Compare Dubrovnik to Venice by Intrepid Travel vs An Adriatic Journey: from Trieste to Dubrovnik by ASA Cultural Tours

Day 1 Dubrovnik

Dobro Dosli! Welcome to Croatia. The jewel of the Dalmatian Coast, your journey begins in Dubrovnik, a beautiful white stone town surrounded entirely by city walls. Although it experienced devastation during the war in the early 1990s, the Old Town remains as charming as ever with its tiled roofs and stone buildings. With the sparkling water of the Adriatic in the background, Dubrovnik is picturesque and full of character, and its Old Town can easily be covered on foot. After tonight's group meeting at 6 pm, maybe head out for a walk around Dubrovnik. Later, maybe enjoy a meal with the group and get to know your fellow travellers.

Day 2 Dubrovnik

This morning after breakfast, take a day trip to Elaphiti Islands – a small archipelago northwest of Dubrovnik. Travel to Lopud, where you’ll hike from the main village to Sunj Beach with your leader. Explore the old churches, old fortress and incredible views along the way. When you arrive at the beach, enjoy some free time to relax, swim, or find a good spot to settle for a couple of hours for a long lunch. After, return to Dubrovnik where you’ll have the late afternoon and night free. Walk along the city walls of ‘Game of Thrones’ fame, enjoying breathtaking views of the Adriatic Sea. Visit Big Onofrio's Fountain, built by architect Onofrio della Cava in the 15th century to supply water to the city or check out the Franciscan monastery, home to one of the world's oldest continuously functioning pharmacies, founded in the 13th century. Tonight, kick back on Banje Beach or find a good spot with a sunset view for dinner.

Day 3 Split

This morning you’ll take a public bus up the coast to Split. If Dubrovnik is considered the heart of Dalmatia, Split is certainly the soul. On a small peninsula on the eastern shores of the Adriatic Sea, it's the second-largest city in Croatia. Enjoy a free afternoon in this stunning seaside town, exploring the historic streets and making sure you see the World Heritage-listed Diocletian's Palace. For a more in-depth introduction to the city, why not join an optional guided tour with a local guide? Dinner by the sea is recommended, whether you’re a fiend for fresh seafood or just want to catch the deep colours of the sunset.

Day 4 Split

Enjoy a free day in Split today. At the heart of its atmospheric Old Town is a fascinating city-within-a-city – the remains of a third-century palace built for Roman Emperor Diocletian. Some places might have protected such an impressive complex in a museum, but not enigmatic Split. These ancient walls now house a vibrant mix of shops, cafes, restaurants and houses. Step back in time as you stroll the sprawling maze of passageways and courtyards – you’ll also find a 16th-century synagogue and a courtyard often filled with music. If your feet tire, why not sample Croatia’s fine coffee culture with a frothy kava from a cafe on the Riva waterfront promenade – a prime spot for people-watching. In the evening, Split boasts an increasingly bustling nightlife scene, so grab a few of your fellow travellers and hit the bars.

Day 5 Plitvice Lakes National Park / Zagreb

Today you will visit one of Croatia's most beautiful sites – Plitvice Lakes National Park. The park was given UNESCO World Heritage status 20 years ago and is 19 hectares of wooded hills surrounding 16 stunning turquoise lakes, all connected by a series of waterfalls. The area is populated by deer, bears, wolves, boars and some rare bird species, and the thick, primeval forest vegetation of beech trees, fir spruce and white pine adds another element to the park's beauty. You’ll have free time to explore or simply follow your leader to see the best spots – all trails in the national park are well marked, so it's difficult to get lost (but make sure you follow the national park rules, which your leader will outline). Look to the canopy for over 120 species of birds, including hawks and owls. After your memorable visit to the lakes, you’ll drive to Croatia's capital Zagreb.

Day 6 Zagreb

This morning after breakfast, take an orientation walk with your leader as they point out the local amenities and attractions in Zagreb. For lunch, you’ll head to Dolac Market – the main market in the city and a great spot to pick up local favourites. The upper level offers seasonal fruits, vegetables, preserves and olive oil and the bottom level sells cheese and meats. Stop by a bakery for a taste of cevapcici (grilled minced meat) – a traditional market snack. The rest of the day is free, so you might want to check out the gothic Zagreb Cathedral, with its twin spires that dominate the city's skyline. Maybe start at Ban Jelacic Square, the city's central point, and visit one of the excellent museums like the quirky Museum of Broken Relationships.

