Iconic Treasures of the Adriatic

From 8/21/2021 From Athens Ship: LE LYRIAL to 9/2/2021 to Venice

Set sail to discover the Mediterranean and the Adriatic with PONANT. During this new 13-day cruise, Le Lyrial will take you along the Dalmatian shores to the cultural and natural wonders of , Montenegro and .

From Athens, you will sail to the small island Hydra of , famous for its incomparable light.

Then will follow a call inCorfu , the most famous of the Ionian Islands. Once Byzantine and later Venetian, the island was visited by Ulysses and was a favourite holiday spot of Empress Sissi. Its sumptuous Neoclassical buildings and its lush and flowery vegetation are just some of its attractions.

Next, you will visit the stunning Puglia region in when the ship calls at Otranto. Do not miss a visit to Lecce: Its lavish baroque monuments have earned it the nickname “Florence of the South of Italy”.

Later, you will sail along the Dalmatian coast to Dubrovnik. Sitting high on a rocky outcrop, its old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, watches the world go by. The city’s monasteries, palaces and fountains from the Renaissance are each more graceful than the next.

You will continue to discover Croatia with the islands of Mljet, Korcula, Vis and Hvar and the cities of Trogir Primosten and Rovinj. They each have a very distinct history. According to the legend, Mljet is where Ulysses stayed for seven years after being spellbound by the nymph Calypso. The medieval city of Korcula is said to be the birthplace of Marco Polo. Hvar and its traditions date back to Antiquity. Trogir, renowned as the most beautiful medieval town in Dalmatia. Primosten, a charming village located on a peninsula. Rovinj, the little Croatian Venice.

As a grand finale, your voyage will draw to an Venice end the in Serenissima and its lagoon of which Piazza San Marco, the Doge’s Palace, the Grand Canal and the palaces along the canals are the treasures. The information in this document is valid as of 9/30/2021 Iconic Treasures of the Adriatic YOUR STOPOVERS :

ATHENS Embarkation 8/21/2021 from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM Departure 8/21/2021 at 9:00 PM

The Greek capital city is located on the edge of the Saronic gulf, in the east of the country. It bears a plural name in reference to the first villages that surround the Acropolis. You will be enchanted by the rocky plateau presided by its monuments listed as UNESCO World Heritage. In the city below, you can visit some of the liveliest districts in Athens: Plaka, with its maze of colourful streets, and where, in the evenings the drifting aroma of moussaka and garlic prawns will tickle your taste buds. TheNational Archaeological museum and the Cycladic Art Museum are also some of the city’s key attractions and allow visitors to discover Athens’ cultural past.

HYDRA Arrival 8/22/2021 early morning Departure 8/22/2021 early afternoon

This unusual gem belonging to the Saronic islands is located to the east of the Peloponnese. There are no cars here. Named after the island, the harbour town is layered up the slopes of a mountainous bay. You may be surprised to see beautiful stone mansions. These are traditional here, as are the multi-colouredcaïques along the quays. Further along the shore, you will discover the Historical Archives Museum. Collections from Athens National History Museum are exhibited in the elegant villa Koundouriotis.

KATAKOLON Arrival 8/23/2021 early morning Departure 8/23/2021 early afternoon

This picturesque village stretches along the Ionian sea in the west of the Peloponnese. Its main harbour offers a vast panorama of the coastline’s wooded hillsides. Dazzling white, church the of Saint-Nicolas houses a selection of sumptuous icons. You can also pay a visit the archaeological site of Olympus on the slopes of Mount Kronos.

CORFU Arrival 8/24/2021 early morning Departure 8/24/2021 early evening

Named after the island, Corfu is the most famous city in the Ionian islands. Protected by citadel , its old city, designated UNESCO World Heritage, displays unusual Greco-Byzantine and Venetian architecture. Above the water stands Saint George’s church, looking uncannily like a classical temple. The picturesque Pontikonisi, a stone’s throw from the southern point of the town, is the legendary island where Odysseus landed.

OTRANTO Arrival 8/25/2021 early morning Departure 8/25/2021 early afternoon

Located in the Apulia region,Otrante is the easternmost transalpine town. Behind its medieval ramparts, you will taste the sweetlife of Salento, the “heel on Italy’s boot”. Inhabited since Antiquity, Otrante has today become a very pleasant seaside town. Yet its history is still visible as you meander through the little streets of its old centre. With its magnificent 12th century ornamental tiling, the Cathedral is one of its most beautiful treasures. During a stroll along the ramparts, you can sit and relax at a café .

DUBROVNIK Arrival 8/26/2021 early morning Departure 8/26/2021 late evening

Emblem of the Dalmatian coast, Dubrovnik is magnificently positioned on a rocky spur. History is sovereign here, in this ancient city, now alisted UNESCO World Heritage site. You will perhaps be surprised by the proportions of La Placa, the central drag through the city. The sheer width of it can be explained by the fact that it straddles a former lagoon. The elegant houses along La Placa are built in the legendary travertine stone. At Pile gate, you will be greeted by the statue of the patron saint of Dubrovnik, and you can admire the coastline as youwalk along the ramparts. But what’s inside Fort Saint John, adjoining the outer ? A maritime museum and an aquarium featuring rare fish from the Adriatic.

