Cruising Ancient Dalmatia

Founded by Greeks in the 6^th Century and conquered briefly in more modern times by Venice, Dubrovnik was the capital of the mighty Republic of Ragusa. Our ship is moored here all day, allowing us to explore the beauties of the city, which is one of the most important sites on the Dalmatian coast.

Exclusive Andante excursion:

We spend the whole day exploring the city, starting with a visit to the Cathedral dedicated to the Assumption of Our Lady, before continuing to the stunning Rector’s Palace, a Gothic structure which served as seat of the Rector who oversaw the Ragusan Republic. In the afternoon, we continue our exploration of Dubrovnik, starting with the Walls, built from the 12^th to the 17^th Centuries to protect the city and which are some of the most complex in Europe. We proceed to the Loggia Square, one of the most picturesque parts of the city.

Our voyage continues to Mljet, the most florid of the Dalmatian Islands. Here we spend time in the picturesque, verdant Mljet National Park this morning before sailing on to Korčula where we spend the afternoon.

Exclusive Andante excursions:

Mljet, the greenest of the Dalmatian Islands, for a visit to tranquil, beautiful Mljet National Park, home to five types of forest, myriad bird species and two deep lakes. Mljet also has a rich cultural heritage, with bright folk costumes and charming traditional handicrafts. Here we  visit the Roman Villa at Polače, a spectacular late antique palace with impressive towers and apsidal hall built perhaps in the 6^th century.

We proceed to the island of Korčula, reputedly the birthplace of legendary explorer Marco Polo, where we visit the Cathedral of St. Mark, a 15^th century masterpiece influenced by Venice and complete with works by Tintoretto, as well as the Korčula Town Museum housed in the 15^th century Venetian style Gabrielis Palace.

After sailing overnight, we arrive mid-morning at Šibenik, unusual in that it has no Greek or Roman antecedents but was founded by the Croats in the 9^th century AD. After lunch onboard we travel with other passengers to the city where our Andante Guide Lecturer will lead us on an exclusive Andante tour separate from the main group. Occupied by the Venetians between the 15^th and 18^th centuries, the town has a splendid array of medieval buildings including the Cathedral of St. James, now a UNESCO Heritage Site. Our afternoon ends with time at the Krka Falls.

After breakfast we spend our morning in the medieval city of Trogir and then after lunch arrive in Split for a walking tour of this Croatia’s second largest city, Split.

Exclusive Andante excursions:

Our adventures today take us to Trogir, a picturesque Medieval and Renaissance town, originally founded by Greek sailors in the 3rd century BC. This town, whose Venetian historic centre has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is situated on a small island, linked to the mainland by bridge. Here, we explore the town’s museum, visit a tiny art gallery and marvel at the impressive St. Lawrence Cathedral, a wonderful combination of Romanesque and Venetian gothic.

We acquaint ourselves with Split, a delightful fusion of ancient and modern, beginning by tracing the walls and monuments of the immense Palace of Diocletian, which is interwoven with later Medieval houses. The emperor Diocletian, one of the few emperors to go into real retirement, cultivated his market garden in an attempt to avoid being sucked back into the power politics of the Roman world. We visit the Cathedral of St. Domnius, originally built to house Diocletian’s mausoleum and now, ironically, a church dedicated to one of the many victims of Diocletian’s persecutions. We continue to the Temple of Jupiter, which is now the cathedral baptistery and the Peristyle, the city’s elegant central square now but once central to the imperial palace.

We arrive in Hvar this morning, the sunniest of the Dalmatian Islands, and later sail on to Vis, once called Lissa and administratively linked to Hvar, or Lesina, under the period of Venetian domination.

Exclusive Andante excursions:

We explore the centre of Hvar, another walled gem enclosing eight centuries of stunning architecture. Highlights of our tour include a visit to the Cathedral of St. Stephen, built in the 17^th century and a mixture of renaissance and gothic architecture so typical of the Dalmatian coast; the Venetian influence extends to the paintings, including works by Santacroce. We continue to the Arsenal, which houses a 17^th public theatre on the first floor and where Roman ruins have only recently been discovered.

Vis founded by Dionysius the Elder, the tyrant of Syracuse in the 4^th century, has an ethereal quality about it, as though it has avowedly refused to modernise. We visit well preserved Roman baths, whose mosaics have only recently been restored, and continue to the 16^th century Franciscan monastery built on the foundations of an imposing Roman theatre which we can see from the outside.

Kotor in the last port of call of our Dalmatian adventure before we head back to the capital Dubrovnik.

Exclusive Andante excursion:

On our last excursion, we visit the Montenegrin town of Kotor, which has been given UNESCO World heritage status for its impressive Venetian walls. Here, basking in the charm of its Venetian architecture, we visit the Cathedral of St. Tryphon, consecrated in the 12^th century and which preserves Byzantine frescoes, as well as an exquisite medieval ciborium.

We disembark after enjoying breakfast and catch our return flight back to London.