Day 7 Ljubljana

Travel by train this morning across the Slovenian border and arrive in the cosmopolitan capital of Ljubljana (pronounced 'Lyub-Li-Yana'). Check in to your accommodation and then head out on a short orientation walk with your leader. The rest of the day is free for you to delve deeper into this beautiful city. Located in the centre of Slovenia, Ljubljana is a city full of style and sophistication, history, monuments, churches, museums and great restaurants. Maybe wander around the old city centre, renowned for its unique architectural appearance. The Old Town consists of three main squares and Baroque houses, and you can visit the Ljubljana Castle, the Town Hall, the Cathedral of St Nicholas, and the Dragon Bridge. Stop at the central Preseren Square, dedicated to the Slovenian romantic poet France Preseren.

Day 8 Ljubljana

Today is a free day to explore Ljubljana further. You have the option of heading on a day trip to Bled – gifted with immense natural beauty, Bled ranks among the most beautiful of alpine resorts. Its fairy tale-like scenery includes a castle, a stunning lake and a picturesque island topped with a church, which is a dream to explore. Take a Pletna boat ride (a wooden, awning-covered boat rowed by a special oarsman) across sparkling Lake Bled to its island, then climb the 99 steps to St Mary's Church. Be sure to seek out the famous Bled cream cake, too – nearly every cafe and cake shop in town claims their cream cake is the best! There's also plenty of action for adrenaline junkies on offer today, like rafting, caving, cycling, canoeing, boating or swimming.

Day 9 Venice

This morning, travel by bus to one of the world's most unique and romantic destinations – Venice. Renowned for its canals, Venice comprises hundreds of small islands connected by nearly 400 bridges. Its famous sights – such as the Grand Canal, the Rialto Bridge, Doge's Palace (the ruler of Venice), the Piazza San Marco and the evocative Bridge of Sighs – are easily explored by foot. Don't miss the chance to take a gondola ride through the romantic canals! It’s also heavily recommended that you sample a slice of tiramisu (coffee-soaked sponge cake), the region’s specialty. Tonight, maybe join your fellow travellers for dinner and try two other local specialities – fresh lobster and squid ink pasta. 

Day 10 Venice

With no activities planned for today, you’re free to depart the accommodation any time after check-out. Venice is a charming city with lots to do, so it’s highly recommended that you stay an extra day or two. If you would like to spend more time in Venice, just speak to your booking agent.

Day 1: Arrive Venice – Trieste

Orientation Walk & introduction

Welcome Meeting

Participants arriving on the ASA ‘designated’ flight into Venice will be transferred by private coach to the charming Grand Hotel Duchi d’Aosta located on Piazza Unità d’Italia, the monumental main square of Trieste. After checking into our hotel, there will be time at leisure followed by a short orientation walk within the vicinity of our hotel. (Overnight Trieste)

Day 2: Trieste

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Trieste walking tour, including Colle di San Giusto, Ancient Theatre, Basilica di San Giusto, Borgo Teresiano

Castello Miramare

Welcome Evening Meal at Harry’s Grill Restaurant.

Trieste is a thriving port situated on the Gulf of Trieste in Northeast Adriatic. Today it is a border city, with a population of Italians, Slovenians and Croats that reflects its geographical location and chequered history. Excavation of a Roman theatre in the 20th century showed that it prospered in antiquity until eclipsed by Aquileia. It then declined somewhat, becoming a Byzantine military outpost and then a Frankish city, a free commune which warred with Venice, and then a dependent of the Habsburg Empire. It revived during the Austro-Hungarian Empire, of which it became a major port. With the collapse of the Austrian Empire at the end of World War I, Trieste came to be annexed by Italy.

The core of the old city is the Colle San Giusto that overlooks the port. Here are clustered the main civic, defensive and religious buildings of Trieste. One of the main monuments on the hill, which constitutes an important symbol of the city, is its castle. Construction commenced in 1470 on the site of a Venetian fort, but the citadel was not finished until 1630. A passage to the courtyard leads to the site museum. On the ground floor, there is a chapel dedicated to the military saint, Saint George. A large staircase lined with armour leads to the beautiful Venetian Room on the ceiling of which is a large painting, the Allegory of Venice, by Andrea Celesti (1637-1712).

