An Extended Journey to Gorgeous Greece and Painted Shores Cruise on Explora I from Athens (Piraeus)

Athens (Piraeus)

Athens, the capital city of Greece is an active cosmopolitan mix of different cultures and people, passionate about their art and history. The climate is one of the best in Europe, with mild winters and very hot summers, ideal for tourism. It is located just a few miles from the port of Piraeus, the central commercial port of the capital, and the shores of southern Attica. The main attractions of Athens are The Ancient Agora, Anafiotika, The Acropolis, Mount Lycabettus, Thiseion Cinema, Gazi, Monastiraki Flea Market, Pireaus seaside, Pireaus open air market, Kastella Hill, Veakio open air theatre and Piraeus Archaeological.

Skiathos, Greece

Skiathos is a small Greek island in the northwest Aegean Sea. Skiathos is the westernmost island in the Northern Sporades group, east of the Pelion peninsula in Magnesia on the mainland, and west of the island of Skopelos.Despite its small size, Skiathos with its many beaches and wooded landscape is a popular tourist destination. It has over 60, mostly sandy, beaches scattered around the 27 mi coastline. Some of these are Trulos, Vromolimnos, Koukounaries, Asselinos, Megali Ammos and Mandraki. Much of the island is wooded with Aleppo Pine and a small Stone Pine forest at the Koukounaries location where there is a lagoon and a popular beach. The island's forests are concentrated on the southwest and northern parts, but the presence of pine trees is prevalent throughout the island.

Mykonos

Probably the most famous of the Greek Islands, Queen of the Cyclades, and the most cosmopolitan. Mykonos, owes its fame to the beauty of its capital, its white houses narrow passages, and their numerous high quality beaches. Tourism is a major industry, and Mykonos is particularly renowned for its cosmopolitan nightlife; many international celebrities visit the island every summer and and its proximity to the island of Delos, rich in archaeological treasures.

Patmos (Greece)

Patmos is a small Greek island in the Aegean Sea. It has great natural beauty and is crowned by an impressive medieval monastery. The apostle John wrote the Apocalypse on the island. Grigos is the best beach with clear waters with blue only seen in the Mediterranean and the Aegean. In the city of Patmos, you will find endless streets with the seventeenth-century houses of gray stone, white walls neighborhoods and arches of gray stone

Aghios Nikolaos (Greece)

Agios Nikolaos is a coastal town on the Greek island of Crete, lying east of the island's capital Heralion, north of the town of Ierapetra and west of the town of Sitia. The town is a municipality of Crete region, and sits partially upon the ruins of the ancient city of Lato pros Kamara. Agios Nikolaos is probably best known as a tourist town that serves as a hub to the twenty or so small villages and farms that make up that part of Lassithi. Tourist attractions include the small lagoon Lake Vouslismeni, small beaches in the town, the tiny island Agioi Pantes, the archaeological museum, the local flora exhibition and numerous fairs. The lagoon features a small park with a trail, traditional fishing boats, ducks, pigeons, an amphitheatre and many cafes.

Marmaris (Turkey)

Marmaris, the same as Antalya, is a touristic destination in Turkey, one of the most important. It is a city located on the coast of the Aegean Sea, in the province of Mugla, on the southwest onf the country. It has a natural port on the Aegean Sea, in addition to the beaches, the climate and the amenities, make it on a very demanded destination. A great nautic center, the property development, and the proximity to the greek island of Rhodes are some of the many atractives we can find.

Antalya (Turkey)

Antalya is a city on the Mediterranean coast of southwestern Turkey. It is Turkey's biggest international sea resort, located on the Turkish Riviera. Antalya is in south-west Anatolia, on the Mediterranean Gulf of Antalya, approximately 339 mi from Ankara, 349 mi from Adana, 290 mi from Izmir, and 452 mi from Istambul. The Taurus mountains of southern Anatolia runs parallel to the Mediterranean in an east-west direction, resulting in the formation of narrow coastal plains surrounded by mountains on three sides and the sea on the fourth. Some parts of the coast feature mountains plunging sharply into the sea, forming small natural bays and peninsulas. Antalya is situated on one such plain where the mountains recede from the shore, consisting of two flat areas formed of travertine rock at a mean height of 115 ft; the citycenter is on the rocky plain closest the coast, with urban sprawl extending to the Kepezüstü Plain further inland.

