AFRICAN EMPIRES

14 Oct - 28 Oct 1998, 15 Days, visiting Italy, Tunisia, Libya & Greece

Cruise no: 522

On this two week cruise Minerva travels between the northern and southern Mediterranean taking in a wealth of historical sites along both the north African coast and the shores of Italy and Greece. Highlights of the cruise will include our visits to the great Libyan cites of Sabratha, Leptis Magna and Cyrene, breathtakingly situated 1800 feet above sea level, as well as our call at the island of Crete where we explore the site of Knossos, home of the legendary King Minos.

Itinerary:

Wed 14 Oct Fly London to Genoa and transfer to Minerva for embarkation. We stay late in port so there is time to explore Italy's foremost seaport.
Thu 15 Oct A full day at sea to relax and settle in.
Fri 16 Oct Morning arrival at the Sardinian capital of Cagliari. Visit the Roman ruins at Nora and the National Archaeological Museum or view the prehistoric fortress at Barumini.
Sat 17 Oct Morning at sea. On arrival at Palermo we take a sightseeing tour and visit the Benedictine Abbey of Monreale.
Sun 18 Oct This morning we berth in Porto Empedocle for our visit to the hill-top site of Agrigento. Alternative excursion to Selinunte.
Mon 19 Oct Today we visit the ancient Phoenician city of Carthage taking in the Bardo museum and the pretty seaside town of Sidi Bou Said.
Tue 20 Oct An early afternoon arrival in Sousse for a visit to the great Roman amphitheatre of El Djem. Minerva sails in the evening.
Wed 21 Oct A morning call at the island of Djerba. There will be a general tour of the island and an opportunity to swim at one of the island's excellent beaches.
Thu 22 Oct This morning we arrive in the Libyan capital of Tripoli and visit the coastal site of Sabratha. In the afternoon we explore the Tripoli Museum.
Fri 23 Oct A full-day relaxing on board as Minerva crosses the Gulf of Sirte.
Sat 24 Oct Arrive early in the morning for a visit to the area of Libya known as Cyrenaica. We travel first to Cyrene, one of the most sublimely beautiful sites of antiquity and then onto Apollonia.
Sun 25 Oct Midday arrival at Souda Bay in Crete for a visit to the attractive town of Chania.
Mon 26 Oct We spend the day in Heraklion visiting the Minoan Palace of Knossos in the morning and the Archaeological Museum in the afternoon.
Tue 27 Oct A final full day at sea with a chance to listen to the guest lecturers as they consider the cruise in retrospect.
Wed 28 Oct A morning visit to the Acropolis or 'High City'. Alternatively visit the National Museum with its outstanding collection of sculptures. Transfer to Athens Airport for the return flight to London.

GUEST LECTURERS:

DR ANN BIRCHALL:Formerly Assistant Keeper or Greek and Roman antiquities, British Museum.
THE VERY REVEREND DR WILLIAM MCDONALD: A former classical scholar, formerly Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.
LORD WRIGHT OF RICHMOND: Served as Ambassador to Luxembourg, Syria and Saudi Arabia.
JOHN KEEGAN: Military Historian and now Defence Editor of The Daily Telegraph.
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