The cathedral of San Giusto that also occupies Colle San Giusto gained its present plan in 1300 when two pre-existing basilicas were merged to form its wide central nave. The cathedral has a beautiful sandstone façade and a bell tower that was built in 1337. Inside are important Byzantine mosaics and a 13th-century chapel behind a rich Baroque rail. The right nave is the chapel dedicated to San Giusto.

We shall visit the castle, cathedral and Trieste’s Roman theatre as well as Borgo Teresiano, the 19th-century precinct comprising beautiful Neoclassical and Art Nouveau (Secession) buildings constructed when Trieste was an important Austrian port and resort.

Our day finishes with a visit to the Castello Miramare, which occupies an extraordinary site perched atop a spur above the sea. It was the home to the younger brother of Franz Joseph I of Austria, Maximillian, until he left to become the Emperor of Mexico. The next resident, Duke Amedeo of Savoy, made it the headquarters for various military commands. In 1955, it was transformed into a museum. The castle still has original furniture commissioned by Maximillian. There is a chapel, the Japanese and Chinese rooms, rich in oriental ornament, and the apartments where the Duke of Savoy lived. Miramare is set in an extraordinary park, which extends over twenty-two hectares. This evening we shall enjoy a welcome dinner at Harry’s Grill. (Overnight Trieste)

Porec - 2 nights

Day 3: Trieste – Porec

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Sixth-century Basilica Complex (Cathedral, Baptistery, Bishop’s Palace), Porec

Romanesque House, Porec (exterior)

Temple of Neptune (ruins), Porec

House of the Two Saints, Porec (exterior)

Today we cross the Croatian border and drive south along the Adriatic coast to the magnificent port-town of Porec. Located on a narrow peninsula jutting out into the Adriatic Sea, Porec was an important centre of early Christianity and today boasts one of the finest, and most complete, early medieval religious complexes in Europe. We will visit the Basilica of Euphrasius (a Byzantine masterpiece with magnificent gold apse mosaics of the quality of Ravenna), the Sacristy and Votive chapel, the Baptistery and the Bishop’s Palace. The Basilica is entered through an arcaded atrium, typical of early Christian churches. Flanking this is the fine octagonal 6th-century Baptistery and a 16th-century bell tower. The rare, triple-aisled Bishops’ Residence and the Sacristy, also from the 6th century, make the complex one of the most cohesive, wonderfully preserved early medieval ensembles – well deserving of its inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Porec also features some very important medieval domestic buildings. We will visit the ‘Romanesque House'; a 13th-century building with an interesting wooden balcony that stands at a point where the ancient Roman road, the Decumanus, meets the Marafor Square (once the site of the forum). Nearby we will see the so-called ‘House of the Two Saints’, which is all that remains of the 12th-century abbey of St Cassius. This small, one-storey residence built in the 14th to 15th century in a Romanesque style, derives its name from the stone relief figures of two saints flanking a window on the top floor. We will also explore the remains of the pre-Roman ‘Temple of Neptune’. (Overnight Porec)

Day 4: Porec – Pula – Rovinj – Porec

Meals: Breakfast

Amphitheatre, Pula

Gate of Hercules, Pula

Temple of Romae and Augustus, Pula

Arch of the Sergii, Pula

Rovinj

We leave Porec this morning for nearby Pula – the ancient colony of ‘Pieta Julia’. Now a large regional centre and university town with a busy harbour, Pula is noted for its many fine Roman monuments. ‘Pieta Julia’ became an episcopal see in 425 AD and fragments of 5th century religious buildings still remain. Most of its churches, however, were reconstructed in later periods (especially during the 17th century). Pula’s Roman monuments, on the other hand, are in a fine state of preservation. One such site is the imposing Pula Amphitheatre, built by Claudius and enlarged by Vespasian (79 AD) to house 23,000 spectators of gladiator fights and other Roman extravaganzas. A highlight of today’s program, the amphitheatre, is one of the most complete in existence with its 30 metre-high outer wall almost fully intact. The first and second floors feature 72 arches whilst the third has 64 broad openings designed to illuminate the internal corridors.