MLJET Arrival 8/27/2021 early morning Departure 8/27/2021 midday

Discover Mljet Island off the Pelješac peninsula. Known for national its park and its protected forests, this Croatian splendid, pristine island offers many opportunities for walking with bays linked to two salt water lakes. On the largest lake, Veliko Jezero, a small island is home to an old Benedictine monastery.

KORCULA Arrival 8/27/2021 early afternoon Departure 8/27/2021 late evening

This harbour town has a very special location, presiding on a spur on the north-eastern coast of the island of Korçula. The ramparts in its medieval district provide perfect vantage points over the Pelješac peninsula. To get there, you can take the monumental staircase in theRevelin Tower. Another way is to climb the steps in the shade of palm trees from the MorskaVrata (Marine portal). As you make your way through the little streets, you’ll see the bell-tower of Saint Mark’s cathedral rise above you. This landmark will help you locate thehouse where Marco Polo was born. The island also has some of its own famous wines like the red Plavac and the white Posip. VIS ISLAND Arrival 8/28/2021 early morning Departure 8/28/2021 midday

An out-of-the-way stopover in the Dalmatian archipelago, Vis island is located off the coast of SplitUNESCO in a geopark archipelago. You will get by boat to Komiža, the second largest town in Vis. This is a pretty port at the bottom of a bay surrounded by green summits. In the harbour basins, falkuša, the traditional fishing boats, sway gently in the breeze.

HVAR Arrival 8/29/2021 early morning Departure 8/29/2021 late evening

Off the coast of Split, Hvar will surprise you by its traditions that have not changed since Antiquity. The country’s oldest town, Stari Grad, is here on this Dalmatian Island. The town nestles by a cove on the north-west coast, surrounded by dry stone structures on the Stari Grad plains. These have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site because they were built in the time of the Ancient Greeks. From these parcels of land come wines and olive oil manufactured manually. In the upper part of town, it is possible to discover hams and cheeses made by local producers.

TROGIR Arrival 8/30/2021 early morning Departure 8/30/2021 early evening

Built onan island linked to the Dalmatian coast, thepicturesque city of Trogir dates from Antiquity. You will certainly be won over by its colourful streets and pleasantly surprised by their Greco-Roman plan, affording it UNESCO World Heritage status. Today, the former cardo maximus is the historical centre’s main street. You can mosey at your leisure in the fashion shops, art galleries and cake shops. Don’t miss the three naves in the stunning Saint Lawrence Cathedral. From the top of its keep, the Kamerlengo fortress provides a spectacular view of the old town and coastline.

PRIMOSTEN Arrival 8/31/2021 early morning Departure 8/31/2021 early afternoon

Located south of Sibenik, Primosten is a picturesque village on the Dalmatian Coast, whose charm is distilled, via its narrow streets, through pretty stone houses and an architectural heritage influenced by the Venetian Republic. Built on a rocky peninsula, the historic city was connected to land by a mobile bridge from which it earned its name in the 16th century: in Croatian, primostiti means “to bridge”. The high point of the village, the Church of St. George watches over the stunning bay enveloped in crystal-clear waters while, to the north of the peninsula, the charming beach of Raduca reveals itself between the skies and the pine forest. Further on, the vines of the renownedbabi? varietal , protected from erosion by low stone walls, complete this idyllic setting.

ROVINJ Arrival 9/1/2021 early morning Departure 9/1/2021 early afternoon

Rovinj is located in Istria, a region bordering . This becomes apparent as you walk through its old cobblestoned town. There are many monuments of Venetian influence here. If you study the Balbi , you will see the winged lion, symbol of Venice. The bell-tower erected beside Saint Euphemia Cathedral was designed like the bell of Saint Mark in Venice. From the top of the tower, you can scan the entire historical district. To absorb its quaint atmosphere, take a walk in the ochre and sepia-coloured streets leading to bustling squares and terraces shaded by canvas awnings.

VENICE Arrival 9/2/2021 early morning Disembarkation 9/2/2021 at 7:30 AM

Proud and eternal, Venice has reigned on its lagoon ever since the 6th century. You may think you know this city before even setting foot here. You will inevitably fall in love with the charm of the innumerable treasures of the Serenissima: Saint Mark’s square, the basilica , Doges palace, the Grand Canal and the gondolas. Yet, secret Venice is also waiting for you to explore its little interlacing streets and canals, to ramble through its squares and to push open the doors of its churches. The city’s extraordinary heritage shouldn’t stop you from enjoying a glass of Spritz and a few tramezzini.