in the 16th century, she had the 3rd largest merchant fleet in the world and consulates in over 50 countries. After changing hands a number of times, the city was finally ceded to Croatia (former Yugoslavia) and in 1918 the Slavic name of Dubrovnik was officially adopted. Overnight in Dubrovnik (just outside Old Town). Breakfast and dinner. Day 15 Dubrovnik - Montenegro - Dubrovnik Our encounter with one of Europe's newest countries begins in Boka Kotorska, the only fjord in the Mediterranean, a bay of 32 km / 20 miles cut deep into the stone tissue of the Orjen and Lovcen mountains. We will drive along the coast to Kotor, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Cetinje, the former capital and cultural centre of Montenegro, will be our next stop. Our last stop will be the small town of Budva, presumed to have been founded by the Phoenicians, and today the main tourist centre on the Montenegrin coast. Return to Dubrovnik in the late afternoon. Remember your passports for today's excursion!! Border delays are possible and are taken into account when planning the content and pacing of today's programme. Overnight in Dubrovnik. Breakfast and dinner. Day 16 Dubrovnik: Walking Tour This morning we begin our walking tour of Dubrovnik's historic center. Our transport will drop us outside the Pile Gate, as all motorized vehicles are banned within the city walls. Dubrovnik has been called "Croatian Athens" and the "Pearl of the Mediterranean" for its astounding beauty, sophisticated history and culture, and prosperity. Over the course of its tumultuous history, the city had to be extensively reconstructed; the earthquake of 1667 destroyed much of the city; and in recent memory, the town was bombarded by over 2,000 shells in 1991-2. After great international efforts, the city has been restored to its former glory, with its towering fortifications, magnificent medieval architecture, red tiled roofs, winding paved streets and picturesque harbours. Today we visit the Franciscan Monastery, housing Europe's first pharmacy, the Rector's Palace, the Cathedral and Sponza Palace; en route we will see many famous landmarks including Onofrio's fountain, the Clock Tower, Roland's Column and the Church of St. Blaise, the patron saint of Dubrovnik. Your afternoon is free to enjoy this memorable place. You may wish to walk the walls of Dubrovnik, considered by many to be a highlight of our stay. The total circuit is nearly 2km / 1.25 mi, and from the bastions you will have magnificent views of the city's monuments, including the Minceta Tower, Revelin Tower, and the mighty fortress of St. Lawrence, with walls 12m / 40 feet thick! Overnight in Dubrovnik. Breakfast and dinner. Day 17 Departure Departure from Dubrovnik. Breakfast. SRETAN PUT! Save time, money and stress! For reservations: Fill out the vacation planner to be contacted by our Croatia Adventure vacation specialist. Contact : Travelwizard.com Phone: 1-800-330-8820 or 1-415-446-5252 10/09 |
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