Other Roman monuments we will visit include the 1st-century ‘Temple of Romae and Augustus’ with its well-preserved 1st-century façade. This treasure of Roman architecture was built on simple, elegant lines and features six plain columns with intricate carved capitals. The oldest and most intact monument we will see is the single-arched 1st-century ‘Gate of Hercules’ which has a carving of Hercules at the head of the arch. The fine ‘Arch of the Sergii’, built in the 1st century BC to honour three brothers who held important posts in Rome’s government, will be another ancient site to admire. In the late afternoon we visit the small fishing village of Rovinj, one of the most charming and relaxing places on the Istrian peninsula. (Overnight Porec) B

Plitvice Lakes National Park - 1 night

Day 5: Porec – Beram – Opatija – Plitvice Lakes NP

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Church of St Mary of the Rocks, Beram

Nineteenth-century resort town, Opatija

We farewell Porec this morning and travel to the little church of St Mary of the Rocks, just outside of  Beram. This 15th-century church, tucked away in the woods, is seldom visited by tourists but contains some of the finest Byzantine frescoes in Croatia. The frescoes date to 1474 and are the work of Vincent of Kastav and his workshop. Many of the frescoes depict scenes from the lives of Mary and Jesus; others show a procession of figures led by a skeleton playing a bagpipe, in the ‘Dance of Death’. This version of the danse macabre is the only example of this iconographic motif in Croatia. In an eighteenth-century expansion and renovation of the church, many of the frescoes were damaged and painted over, but they were subsequently rediscovered and restored in the early 20th century.

We continue our drive across the beautiful Istrian peninsula to the resort town of Opatija. In 1845, a Rijeka nobleman built the grand Villa Angioline which, a few years later, was visited by the Austrian Empress, Maria Anna. This royal visit sparked a tourist boom and Opatija became the most fashionable resort-town of the Austro-Hungarian Empire up until World War 1. The coast came to be lined with elegant Viennese villas with pretty parks and gardens, and today, Opatija still retains much of the ambience of a nineteenth-century Central European spa town. Next we turn inland to the Plitvice Lakes National Park, where we spend the night. (Overnight Plitvice Lakes National Park)

Zadar - 2 nights

Day 6: Plitvice Lakes – Zadar

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Plitvice Lakes National Park

Situated in the mountainous heartland of Croatia, this intricate network of sixteen lakes, placed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979, is set against mountains whose slopes are covered with dense fir, pine and beech forests. There are wonderful walks through the park where you can see some of its 160 bird species. There are no settlements in this region, only hotels. We shall spend the morning in the park with a specialist from the region who will explain its bounteous fauna and flora. In the afternoon we return to the coast and continue our journey south to the beautiful town of Zadar. (Overnight Zadar)

Day 7: Zadar

Meals: Breakfast

Museum of Sacred Art

Church of St Mary (visit to interior subject to opening times)

Romanesque Cathedral of St Anastasia

Pre-Romanesque Church of St Donat

Church of St Chrysogonus (exterior only)

Bishop’s Palace (exterior only)

16th-century fortifications

Time at leisure

Today we will explore some of the Roman ruins, medieval churches and interesting museums to be found in the marble, traffic-free streets of the old town of Zadar. Illyrians once inhabited the narrow peninsula upon which a Roman port – trading timber and wine – was built. During the Middle Ages, Zadar became the main Adriatic base of the Byzantine fleet. The Hungarians and Venetians contested control of Zadar until Ladislaus of Hungary sold the city to Venice (1409).

We shall spend the morning exploring the Museum of Sacred Art with its fine gold collection and painting gallery that includes an important polyptych by the Venetian Vittore Carpaccio (1487). Next to the museum is the church of St Mary, originally built in 1066 but the subject of many alterations over the centuries. It now features an elegant Venetian-Renaissance façade. We will also visit the beautiful Cathedral of St Anastasia, located on the site of the ancient forum. Founded in the 9th century by the Byzantines and rebuilt in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, it features a particularly fine Romanesque façade and a highly varied interior with Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque elements. Equally fascinating are the 9th century pre-Romanesque church of St Donat; a circular building with three apses and a women’s gallery (now solely used as a concert hall), and the church of St Chrysogonus with its external apsidal gallery. Another interesting site we will see in Zadar is the massive ‘Land Wall'; the 16th century fortification featuring the Land Gate (by the great Veronese architect, Sanmicheli), upon which sits a relief of St Chrysogonus on horseback and the lion of St Mark, symbol of Venetian rule. The rest of the day is at leisure to further explore this charming city. (Overnight Zadar) B