Haifa (Israel)

the city of Haifa is famous for beeing the world center of the Bahai faith, an indpendent religion with administrative headquarters in Mount Carmel, near the principal sanctuary. Between the points of interest, we can name de German Colony, constructed with stones and a recommended tour, Wadi Nisnas, a walk through the Haifa Museum, the mall in St. John´s Street and an outdoor market, the Pascha, a tour that will take you through de residential district of Hadar to the Old City.

Haifa (Israel)

the city of Haifa is famous for beeing the world center of the Bahai faith, an indpendent religion with administrative headquarters in Mount Carmel, near the principal sanctuary. Between the points of interest, we can name de German Colony, constructed with stones and a recommended tour, Wadi Nisnas, a walk through the Haifa Museum, the mall in St. John´s Street and an outdoor market, the Pascha, a tour that will take you through de residential district of Hadar to the Old City.

Mytilene, Greece

Lesbos , sometimes referred to as Mytilene after its capital, is a Greek island located in the northeastern Aegean Sea. It has an area of 630 sq mi with almost 200 miles of coastline, making it the third largest Greek island. It is separated from Turkey by the narrow Mytilini Strait. Lesbos is a separate regional unit of the North Aegean region, and the only municipality within it. Its population is approximately 86,000, a third of which lives in its capital, Mytilene, in the southeastern part of the island. The remaining population is distributed in small towns and villages. The largest are Plomari, Kalloni, the Gera Villages, Agiassos, Eresos, and Molyvos (the ancient Mythimna). Twelve historic churches on the island were listed together on the 2008 World Monuments Fund´s Watch List of the 100 Most Endangered Sites in the world. Exposure to the elements, outmoded conservation methods, and increased tourism are all threats to the structures.

Istanbul

Istanbul is Turkey's most populous city, and its cultural and financial center. It is also one of the largest cities in Europe and the world. Located on both sides of the Bosphorus, the narrow strait between the Black Sea and the Marmara Sea, Istanbul bridges Asia and Europe both physically and culturally. Istanbul attracts visitors not only for its history and its monuments, but also for their way of life and its lovely people. It is the city of churches, synagogues and thousands of mosques Istanbul is the city of the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and Suleymaniye, Grand Bazaar and Topkapi and Dolmabahce palaces.

Istanbul

Istanbul is Turkey's most populous city, and its cultural and financial center. It is also one of the largest cities in Europe and the world. Located on both sides of the Bosphorus, the narrow strait between the Black Sea and the Marmara Sea, Istanbul bridges Asia and Europe both physically and culturally. Istanbul attracts visitors not only for its history and its monuments, but also for their way of life and its lovely people. It is the city of churches, synagogues and thousands of mosques Istanbul is the city of the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and Suleymaniye, Grand Bazaar and Topkapi and Dolmabahce palaces.

Santorini

Santorini is an island in the southern Aegean Sea, about 200 km (120 mi) southeast from Greece´s mainland The island remains the home of a small, but flourishing, wine industry, based on the indigenous grape variety, Assyrtiko, with auxiliary cultivations of two other Aegean varietals, Athiri and Aidani. Wine Industry The vines are extremely old and resistant to phylloxera (attributed by local winemakers to the well-drained volcanic soil and its chemistry), so the vines needed no replacement during the great phylloxera epidemic of the late 19th century. In their adaptation to their habitat, such vines are planted far apart, as their principal source of moisture is dew, and they often are trained in the shape of low-spiralling baskets, with the grapes hanging inside to protect them from the winds. Architecture The traditional architecture of Santorini is similar to that of the other Cyclades, with low-lying cubical houses, made of local stone and whitewashed or limewashed with various volcanic ashes used as colours. The unique characteristic is the common utilisation of the hypóskapha: extensions of houses dug sideways or downwards into the surrounding pumice

