Turkey to Greece – Heroes, Saints & Emperors Aboard Emerald Azzurra

Depart on an overnight flight to Izmir, Turkey

IZMIR, TURKEY

Upon arrival in Izmir, transfer to the hotel for check-in. Later, gather for a welcome cocktail reception at the hotel.

IZMIR OR EPHESUS / EMBARK EMERALD AZZURRA

Before boarding the ship in the late afternoon, choose between excursions to Izmir or Ephesus, two coastal cities closely linked to the travels of St. Paul. In Izmir, explore the Izmir Archaeological and Ethnography Museum, then visit the fourth-century B.C. ruins of the Smyrna Agora, originally built by the Greeks and later reconstructed by Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius after an earthquake. Uncover the remaining courtyards, gates, porticoes, streets, and temples. Alternatively, take an inside look at Ephesus, an ancient city that once flourished as a hub of scholarship and religious fervor. With origins dating to the 10th century B.C., Ephesus was renowned as the center of worship for Cybele, the great Greek mother-goddess. Ephesus later became a prominent center of commerce and culture under Roman rule. It was also here that St. Paul addressed the Ephesians, spreading the message of Christ. Stand in awe before the dramatic façade of the Library of Celsus, a magnificent structure that once housed a vast collection of scrolls. The Temple of Hadrian, dedicated to the Roman emperor, offers further evidence of the city’s grandeur, while the immense ancient theater speaks of the city’s vibrant past. Archaeologists continue to excavate Ephesus, uncovering insights into the daily lives of ancient Ephesians at the city’s terrace houses, once luxurious residential villas, adorned with gleaming mosaics. Ascend the slopes of Ayasuluk Hill and arrive at the Basilica of St. John, believed to have been built over the tomb of the Apostle John in the sixth century A.D. After lunch, transfer to Izmir’s marine passenger terminal and embark Emerald Azzurra.

MORNING AT SEA / KEPEZ / TROY

From the port of Kepez, transfer by motor coach to fabled Troy, where excavations began in 1872 and continue to this day. Historians generally agree that the city uncovered here is the Troy described by Homer and that a war between Mycenaean Greeks and Anatolians took place in Troy around 1180 B.C. Discover Troy’s many fortifications, including some that date to the Bronze Age. Enjoy an expert-led tour of the strikingly modern Museum of Troy, which displays artifacts from the city. In the late afternoon, sail north to the Greek port of Kavala.

KAVALA, GREECE / PHILIPPI

After an early morning arrival into Kavala, attend an Easter dawn celebration at an Orthodox church. After breakfast aboard Emerald Azzurra, continue to the ancient city of Philippi, which flourished across the Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine eras. Its prosperity stemmed partly from the gold mines that dotted its surroundings. Circa 357 B.C., Philip II of Macedon, the father of Alexander the Great, established the city and bestowed upon it his name, Philippi. Later settled by veterans of the Roman army, the city developed its own coinage, solidifying its position within the Roman Empire. This important site includes a Roman city with its partially preserved theater, an agora, and an expansive forum. The city became a pivotal center for early Christianity when St. Paul reportedly established Europe’s first Christian church within Philippi’s walls. Take an inside look at a fourth century A.D. church dedicated to St. Paul. Choose to have lunch at leisure while enjoying the town of Kavala. Set sail this evening for Samothraki.

SAMOTHRAKI

Arrive at Samothraki, an Aegean island dominated by the towering Mount Fengari and the ancient home to civilizations such as the Pelasgians, Carians, Thracians, and Greeks. It’s renowned for the mysterious Cabeiri cult, known for its influential religious rites and initiation ceremonies. Philip II of Macedon and Olympias, Alexander the Great’s parents, reportedly met here during their initiation. Explore the intriguing legacy of the Cabeiri cult on an expert-led private tour of the Sanctuary of the Great Gods, a key Pan-Hellenic site dating back to the Bronze Age. Then discover Samothraki’s prominence in early Christian history as the first European land visited by St. Paul around 50 A.D. Excavations uncovered an ancient church near Paleopoli, believed to commemorate St. Paul’s visit, and regarded as one of the world’s oldest churches. Join your expert guide for an up-close look at the Altar of Saint Paul, a monument built between 2007 and 2008, featuring a semicircular structure with columns, inscriptions, and mosaics illustrating St. Paul’s journey to the island. Before the ship sails, choose to have independent lunch ashore or lunch aboard ship.