Split - 2 nights

Day 8: Zadar – Sibenik – Trogir – Split

Meals: Breakfast

Cathedral of St James, Sibenik

Cathedral of Saint Lawrence, Trogir

Loggia and Clock Tower, Trogir

Sea Gate and Fish Market, Trogir

Kamerlongo Castle and St Mark’s Tower, Trogir (exterior)

Church of St John the Baptist & Art Gallery, Trogir

Today we drive south along the Dalmatian coast to visit the Cathedral of St James, Sibenik, recently restored after suffering damage during shelling in 1991. The Cathedral of St James is a fine Venetian Gothic and Renaissance building constructed between 1432 and 1555. The Venetian, Antonio dalle Masegne, built the lower Gothic levels and the great Dalmatian architect, Juraj Dalmatinac, the upper Renaissance sections. The Cathedral is particularly noted for its fine stonework, especially its magnificent stone vaults and dome.

We will spend the rest of the day in Trogir, the lovely UNESCO World Heritage-listed island town. Trogir was settled by the Greeks in the 4th and 3rd centuries BC and, in the 1st century AD, became the Roman municipium ‘Tragurium Civium Romanorum’. With the fall of the Roman Empire, Trogir became an independent town. In the 6th century, the Croats settled in the area and began creating monumental works of art. Masons built churches and decorated them with interlaced ornamentation. In their struggle against the Venetians for dominion in the western Balkans, the kings of Hungary guaranteed Trogir independence in return for an alliance. Communal institutions prospered and citizens elected city leaders. Despite Venetian raids, the fortified island’s population grew throughout the 11th century. Trogir had its own Bishop and, at the beginning of the 13th century, Rector Ilija from the Kacic family built a new cathedral. Forty years later, Radovan carved its main portal, arguably the most important medieval sculpture in Croatia. From 1420 to 1797, the Venetians occupied the town. After initially devastating the town, the Venetians built many new palaces, houses, towers and fortresses. A brief Napoleonic interlude followed, then the town became subject to the Austro-Hungarian empire (1814-1914). We will visit the Cathedral of St Lawrence, concentrating on its magnificent medieval sculpted portal, 13th-century octagonal stone pulpit and fine Renaissance Chapel of St John Orsini. We will also view a number of civic and military buildings and will see the excellent collection of paintings (including works by Gentile Bellini) in the Church of St John the Baptist. Finally, we continue the short distance to the ancient city of Split, where we will spend the next two nights. (Overnight Split)

Day 9: Split – Salona – Split

Meals: Breakfast

Split Archaeological Museum

Archaeological Site of Salona

Palace of Diocletian

Cathedral of St Domnius (Mausoleum of Diocletian)

Temple of Jupiter

Chapel of St Martin

The UNESCO World Heritage-listed city of Split grew from the palace built by the Roman Emperor Diocletian on the bay of Aspalathos in AD293. After abdicating in 305, Diocletian spent the last years of his life here. The bay is located on the south side of a short peninsula running out from the Dalmatian coast into the Adriatic, four miles from the site of Salona (once the capital of the Roman province of Dalmatia). The terrain on which the palace was built slopes gently seaward. The palace complex became the kernel of a city when, in the 7th century AD, the inhabitants of Greek and Roman Salonae (present-day Solin) took refuge from the Avars within its walls. In the Middle Ages, Split was an autonomous commune. After two centuries of subsequent Byzantine rule and the establishment of Croat communities, Split fell to Venice in 1409.

This morning we visit Split’s archaeological museum, where we view a number of intriguing finds dating from prehistoric and Roman times. We then drive a short distance to the archaeological site at Salona. Neglected by many visitors to Croatia, this is a very interesting Roman site. Once the administrative capital of the Dalmatian coast, Salona was sacked by the Slavs and Avars in the 7th century, and the town was never rebuilt. Salona has the ruins of a fine amphitheatre, aqueduct, public baths and early Christian churches.

In the afternoon we visit the magnificent Palace of Diocletian, the largest Roman building along the Adriatic. The ground plan of the Palace is trapezoid, with towers projecting from its western, northern and eastern façades. Fortunately, later housing built within it did not destroy the coherence of its plan or much of its decoration. Thus, it stands today as – arguably – the most complete example of a Roman palace anywhere. It alone gives a clear idea of the spatial, architectonic and decorative make up of a vast imperial residence and demonstrates the court ritual and grand status of a late-Roman emperor. The Palace of Diocletian combined the qualities of a luxurious villa graced by loggias, with those of a Syrian military camp (castrum). Only the southern facade, which rose directly from (or very near to) the sea, was unfortified. The elaborate architectural composition of the arcaded gallery on the upper floor of this seaward façade differed from the more severe treatment of the three shore façades. A monumental gate in the middle of each of these walls led to an enclosed courtyard. The southern Sea Gate was simpler in shape than the other three – possibly originally intended as the emperor’s private access to boats, or as a service entrance for supplies.

