Otranto , Italy
SMALL SHIP ADVENTURES
Mdina , Malta Buffalo farm , Salerno , Italy
ITINERARY
DAY 1 • Depart U . S . Depart on your flight to Venice , Italy .
DAY 2 • Arrive Venice , Italy Arrive in Venice and transfer to your hotel , where you ’ ll meet travelers who took our Ljubljana & Trieste : World War II to the Present pre-trip extension .
Palazzo Barocci or similar
DAY 3 • Explore Venice Enjoy a walking tour with a local guide . Highlights include the Rialto fish market , the Riva degli Schiavoni , Piazza San Marco , and more .
Meals : B , D | Palazzo Barocci or similar
DAY 4 • Venice • Controversial Topic : MOSE Dam • Explore Burano
Take a vaporetto to the Venetian island of Burano , where you ’ ll enjoy a walking tour of this colorful fishing village . You ’ ll also engage in the Controversial Topic of the delays , budget overruns , and scandals of the MOSE Dam project .
Meals : B , D | Palazzo Barocci
DAY 5 • Venice • Embark ship • Captain ’ s Welcome Dinner
Enjoy a classic gondola ride this morning . Later , transfer to the dock and board your small ship , which will be your home for the next 21 nights . This evening , sit down to a Captain ’ s Welcome Dinner onboard .
Meals : B , L , D | M / V Athena
DAY 6 • Ravenna Dock in Porto Corsini and transfer to Ravenna . Discover mosaic finery at the Basilica di San Vitale and Mausoleo Galla Placida . After , embark on a walking tour to see the city ’ s highlights .
Meals : B , L , D | M / V Athena
DAY 7 • Pesaro • Republic of San Marino Dock in Pesaro and then transfer to the Republic of San Marino . Enjoy a discovery walk along the cobbled , sloping streets of the Old Town .
Meals : B , L , D | M / V Athena
DAY 8 • Pesaro • Urbino Transfer to Urbino , where we ’ ll enjoy a guided tour and a visit to the Ducal Palace .
Meals : B , L , D | M / V Athena
DAY 9 • Ortona • Ortona in World War II conversation • A Day in the Life of an Ortona farmstead
This morning , your ship docks in Ortona . During World War II , a fierce battle was waged over the deep harbor here , which you ’ ll learn about during a conversation . Then , a walking tour will reveal a town reborn . Later , we ’ ll head out to the countryside to discover what A Day in the Life of an Ortona farmstead is like .
Meals : B , L , D | M / V Athena
DAY 10 • The Tremiti Islands Dock in San Domino . Board a ferry for the Tremiti Islands and visit San Nicola for a walking tour and a boat tour .
Meals : B , L , D | M / V Athena
DAY 11 • Explore Alberobello • Home-Hosted Lunch • Monopoli
After docking in Monopoli and enjoying breakfast onboard , depart for the town of Alberobello , where you ’ ll marvel at the conical-roofed homes , or trulli , that line the hilly streets of this UNESCO World Heritage Site . Next , you ’ ll enjoy a Home-Hosted Lunch with a family in Monopoli . During this special meal , you ’ ll dine on traditional , homemade dishes as you discuss life in eastern Italy with your hosts .
Meals : B , L , D | M / V Athena
DAY 12 • Monopoli • Controversial Topic : Puglian environmental issues • Optional Matera Troglodyte City tour
Join our optional tour to discover the ancient cave dwellings of Sassi di Matera . Later , hear about the Controversial Topic of environmental issues in Puglia with two local experts .
Meals : B , L , D | M / V Athena
DAY 13 • Otranto • Immigration in the Mediterranean conversation
Dock in Otranto and enjoy a walking tour . Then , visit the Constantine association , which helps marginalized women . Later , learn how immigration is impacting Mediterranean countries .
Meals : B , L , D | M / V Athena
DAY 14 • Siracusa , Sicily Dock in the UNESCO World Heritage city of Siracusa . We ’ ll disembark for a tour of Ortigia , Siracusa ’ s Old Town , followed by free time for your own discoveries .
Meals : B , L , D | M / V Athena
Information & Reservations 1-800-955-1925 www . oattravel . com / rvm 245