THESSALONIKI / VERGINA / VERIA

Arrive in Thessaloniki this morning and travel to Vergina, visiting the UNESCO-listed archaeological site of Aigai, the first capital of the Kingdom of Macedonia. At the Museum of the Royal Tombs of Aigai, admire the remains of a lavishly decorated palace and Macedonian tombs, one of which belongs to Philip II, whose conquests paved the way for his son Alexander’s expansion of the Hellenistic world. After lunch, you may choose between two options. You may spend time exploring the picturesque Ano Poli (Upper Town), which is Thessaloniki’s Old Town. Ano Poli boasts traditional stone houses and numerous Byzantine churches and monasteries. Stop to see the UNESCO-listed Byzantine Walls of Thessaloniki, a series of fortifications that extends 2.5 miles, dating back to the early Byzantine period around 390 A.D. Take an inside look at extraordinary Byzantine mosaics and relics in the Church of Saint Demetrius, or Agios Dimitrios, dedicated to the patron saint of Thessaloniki. It evolved from a small church to a larger basilica in 413 A.D. and stands today as one of Greece’s largest churches. Then enjoy a privately guided tour of the Museum of Byzantine Culture, which includes Greece’s most extensive collection of funerary mural paintings, glass vessels demonstrating Mediterranean trade links, and rare early Byzantine textiles from Egypt. During some free time, taste local delicacies at the historic Modiano Market or stroll the beautiful promenade along the Thessaloniki Waterfront. Alternatively, transfer to Veria, an old city first mentioned in the writings of Thucydides in 432 B.C., with evidence of habitation as early as 1000 B.C. It was an important possession for Philip II of Macedon and later for the Romans. St. Paul famously preached in the city, and its inhabitants were among the first Christians in the empire. The town’s ancient agora and remnants of a Jewish synagogue, the oldest in northern Greece, are often associated with St. Paul’s visit, providing a tangible link to his missionary journey in the first century A.D. Within the stone-built synagogue, admire elaborately carved wooden ceilings, stunning mosaic tiles, a pulpit enclosed by four marble columns, and the Ehaal (Holy Ark), decorated according to local tradition. Afterwards, travelers from both excursions will return to Emerald Azzurra in the port of Thessaloniki.

VOLOS / MAKRINITSA OR KALABAKA / METEORA

Enjoy stunning views this morning as we cross the Pagasetic Gulf to arrive at the port city of Volos, the legendary departure point for Jason and the Argonauts. Begin at the superb Archaeological Museum, known for its painted stelae dating from the third century B.C. Then you’ll choose between two expert-led excursions: Continue to the slopes of Mount Pelion and the mountaintop village of Makrinitsa, part of ancient Magnesia, the mythical birthplace of the Centaurs and known today as “the balcony of Mount Pelion” for its endless views. Enjoy a relaxing lunch in this charming town, dotted with mansions, water fountains, and picturesque cobbled paths, and visit the Museum of Folk Art and History, housed in a historic mansion. Alternatively, travel northwest from Volos to the town of Kalabaka, situated at the foot of the otherworldly pinnacles of Meteora, an important center of the Byzantine Empire. Explore Meteora’s UNESCO-listed monasteries, following in the footsteps of medieval monks and hermits who built these late-medieval religious sanctuaries atop towering sandstone pillars. Six of these monasteries remain active today. Known for their religious artifacts, frescoes, icons, and libraries containing ancient manuscripts, the monasteries provide a glimpse into the enduring quest for the divine. Return to Volos for a late afternoon sail.

SKYROS / AFTERNOON AT SEA

Arrive this morning on the Aegean island of Skyros, the southernmost island of the Sporades archipelago. Legend has it that it is also from this island that Achilles headed off to Troy. Discover Skyros’s seaside villages and distinctly Cycladic cube-shaped houses. Visit the Archaeological Museum of Skyros to see ancient pottery, jewelry, sculptures, and other local artifacts that showcase the island’s rich heritage from the Early Helladic period to Roman times. Venture to the small yet delightful Faltaits Museum, Greece’s first folklore museum, for a look at its collection of rare ceramics, wood carvings, and traditional costumes, beautifully displayed within a preserved Skyrian house. At the nearby Byzantine Monastery of St. George, a significant pilgrimage site founded in 962 A.D., discover stunning 18th-century frescoes in its 17th-century chapel. Delve into the island’s complex history amid the historic ruins of a castle that overlooks the main town from a cliff. An important site since prehistoric times, it served as the ancient citadel of King Lycomedes, the place of Theseus’s demise, and Achilles’s fabled hiding spot. Before the ship leaves Skyros in the mid-afternoon, choose to have lunch aboard ship or opt for independent lunch ashore.

AMORGOS

Step ashore on Amorgos, a small, rugged island of whitewashed villages. Inhabited since prehistoric times, Amorgos flourished as a trade and cultural center during the Cycladic civilization, starting from the fourth millennium B.C. Its history progressed through periods of Ionian colonization, participation in the Persian Wars, and inclusion in the Athenian Alliance, before falling under Macedonian, Ptolemaic, and Roman dominions, leading to the decline of its ancient cities and the rise of Christianity and Byzantine influence. Choose to return to the ship or opt to take lunch ashore. Take a look at a magnificent treasure the Byzantines left behind. Accompany an expert guide up to the 11th-century Monastery of Hozoviotissa and marvel at how this stark white structure clings to precipitous cliffs facing out to sea. For more than a thousand years, the monastery has been a place of pilgrimage for worshippers who come to venerate its miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary. Return to Emerald Azzurra, where you’ll attend the captain’s farewell reception and dinner this evening as the ship sails to Piraeus.

PIRAEUS / DISEMBARK / ATHENS / RETURN

Disembark in Piraeus this morning and transfer to the Athens airport for your flights home.