The transverse road (decumanus) linking the east and west gates divided the complex into two halves. In the southern half were the more luxurious structures: the emperor’s apartment, both public and private, and court buildings. The emperor’s apartment formed a block along the sea front. Because the sloping terrain created differences in ground level, this block was situated above a substructure. Despite being filled with refuse for many centuries, most of the substructure is well preserved and clearly shows the original shape and disposition of the rooms above. Still standing is the monumental court, called the Peristyle, which formed the northern access to the imperial apartments. The court also provided access to Diocletian’s Mausoleum on the east (which was converted to the Cathedral of St Domnius) and to three temples on the west. Only the northern half of the palace, which was divided into two parts by the main longitudinal street (cardo) leading from the North Gate to the Peristyle, is less well preserved. It is commonly thought that each of these parts formed a large residential complex, housing soldiers, servants and possibly some other facilities. Both parts were apparently surrounded on all sides by streets. Leading to the perimeter walls were rectangular buildings – possibly storage magazines. The Palace is built mostly of local materials: high-quality white limestone quarried on the island of Brac; ‘tufa’, the common-most Roman building stone, taken from the nearby riverbeds; and brick made in Salonitan and other workshops. Some decorative materials were imported such as Egyptian granite columns and sphinxes, fine marble for retaining walls and some capitals produced in workshops in the Proconnesos. Today after we have explored in detail the Palace of Diocletian, including the Temple of Jupiter, the Cathedral of St Domnius (originally Diocletian’s Mausoleum), the substructures of the Palace and the Chapel of St Martin, we will view a number of Renaissance palaces and visit the Archaeological Museum. (Overnight Split)

Hvar - 2 nights

Day 10: Split – Hvar

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Old town of Hvar

Early this morning we make our way to the Split ferry terminal, where we board a ferry to the island of Hvar – a jewel of the Adriatic famed for its gentle weather, the perfume of its lavender fields and its cultural treasures. Two days will be spent exploring the island and, in particular, Hvar Town and Stari Grad. Of these two towns, Stari Grad is the oldest. Greeks from Paros in Asia Minor established the city of Pharos here. It became a Roman and then Byzantine town, and then in the eighth century, was populated by Slavs. Hvar Town, on the other hand, began as a haven for pirates but was transformed in 1240 when the Venetians drove the marauders out and moved the population here from Stari Grad. Like many places in Croatia, Hvar then became a self-governing commune that swore nominal loyalty at different times to the Venetians, or the Hungarian and Bosnian monarchies, until 1420, when it passed under the control of Venice. Popular revolts by the maritime population against the landed aristocracy marked the city’s later history.

Today Hvar is considered one of the most beautiful and fashionable of all Dalmatian towns after Dubrovnik and its narrow streets are dotted with a number of lovely palaces. In the lower storey of Hvar’s Venetian arsenal are arched areas where galleys could be shipped for repairs. Above this is one of Europe’s oldest theatres (1612) built, some believe, to relieve tensions between the seafaring population and the aristocracy by creating a space for communal entertainment. The island of Hvar is long and narrow, and a high, spinal ridge dominates its less populated western portion.

Our tour will include visits to the cathedral, Franciscan monastery and the convent of the Benedictine nuns where they make the famous agava lace. (Overnight Hvar) BD

Day 11: Hvar

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Island tour with visits to several small villages and Starigrad

Lunch and wine tasting at a family restaurant in one of Hvar’s charming villages

Time at leisure in late afternoon

This morning we will further enjoy the beautiful island of Hvar, taking a short drive to the Fortica, Hvar’s fortress, to enjoy glorious views over the town and neighbouring islands. Our island tour will then continue with visits to some of the charming villages scattered along our route. Lunch will be at a small family restaurant where we’ll enjoy delicious local produce and taste Hvar’s local wines. We will return to Hvar town in the mid-afternoon and the rest of the day will be at leisure to relax. (Overnight Hvar)

