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Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy As Rome’s seaport, Civitavecchia is the gateway for excursions to the “Eternal City”.  Here the ancient capital of the western world and the center of Christianity for nearly 2,000 years spread out before you in all its glory.  Visit the Colosseum and Roman Forum, the Vatican and St. Peter’s Basilica, or the fashionable boutiques around the Spanish Steps.  The entire city is a living museum.  This day you will discover some of the most famous churches, monuments and fountains in the entire world.

Dubrovnik, Croatia Dubrovnik is a beautifully preserved medieval fortified city in the very south of the Republic of Croatia. Situated at the edge of the Adriatic Sea in the very south of Croatia, Dubrovnik is rich in history and natural beauty. With bays, beaches, steep cliffs and dense woodland areas, Dubrovnik's landscape is unexpected. Dubrovnik's impressive medieval architecture and its beautiful Mediterranean landscape still remain intact over the centuries.  The old city and the walls that surround it have been designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Portions of the wall date back to the 13th century. The ramparts are intact and encircle the old city. Don't miss the chance to take a walking tour along its length for a spectacular view of the city it surrounds.

Corfu, Greece Known as the "Emerald Island" because of its lush greenery and breathtaking beauty, Corfu is one of the hidden treasures of the Mediterranean. The second largest of the seven Ionian Islands, Corfu is just 368 square miles. Possessing an intense culture and unparalleled coastline, the island has provided endless inspiration for many artists and literary figures.  Tour the Achilleion Palace, built by the Empress Elizabeth of Austria in 1891 and view her breathtaking gardens as well as a spectacular panoramic view of the Ionian Sea.  This Palace also houses the Terrace of the Muses, which was built as a tribute to the nine muses of Greek mythology.

Katakolon, Greece In the quiet of the original Olympic stadium, where the torch was first lit and the winners were crowned with a laurel wreath, let your imagination run! The sanctuary of Olympia has the appearance of a park, and as you step back 2,000 years into the past, imagine the area crowded with athletes, orators, merchants and philosophers surrounding the Temple of Zeus with its forty-foot statue of the god, the ruins of which you must not miss! It's a thrill to step into the ruined archives of Greek mythology at the Temple of Zeus – one of the few remaining Wonders of the Ancient World.

Santorini, Greek Islands This Island is perhaps the most breathtaking of all the Greek Islands, and its beauty legendary.  There is a magic energy here with its whitewashed houses clinging to cliffs and hillsides set against the deep blue waters of the Aegean Sea.  The excavations at Akrotiri had confirmed that human activity on the island continued until the eruption of the volcano around 1500 B.C. which entirely buried the island.  At this point, all traces of human activity vanished until the end of the 13th century B.C.  On the site of Akrotiri you’ll gain insight into Minoan life from 3,600 years ago when the town was buried under volcanic ash.  There are many experts that believe that Santorini was the home of the fabled lost continent of Atlantis.

Kusadasi (Ephesus), Turkey Kusadasi is your gateway to Ephesus, a city created by the Ionians in the 11th century B.C. and later expanded by the Romans. Now considered one of the grandest reconstructed sites in the ancient world, and some of the best preserved ruins, the region also hosted the likes of Cleopatra, Mark Anthony, the Virgin Mary and John the Apostle.  Travel through the Magnesia Gate, the main entrance to the ancient city, and continue along marble streets grooved by chariot wheels. Gaze upon beautiful temples, porticoes, fountains and frescoes. Discover the three-story Library of Celsus, the Temple of Hadrian, the Odeum, the Fountain of Trajan and the Great Theater.

Athens, Greece Piraeus is the main port of Athens, the biggest in Greece, and one of the most important in the Mediterranean Sea.  No visit to Athens would be complete without a visit to the Acropolis. There you'll find the Parthenon, the largest building in the Acropolis and one of the world's most awe-inspiring sights. It was built as a temple to Athena and is still a remarkable structure today.  Visit the Plaka, the old neighborhood of Athens and discover the narrow streets and alleys, single-story houses, neoclassical villas, taverns and many tourist shops or explore the National Archaeological Museum, home to a formidable collection of the world's antiquities

Messina, Sicily Messina is the third largest city on the island of Sicily, Italy. It is the place where the first car and railroad travelers set foot on Sicilian soil.  Messina is greeted by the great statue of the Virgin Mary, at the harbor, with the inscription “We Bless You and Your City” a quotation that, according to legend, Mary gave to the Christians of the city. Messina’s astrological clock is as much a man-made masterpiece as the road leading to Taormina, which canitlevers out of the rocky cliff face and stands on impossibly tall pylons.  Leave it to the Italians to design a road that’s both a thrill ride and a feat of engineering!  Once in Taormina, walk to the sublime Greco-Roman theatre that overlooks Naxos Bay and snow-capped Mt. Edna. Don’t forget to spend time on the Corse Umberto with a gelato firm in hand.