Journey Through Time

Arrival in Dubrovnik, one of the most beautiful cities on the Adriatic.

Reception and transfer to the hotel. Accommodation.

Breakfast. In the morning, we will enjoy a walking panoramic tour of Dubrovnik’s Old Town, protected by the 16th-century Revelin Fortress, located to the east and set within a pedestrian-only area.

Its double walls, with 20 towers and bastions, surround an architectural ensemble of great value, including the Baroque cathedral, churches, monasteries, palaces, fountains and houses with red and yellow rooftops.

Dubrovnik achieved great prosperity through trade during the Middle Ages and became renowned for its art between the 15th and 17th centuries. During the visit, we will discover some of its most representative monuments: Onofrio’s Fountain, the Franciscan and Dominican Monasteries, the Sponza and Rector’s Palaces, and the Cathedral.

Free afternoon. Accommodation.

Departure towards the Bay of Kotor in Montenegro, an area of outstanding natural beauty. Arrival in Perast, a former fishing village, where we will take a boat to the small islet of “Gospa od Skrpjela” to visit its church.

Continuation to Kotor, where there will be free time to explore its historic centre. Afterwards, departure to Budva, a beautiful town with a medieval atmosphere. Accommodation.

Breakfast and departure towards Albania, Europe’s lesser-known gem. Our first stop will be Shkoder, an ancient city rich in history, known for its wooden buildings decorated with traditional motifs.

We will continue to Kruja, where a walking visit will take us along a cobbled path to the Ottoman Bazaar, with shops selling wooden crafts and antiques.

Arrival in Tirana. Accommodation.

In the morning, we will enjoy a panoramic tour of the Albanian capital, seeing, among other highlights, Skanderbeg Square, the Ethem Bey Mosque, viewed from the outside only as it is currently closed for restoration, and the National Museum, which houses archaeological pieces that tell the history of the country.

In the afternoon, departure towards Ohrid. Upon arrival, we will enjoy this lakeside resort town, included on the UNESCO Cultural Heritage list, and visit the 11th-century Church of Saint Sophia, one of the most impressive monuments in Macedonia.

Rest of the day at leisure. Accommodation.

Continuation of the journey towards Macedonia, with a stop at Mavrovo National Park, where we will visit the Monastery of San Jovan Bigorski.

Afterwards, continuation to Skopje. Arrival and accommodation.

City tour of Skopje, including the Kale Fortress, the Church of the Holy Saviour with its walnut wood-carved icons, the Stone Bridge and the Old Bazaar.

Afterwards, departure towards Stobi, in southern Macedonia and close to the border with Greece, to visit the archaeological site of Heraclea.

Arrival in Thessaloniki. Accommodation.

Visit of Thessaloniki, the second-largest city in Greece. Its artistic and cultural heritage ranges from early Christian and Byzantine monuments to 14th-century Orthodox monasteries.

Among its main highlights are the Arch and Rotunda of Galerius, in Greek style; the Roman Forum; the churches of Saint Demetrius and Saint Sophia, from the 7th and 8th centuries respectively, both decorated with beautiful mosaics; the 14th-century Vlatadon Monastery, Orthodox in style and still active today; as well as Ottoman buildings such as the Alaca Imaret and Hamza Bey Mosques, and the Pasha Hamam baths, among others.

Afterwards, we will take an excursion to Pella, birthplace of Emperor Alexander the Great and capital of ancient Greece during his rule. Today, visitors can see the archaeological remains of the Agora, the Acropolis and several “insulae”, as apartment blocks were known at the time. Among the most interesting findings are mosaics made with coloured stones, which would later lay the foundations for the art of mosaics.

Return to Thessaloniki and rest of the day at leisure. Accommodation.

We will continue following the footsteps of the great Greek empire by visiting the archaeological ruins of Philipi, founded by King Philip II of Macedonia. Archaeological excavations have uncovered remains of the theatre, forum, two basilicas, thermal baths and part of the city walls. After the Second World War, the episcopal quarter of the Octagon and three more basilicas were discovered, two of them in the necropolis.

Continuation to Kavala, the main port of the Macedonia and Thrace region, making it a strategic point for commercial relations. Founded by settlers from the island of Thasos, it was later occupied by the Romans and then by the Ottoman Empire from 1371 to 1912. From this period, the aqueduct of Suleiman the Magnificent and the birthplace of Mehmet Ali, Pasha of Egypt in 1805, are still preserved.

Arrival in Alexandroupolis. Accommodation.

Departure after breakfast towards Turkey. Arrival in Istanbul and visit of this fascinating city, a meeting point between West and East.

We will be carried through history as we discover some of its most representative monuments: Hagia Sophia, a Catholic cathedral during the reign of Byzantine Emperor Justinian I; the Blue Mosque, designed with six minarets and a striking tiled interior; the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar; the Sinan Mosque, decorated with tiles; the underground cistern, used in the style of a basilica; and Topkapi Palace.

Breakfast and free day for personal activities or to enjoy optional experiences, such as a boat ride on the Bosphorus, a visit to Topkapi Palace or a visit to Dolmabahce Palace.

Breakfast and, at the agreed time, transfer to the airport.