Mostar - 1 night

Day 12: Hvar – Narona – Mostar

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Narona Archaeological Site

Mostar Old Town and Ottoman Old Bridge

Today we return to the mainland and drive along some of Croatia’s most beautiful coastline before heading inland to Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina. On the way we will pay a visit to Narona, a newly opened archaeological museum. Here the latest excavation and conservation techniques have been used to preserve the ancient monument and all unearthed artefacts within the one museum, proudly described as the first ‘in situ’ museum in Croatia. Strategically situated on the Neretva River, the area was already established as a trading centre by the 4th century BC. The town’s strong Roman links began as early as the first Illyrian War in 229BC, when Narona was a Roman military stronghold, and the town was raised to the rank of Roman colony by either Julius Caesar or Augustus. During the late Empire Narona was the seat of a diocese, but the area rapidly declined with the barbarian invasions into the region in the 7th century, and the town was abandoned. Visitors to the museum see the remains of the forum and its accompanying buildings, particularly the Temple of Augustus, as well as the monumental sculpture, mosaic pavements and smaller artefacts found during the 20th century excavations.

Mostar has undergone extensive restoration since it was badly damaged during the Balkan War in the 1990s. It is now one of the most charming towns in Bosnia and displays a variety of architecture that illustrates the town’s different layers of occupation, with mosques and churches and the famous Ottoman Old Bridge. When we arrive in Mostar we will take a walking tour around the town before enjoying a group dinner. (Overnight Mostar)

Dubrovnik - 4 nights

Day 13: Mostar – Dubrovnik

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

City Walls, Gates and Forts, Dubrovnik

Today we continue our exploration of Mostar before returning to the coast and crossing the border back into Croatia. We then follow the beautiful scenic road that runs alongside the Adriatic to Dubrovnik.

Dubrovnik is famed as the most picturesque city on the Dalmatian coast. Prior to the 1991 war, it was a hugely popular tourist destination and now with peace restored, the beautiful monuments and unique, welcoming atmosphere are yours to enjoy. Dubrovnik is situated on a promontory projecting into the sea under the bare limestone mass of Mount Srdj. Giant sea fortifications rise directly from the water’s edge and a massive round tower defends the city on the landward side. Outside Dubrovnik’s double line of city walls are many villas surrounded by gardens. Dubrovnik retains its historic city plan (1292), when the port was rebuilt following a fire. The main street (Stradun) is flanked by beautiful late-Renaissance houses. It runs along a valley that, before 1272, was a marshy channel dividing the Latin island of Ragusa from the Slavic forest settlement of Dubrovnik (dubrava in Serbo-Croatian means ‘grove’). A picturesque maze of steep, winding, narrow streets, leads from the Stradun. Fourteenth-century Franciscan and Dominican convents stand at the western and eastern gates of the city. The Rector’s Palace is one of the masterpieces of Dalmatian architecture. Lokrum, an offshore island, is famous for its gardens and orange groves.

Ragusa, or Ragusium, was founded in the 7th century by Roman refugees fleeing the Slav and Avar sack of Epidaurus (Cavtat) to the southeast. These Roman émigrés were joined by a colony of Slavs and thus became a meeting place of two ancient cultures. Dubrovnik came under the tutelage of Byzantium, which nevertheless allowed it a high degree of independence. Ties to Byzantium, meanwhile, encouraged the city’s economic growth. From the 9th to the 12th century, Dubrovnik was able to avoid direct rule by foreign powers. Although the city was forced to acknowledge Venetian sovereignty between 1205 and 1358, in reality it maintained a high degree of independence. By means of treaty and tribute, the city-republic enlarged its territory along the Dalmatian coast. It became a great mercantile power as the Adriatic entrepot for overland trade routes to Byzantium and the Danube region, and its merchants traded successfully throughout the Balkans.

Despite the Hungarians’ sale of Dalmatia to Venice in 1420, Dubrovnik remained a free city in all but name by skillfully manoeuvring between the East and Western Europe. A strategic treaty with Turkey protected Dubrovnik’s liberty in return for an annual tribute. This allowed the city to mediate trade between the Ottoman Empire and Europe. In the 16th century, it even traded with India and the Americas. Between the 15th and 17th centuries, art and literature prospered in the city – playing a vital role in the evolution of southern-Slav literature. In 1667 an earthquake destroyed parts of Dubrovnik, killing approximately 20 per cent of the population and leading to an economic downturn. Only during the Napoleonic Wars did the republic revive economically. From 1800 to 1805, as the sole neutral Mediterranean state, it secured a large share of the carrying trade. Napoleon I subjugated Dubrovnik in 1808. The Congress of Vienna (1815) gave Dubrovnik to Austria and in 1918 it was incorporated into Yugoslavia.

