14-Day Hidden Gems of Turkey, Greece, Malta, Italy & Spain

Overview

A 14-night voyage aboard Seabourn Ovation, departing Istanbul on 23 Oct 2027 and arriving in Barcelona, calling at 13 destinations along the way.

Cabin prices

Live prices per person based on two sharing. Select a grade to see its fare options.

1. 1

   Day 1 ·Istanbul, TurkeyEmbark

   23 Oct 2027

   Depart 17:00

   Spanning Europe and Asia, exotic Istanbul is one of the world's most fascinating cities. Domes and minarets enhance the skyline. In the old Stamboul area, traces remain of every city built since the community was established over 600 years before Christ. Once Rome's eastern capital, Istanbul was also the center of the huge Ottoman Empire. Landmarks include Hagia Sophia, once Christendom's greatest church; the Blue Mosque with its striking Iznik tiles; Topkapi Palace, containing a sultan's ransom of treasures; Chora Church with its Byzantine mosaics; and the Grand Bazaar, the ultimate shopping experience.
2. 2

   Day 2 ·Canakkale, Turkey

   24 Oct 2027

   Arrive 08:00Depart 17:00

   Between 1865 and 1866, English explorer Frank Calvert and German archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann began digging trenches through a hillock outside Canakkale and discovered layer upon layer of ancient cities. Ultimately nine cities that had thrived and fallen atop each other were identified with the legendary Greek city of Troy. The site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
3. 3

   Day 3 ·Volos, Greece

   25 Oct 2027

   Arrive 08:00Depart 18:00

   The span of highrise buildings that line the waterfront at Volos speak to modern Greece, rather than the ancient land. Indeed Volos is a very Greek city, a busy port and not high on the list of places for a traveler to visit. Yet like most places in Greece, its roots are deep in the mythic and historic soil of the country. Volos lies on the doorstep of the Plain of Thessaly, the pastures of Centaurs. In the nation’s heart, at Kalambaka, the plain erupts into a phalanx of towering granite pillars, each topped by a monastery over 600 years old. This is Meteora, one of the most unforgettable sites in Greece. Nearby, Mt. Pelion looms, its slopes dotted with picturesque villages of characteristic homes with wooden stories stacked atop stone ground floors. In the city itself, an archaeological museum holds treasures dating from the Neolithic through the Bronze Age, including jewelry fashioned 35 centuries ago.
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   Day 4 ·At Sea

   26 Oct 2027
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   Day 5 ·Patmos, Greece

   27 Oct 2027

   Arrive 07:00Depart 22:00

   Deserted for centuries because of constant raids by pirates and the Turks, this tiny arid island was first settled in 1088 when the Emperor of Constantinople made it a gift to the monk Christodoulos Latrnos so that he could establish a monastery in honor of St. John the Divine on the site. Patmos has been a place of scholarship and religious enlightenment ever since. Today this modern pilgrimage site is a quiet respite from the tourist havens many other Greek isles have become.
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   Day 6 ·Rhodes, Greece

   28 Oct 2027

   Arrive 08:00Depart 18:00

   Best known of the Dodecanese Islands, Rhodes is a fascinating architectural patchwork of her past. Here the legacy of the ancient Greeks mingles with that of besieging Turks, crusading knights, and occupying Italians. Twin bronze deer, the symbol of Rhodes, guard the Mandraki Harbor where the 100-foot Colossus is said to have stood, a wonder of the ancient world. The medieval Crusader City is dominated by the Palace of the Grand Masters, while cobbled streets lead to the bustling bazaar and a lively harbor that is a center of the international yachting scene.
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   Day 7 ·Santorini, Greece

   29 Oct 2027

   Arrive 07:00Depart 18:00

   "Thira, the Wild Island" and "Kalliste, the Fairest One" - all terms of endearment for this seductive, volcanic Greek island in the Sea of Crete. Extraordinary for its black sand beaches and sheer limestone cliffs, Santorini also showcases remnants of the Phoenician, Spartan and Minoan cultures, which fell under the island's spell - an unvarying, irresistible lure that continues to this day. Fira, the picturesque, pedestrian-only capital, is reached from the seaport via a short cable car ride that offers thrilling views as you ascend.
   
