A Piece of Greece, a Slice of Sicily & the Corinth Canal

With 3,000 years of history, you can&rsquo;t turn around in Athens without encountering the past. The Acropolis, a UNESCO site, the Plaka, and the Acropolis Museum are must-sees. But leave time if you can to climb Pnyx Hill for photos of the Parthenon at sunset, to buy your own set of Greek <em>komboloi</em> (worry beads), and to explore the metro stations that serve as mini-museums for the relics that are constantly being unearthed.&nbsp;

You&rsquo;ll want to be on deck today as we transit the narrow Corinth Canal with other private yachts and Greek mail steamers. It&rsquo;s a shortcut reserved for petite ships like ours, and as we cruise between the narrow limestone walls we are the envy of all the ancient Romans who once portaged their ships along this very route before there was a canal.<br />
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<em>Canal transit time and duration is subject to change based on traffic and canal authorities</em>.

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Before there were fortune cookies there was the oracle of Delphi, dating back to 1400 B.C. The oracle gave cryptic guidance to the leaders of the day and was so highly respected that Delphi, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, became known as the center of the world. An optional tour lets you go exploring, from the Temple of Apollo to the Delphi Archaeological Museum, which contains some of the finest works of art in Greece.&nbsp;</div>

One of the most beautiful and popular islands, located on the Ionian Sea, Corfu has wonderful beaches and small villages throughout the island. Take in the Venetian influence at the two fortresses located in Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.&nbsp;

The active harbor of Argostoli features a long promenade offering excellent opportunities to see the main attraction here &ndash; the caretta-caretta turtles who feed at the nearby lagoon or around the fishing boats who toss their unwanted catch to them. There is a variety of restaurants and cafes to try the delicious Kephalonian meat pie.

The cobblestone streets of Messina, Sicily, are the perfect launching point for an optional visit to nearby Taormina. Stroll along flower-filled streets in search of a delightful lunch or an artist&rsquo;s palette of colorful gelati. The ancient Greek Theater is an ideal place to sit back and admire shimmering waters below and Mount Etna, languidly smoking in the distance.

At once ancient and contemporary, Trapani is a city of contrasts. From the salt marshes that produce much of the Mediterranean&rsquo;s signature colored salts, to the intricate mosaics of Mozia and the famous wines of Marsala, to the best view in all of Sicily from the medieval hill town of Erice where the colorful gardens are rivaled only by the cannolis for pure sensory delight. The line of 17th century windmills, still hard at work in ancient Phoenician salt marshes beckons you to return to Trapani again and again.&nbsp;

Cagliari is known for Il Castello, a hilltop medieval walled quarter majestically watching over the town. Beautiful Poetto Beach sits on the edge of town with sparkling blue waters and lively activity. Other sites to see include the 13^th century Cathedral di Santa Maria, the Torre Dell&rsquo;Elefante and the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Cagliari with its displays of bronze objects, Roman ceramics and artifacts from the Nuragic age to the Byzantine era.