In order to best gauge the layout of city, we will walk along its city walls – arguably the most complete and untouched in Europe. They are punctured by fine gates and defended by powerful towers and forts. We will see the Pile Gate (1537); Minceta Tower by Michelozzo (architect of the Medici Palace, Florence); Asimov Tower; Ploce Gate (1300s); Revelin Fort (1580); Fort St John and Bokar Fort, also by Michelozzo. (Overnight Dubrovnik)

Day 14: Dubrovnik

Meals: Breakfast

Cathedral and Treasury

Church of St Blaise

Fountain of Onofrio

Franciscan Monastery

Afternoon at Leisure

This morning we return to Dubrovnik to continue our exploration of this splendid city. We begin with a visit to the cathedral, which was built after an earlier church was devastated by an earthquake in 1667. It, like the church of St Blaise, is an excellent example of Venetian Baroque. Its nave is dominated by a late Titian, an Assumption. The cathedral treasury displays a large number of reliquaries, including an important 13th-century Arm of St Blaise.

Other interesting detours will be to the Church of St Blaise and to the lovely Square of the Loggia. This square – the political and economic heart of Dubrovnik – is located at the east end of its spinal main street, the Stradun. The square features loggias, a clock tower and guard-house; buildings which span a period from the 15th to 18th centuries. There is a delightful fountain, the Small Fountain of Onofrio (1438), which is the counterpart of the Large Fountain of Onofrio located on the other side of the city. We will visit this great mid 15th century fountain, one of Dubrovnik’s best-known monuments and historically the heart of the city’s water supply. This afternoon is at leisure. (Overnight Dubrovnik)

Day 15: Dubrovnik – Kotor – Dubrovnik

Meals: Breakfast

Montenegro: Old Town of Kotor

Today we journey along the dramatic and spectacular mountain coastline into Montenegro. Skirting the winding Bay of Kotor, a deep inlet in the shadow of cliffs, we arrive at our next destination, the walled city of Kotor. Ruled consecutively by Illyrians, Romans, Hungarians, Medieval Serbia, Venetians, the French and the Austrians, Kotor is a small and extremely beautiful city, which during its rich history was an important maritime centre.

This afternoon we take a tour of the old town, a UNESCO World heritage site. Our tour will include a visit to St Tryphon Cathedral, a fine Romanesque church built in 1166 using Roman columns. Nearby is the Drago Palace, one of the largest palaces in Kotor, built from the 15th to the 17th century. It belonged to the large and prominent Drago clan whose coat-of-arms, a dragon on a golden field, can be seen all over the façade. Many sumptuously decorated windows also puncture the palace façade. We then return to Dubrovnik for an evening at leisure. (Overnight Dubrovnik)

Day 16: Tuesday 10 May, Dubrovnik

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Renaissance Rector’s Palace and Museum of the City of Dubrovnik

Dominican Monastery

Afternoon at Leisure

Farewell Evening Meal

Today we will return to the old town of Dubrovnik where we will visit the remaining sites on our program. We start with a visit to the Rector’s Palace, a beautiful 15th century building which held the administrative seat of the city for centuries. It features a fine portico by Michelozzo and an atmospheric internal courtyard that plays host to concerts during the acclaimed Dubrovnik Music Festival.

We will also pay a visit to the Museum of the City of Dubrovnik that documents the city’s history with a Venetian/Dalmatian painting collection, precious objects, furniture, costumes and coins. This museum gives a vivid idea of the prosperity bestowed on Dubrovnik through its strategic location at the intersection of Balkan land and Mediterranean maritime trade.

Our final visit for the day will be to the Dominican Monastery. The various rooms of the monastery are arranged around a Gothic cloister which now houses a fine museum with some extraordinary Venetian and Croatian Renaissance paintings.

This afternoon is at leisure. This evening we regather for a farewell group meal. (Overnight Dubrovnik)

Day 17: Depart Dubrovnik

Meals: Breakfast

Airport transfer for those taking the ASA ‘designated’ flight

Today our tour ends in in Dubrovnik. Those taking the ASA ‘designated’  flight will be transferred to the airport.