Explora Journeys Mediterranean: 19 nights from Istanbul with Explora I
May 5, 2025

Istanbul

An incredible city, huge, vibrant like few others in the world. Where two continents meet, culture and diversity thrive in a unique architectural setting. Istanbul is hot,and we aren’t talking about the weather. These days there are more restaurants,bars,galleries and clubs around the city than Ottoman mosques(which is not a small feat).

The international fashion and design press has talked about Istanbul to the point of exhaustion; the sense of age that fell over the city once the Ottoman empire disappeared, has been replaced by a sense of energy and innovation not seen since the times of Suleiman the Magnificent.

Thessaloniki

Volos

Fiskardo

Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik is definitely special. A magnificent curtain of walls surrounds marble streets and Baroque buildings, which give off a pearly light in the Adriatic sunshine.

Picturesque and artistic, Dubrovnik is a tourist hotspot and port in southern Dalmatia, at the foot of the Srđ mountain. From a historical and cultural point of view, it has been included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Thanks to its beauty and everything it has on offer for tourists, Dubrovnik is one of the most attractive destinations in the Mediterranean, so much so that the city can be visited all year round. In addition to its world-famous architectural heritage, this place has beautiful rocky beaches, pebble beaches and sandy beaches, enjoys a Mediterranean climate and also has lush vegetation. The main pedestrian street, Placa, is a melange of cafes and shops with monuments at each end.

Churches, monasteries and museums adorned with finely carved stone, recall an eventful history and a rich artistic tradition. Beyond the city there is a paradise of beaches, wooded peninsulas and a crystal-clear sea dotted with lush islands.

The city is also known for its delicious cuisine and its infrastructure of hotels for tourists. The city offers a wide selection of first-class restaurants, numerous sport and leisure activities, as well as cultural and entertainment events

Split

Split is a city in Croatia, capital of Split-Dalmatian region, the principle center of Dalmatia and, with its population of 178,192 inhabitants (in 2011), is the second largest city of the country. Split is also an university and religious center.
The name of the city derives from the thorny broom, a very common shrub in the region, that in ancient Greek was called Aspálathos (Aσπάλαθος). Under the Roman Empire, the city was called 'Spalatum' and in the Middle Ages 'Spalatro' in the Dalmatian language. In the Slavic language it is called 'Split' while in italian 'Spalato'. In the early XIX century, the name became 'Spljet' and then returned to the form 'Split' again.

Ravenna

Ravenna lies on a plain near the confluence of the rivers Ronco and Montone, 10 km inland from the Adriatic Sea, with which it is connected by a canal.

Ravenna was important in history as the capital of the Western Roman Empire in the 6th century AD.

Nothing remains of Ravenna's ancient Roman structures or its port of Classis. Instead, Ravenna's fame is based on the quality and quantity of its 6th-18th century Christian monuments. It was the capital of the Western Roman Empire for 250 years and an important port of entry for the Eastern (Byzantine) Empire. Ravenna reflects in its art and architecture a fusion of Roman architectural forms with Byzantine mosaics and other decorations.

Venice

Setting sail from Venice on a cruise ship is unique and unforgettable. Discover all the cruises that depart from Venice for a great start to your holiday!

Venice it is one of the golden destinations of our age. A unique city of 120 islands, with an ancient history and endless waterways, it attracts a constant flow of tourists from all over the world to see its inspiring architecture and navigate its canals.

There are many souvenirs you can bring home from Venice, but the most lasting memory will be your impression of the city itself.

Rovinj

Ancona

Brindisi

Many cruise ships, whose destination are Greek Islands, Croatia and Venice, set sail from Bari. On Taoticket you will find all departures on offer from Brindisi for a fairytale cruise in the Adriatic Sea.
Located in Salento plain along the Adriatic Sea, Brindisi has a magnificent natural port. The province of Brindisi stretches from the coast to the Adriatic Sea and includes areas of great historical interest. For instance, Via Traiana, the eastern part of the Itria Valley or the Roman road of Via Appia, the oldest road of the Roman Empire. In addition, Greece, Turkey and Albania can be easily reached from Brindisi by sea. The main trade traffic concerns coal, fuel oil, natural gas and chemicals.

If your cruise ship sets sail from Brindisi, do not miss the opportunity to visit this beautiful city in Puglia. We recommend you to visit the church of San Benedetto with its bell tower in Apulian Romanesque style, built around 1090 for the Benedictine nuns of Salento.

Do not a performance of the traditional dance of these lands: the pizzica. Its origins date back to the the cult of tarantismo, the belief that some women suffering from hysteria had been bitten by a tarantula. The only way to recover was to dance the pizzica continuously for days accompanied by the rhythm of tambourines, violins and mandolins. Nowadays pizzica is often still danced by young and old locals. There are many shows and artistic events you can attend, especially in the summer months. The traditional cuisine of Brindisi is made up of peasant elements such as barley flour and rich in blue fish, once undervalued but very nutritious. Stop here and try the famous fish soup with a glass of Negroamaro and your cruise will be tastier.

Kotor

Heraklion

Heraklion is the capital of Cray. It is the largest port and economic center of the island and the third largest city in Greece. This city hosts the archbishop of the Greek Orthodox Church and has religious buildings of great interest.

Heraklion is located in the center of the northern coast of the Greek Islands. With more than 100,00 inhabitants, the city is the capital of Crete, a Venetian fortress during the Middle Ages. The ancient city, with its squares and wide cobbled streets, balconies with wonderful view on the sea, mantains numerous fortifications. In particular there are important and magnificent monuments such as the Church of Agia Ekaterini, dated back to 1555, where the Museum of Sacred Art is hosted. The Archaeological Museum, home to ceramic sculptures, jewellery and frescoes on the Minoan culture. The Historical Museum, home to the only exhibited work of the painter Domenico Theotokopoulos (The Greek), and where you can have a view of Mount Sinai. The Cathedral of St Mena, the patron saint of the city, built between 1862 and 1895 is one of the largest buildings in the area.

Heraklion has an important port and a considerable center for the coastal trade of oil, soap, wine and hides. It has ferry boats and ships with regular itineraries to the islands of Santorini, Ios, Paros, Mykonos, Rhodes, Karpathos and Syros. There are also several daily ferry bgoats to Piraeus, south-west of Athens. The Venetian fortress, still in perfect condition, protects the entrance to the port.

The large combination of reality and mythology, tradition and modernity, make Herklion a cosmopolitan center and one of the most important tourist destination in the Mediterranean. Great beaches, lively nightlife, sunny people, excellent cuisine and the strange "interplay" between the old and the new, guarantees to tourists an unforgettable holiday.

Marmaris

Samos

Il Pireo