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   Day 8 ·Piraeus (Athens), Greece

   30 Oct 2027

   Arrive 07:00Depart 17:00

   Piraeus has been the port for Athens since 482 BC. The busy harbor is filled with ferries and cruise ships making their way to the Greek Islands and other Mediterranean cities. The busy metropolis of Athens and its treasure trove of antiquities lie just a few miles from the port. Even as the reality of the modern city took hold, with its high-rise apartments, crowded sidewalks and bustling traffic, the beauty of the Acropolis, the outstanding museums, charming cafés, sidewalk markets and startling views come together in a cultural mosaic for all to enjoy.
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   Day 9 ·At Sea

   31 Oct 2027
10. 10

    Day 10 ·Valletta, Malta

    1 Nov 2027

    Arrive 08:00Depart 17:00

    Occupied successively by the Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans, Arabs, French and British, Malta has been of strategic importance throughout history. A British Crown Colony until 1964, Malta received the George Cross for its valiant resistance to German occupation in WWII. The island's rich heritage is reflected in the architecture of Valletta, the current capital, and Medina, the capital until 1565. In Valletta the Knights of St. John built such masterpieces as St. John's Co-Cathedral and the Palace of the Grand Masters, along with the fortifications that guard the town's magnificent harbors.
11. 11

    Day 11 ·Trapani, Sicily, Italy

    2 Nov 2027

    Arrive 08:00Depart 18:00

    Bright stone buildings mark the rambling layout and baroque architecture of Trapani. Extending out into the sea, the towns characteristic shape of a scythe, frames the majestic Tower of Ligny, which rises from its most extreme point. Originally under Arab dominion, Trapani was a blossoming center for the production of salt, tuna, and coral. The city became famous throughout the Old World in the 16th century, when the work of Trapanese coral artisans was revealed. Their gorgeous collection of works in coral is preserved in the Pepoli Museum.
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    Day 12 ·Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy

    3 Nov 2027

    Arrive 08:00Depart 18:00

    The pleasingly green, quiet island of Sardinia offers the visitor scenic beauty and a relaxed lifestyle. Cagliari, the island's capital, features handsome Italianate architecture and several churches reflecting a variety of influences. Impressive views are provided by the city's hillsides, with one of the best panoramas available from the old walls of Terrazzo Umberto. The island's natural charm has attracted pleasure-seekers to the Costa Smeralda since the Aga Khan sought shelter ashore from a storm at sea.
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    Day 13 ·Alghero, Italy

    4 Nov 2027

    Arrive 08:00Depart 17:00

    The mountainous island of Sardinia, just ten miles south of Corsica, is the second largest in the Mediterranean. Fought over by various invaders over the centuries (from Romans to Goths to Vandals to Byzantines to Saracens), the island was eventually given to the King of Aragon. Spanish rule continued up until 1713, when Sardinia fell under Austrian rule, followed by the House of Savoy. The King of Sardinia, Victor Emmanuel II, would become the first King of Italy.The walled town of Alghero is a good starting point for excursions into the scenic northwest coast. Steep cliffs slice into the aquamarine waters of the Mediterranean, with jagged mountains serving as dramatic backdrops.
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    Day 14 ·Mahon, Menorca, Spain

    5 Nov 2027

    Arrive 08:00Depart 18:00

    Mahon is the capital of Menorca, second largest of the Balearic Islands. It stands out from the others because of the abundance of prehistoric structures, and because its culture was influenced by British occupation in the 18th century. The people who built the prehistoric constructions are believed to have been responsible for similar works in Sardinia, and for Stonehenge in England. Believed to have been founded by the Carthaginian General Mago, Mahon was held by the Moors from the 8th to the 13th century and in turn occupied by the English, the French and the Spanish. Mahon was finally ceded to Spain by the Treaty of Amiens in 1802.
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    Day 15 ·Barcelona, SpainDisembark

    6 Nov 2027

    Arrive 07:00

    Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia, is said to have been founded by the Phoenicians, and was once the rival of the powerful states of Venice and Genoa for control of the Mediterranean trade. Today, it is Spain's second largest city and has long rivaled, even surpassed Madrid in industry and commerce. The medieval atmosphere of the Gothic Quarter and the elegant boulevards combine to make the city one of Europe's most beautiful. Barcelona's active cultural life and heritage brought forth such greats as the architect Antonio Gaudi, the painter Joan Miro, and Pablo Picasso, who spent his formative years here. Other famous native Catalan artists include cellist Pau Casals, surrealist Salvador Dali, and opera singers Montserrat Caballe and Josep Carreras. Barcelona accomplished a long-cherished goal with the opportunity to host the Olympics in 1992. This big event prompted a massive building program and created a focal point of the world's attention.

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