Chania (Crete)

Chania , is the second largest city of Crete and the capital of the Chania regional unit. It lies along the north coast of the island, about 43 mi west of Rethymno and 90 mi west of Heraklion.Some notable sights include the Mosque of Djamissi; the remains of the Venetian "arsenali", where ships were once built and repaired; the Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas, the huge Municipal Market that connects to the new town at its opposite entrance; the marvellous Archaeological Museum occupying a 16th Century Venetian church; and many of the side streets filled with shops, craftsmen, and beautiful architecture.

Galipoli, Italy

Gallipoli meaning "Beautiful City" is a town and comune of 21,200 inhabitants in the province of Lecce, in Apulia, southern Italy. It is located by the Ionian Sea, on the west coast of the Salentina Peninsula. The town of Gallipoli is divided in two parts, the modern and the old city. The new town includes all the newest buildings including a skyscraper. The old town, instead, is located on a limestone island, linked to the mainland by a bridge built in the 16th century. Places of Interest: Angevine Aragonese Castle, built in the 13th century by the Byzantines. It was largely remade under the Angevines and the Aragonese, who added a polygonal wall fortified with round towers. The main additions were carried on by Francesco di Giorgio Martini, who worked for King Alfonso II of Naples. In 1522 it was added the eastern wall, known as Rivellino, defended by waters on three sides. 14th century walls Originally it had 12 towers or bastions. Baroque cathedral of Sant´Agata. It has a richly decorated façade in carparo, a local limestone rock, with niches featuring statues of saints. The interior is on the Latin cross plan, with Baroque altars, including a polychrome one by Cosimo Fanzago (high altar). Church of St. Francis of Paola, Church of St. Francis of Assisi, Church of San Domenico al Rosario Church of the Holy Crucifix, Church of Santa Maria della Purità, Greek Fountain, Palazzo Pirelli (16th century), with mythological-theme decorations in the interior, Church of San Pietro dei Samari, outside the city. It was built in late Byzantine times. Spiaggia la Puritate beach

Dubrovnik (Croatia)

Dubrovnik is situated on the Adriatic Sea coast in the extreme south of Croatia, at the terminal end of the Isthmus of Dubrovnik, Nerevta country. Places to visit: Lokrum is an island in front of Dubrovnik and because it takes only 15 minutes by ferry to get there from the Old Town it is a popular destination for both tourists and locals. Zaton, another place to find natural peace and beauty, it takes 20 minutes by bus to get from Dubrovnik to Zaton. Other tourist attractions are: Franciscan monastery, fortresses, Medieval walls encircling the city and Sponza palace.

Ancona (Italy)

Ancona is a city and a seaport in the Marche region, in central Italy. Ancona is the capital of the province of Ancona and of the region. The city is located 170 mi northeast of Rome, on the Adriatic Sea, between the slopes of the two extremities of the promotory of Monte Conero, Monte Astagno and Monte Guasco. Ancona is one of the main ports on the Adriatic Sea, especially for passenger traffic, and is the main economic and demographic centre of the region.

Trieste (Italy)

Trieste is a city and seaport in northeastern Italy. It is situated towards the end of a narrow strip of Italian territory lying between the Adriatic Sea and Slovenia, which lies almost immediately south and east of the city. Once a very influential and powerful centre of politics, literature, music, art and culture under Austrian-Hungarian dominion, its importance fell into decline towards the end of the 20th century, and today, Trieste is often forgotten as tourists head off to the big Italian cities like Rome and Milan. It is, however, a very charming underestimated city, with a quiet and lovely almost Eastern European atmosphere, several pubs and cafes, some stunning architecture and a beautiful sea view. It was also, for a while, the residence of famous Irish writer James Joyce.

Fusina (Italy)