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Originally a province of the Roman Empire, Croatian Dalmatia is much more than a picturesque region on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea. Now a province of independent Croatia and unscarred by the war in 1991, certainly the region boasts an aquamarine sea, evergreen covered hillsides and palm lined streets; but its historical and cultural sites, shaped as they are by Romans, Byzantines, Venetians and Croats, are equal to, if not unparalleled, by any in the Mediterranean basin. Though its charms have lured a generation or so of Italians and Germans, the region is still relatively undiscovered by Americans; soon a few of us will make that discovery.
ITINERARY
Tuesday 15 May:
DEPART USA
Leave USA on airline of your choice. Split and Dubrovnik are served by British Air, Croatia Air and Lufthansa on a regular basis.
Wednesday 16 May:
SPLIT Arrive Split; individual transfer to hotel
This beautiful provincial capital of the region is a city of about 200,000 residents and is the largest of all the cities in Dalmatia. The beginnings of Split are linked to the Emperor Diocletian's wish for a summer residence, and thus Diocletian's Palace (3C AD), a massive edifice that encloses an area of nine and a half acres. In 639, its interior was converted into a town, and even today the palace constitutes the core of the city filled with shops, markets, squares and even a Christian cathedral. This dramatic historical center with its Gothic and Renaissance Venetian palaces coupled with the city's promenades along its waterfront, its many Italianate restaurants, and its bars and coffee shops make Split a spectacular and unusual city.
Overnight: Hotel Park
Thursday 17 May: SPLIT
Morning Walking Tour of Split Evening Welcome Dinner
After breakfast at the hotel, a morning walking tour of the historic center will provide you with an overview of all the sites you'll want to revisit at your leisure during the next couple days: Diocletian's Palace, St Duje's Cathedral, Diocletian's Mausoleum, Jupiter's Temple, The Vestibule, the Golden Gate, Diocletian's underground vaults, the waterfront. Rest of the day to explore the cafes, boutiques, and museums of this enchanting city.
Overnight: Hotel Park
Friday 18 May:
SPLIT-TROGIR-SPLIT Excursion and Walking Tour of Trogir
VIP Tour of Mestrovic Gallery
After breakfast, a 30 minute motor coach transfer to the nearby town of Trogir, a treasury of cultural and historical monuments from the medieval era. With our guide, we will visit the famous St. John's Cathedral with Rodovan's Portal from the 13thC; the Church of St. Barbara, the country's oldest basilica; Gradska Ioza (the Old City Hall from the 15C); the city walls, the Duke's Palace, Kamerleng o Tower, the 13C Cipiko Palace with its noted sculptures and facades. Of special note is Trogir's Museum, stretching through a series of medieval palaces, and the Kairos Art Collection, a small but exceptionally rich collection of Greek antiquities housed in the 11C Benedictine Convent of St. Nicholas.
After lunch on your own in Trogir, we will return to Split to be hosted by the curator of the Mestrovic Gallery at a special tour designed just for us. The rest of the day, at your leisure.
Overnight: Hotel Park
Saturday 19 May:
SPLIT Free Day
A completely free day to visit the City Museum or to just "hang" in Narodni Trg (People's Square), a pedestrianized expanse paved with gleaming white marble surrounded by 14C and 15C Venetian buildings, and filled with terrific cafes perfect for people watching. Or a day at the beach, or some time spent at the hotel's health club, or a little bit of everything or nothing.
Overnight: Hotel Park
Sunday 20 May:
SPLIT-HVAR Transfer and Walking Tour of Hvar Town
Morning transfer to the pier for a short ferry ride to "the sunniest island in the Adriatic" and to one of the most charming sites in the country, Hvar Town. Upon arrival in Hvar, check-in to your hotel. Along its palm-lined quay, a string of cafes and restaurants greet the visitor while a few steps away the magnificent main square Trg Sveti Stjepan (the largest piazza in Dalmatia) allows for some unbridled awe. A visit to the 16C St. Stephen's Cathedral is a must as are visits to the Kazaliste (theater) opened in 1612, one of the first in Europe; the Venetian Castle, and the 15C Franciscan Monastery.
Overnight: The Riva Hotel
Monday 21 May:
HVAR Free Day
A day to explore Hvar Town or to see more of the island. Stari Grad is the site of one of the first human settlements in the Adriatic, and Sucuraj is a picturesque small town (more than 2,300 years old) on the east cape of the island. Or you may want to visit the Pakleni Islands (via a water taxi provided by the hotel), a group of tiny unpopulated islets graced with pine woods and secluded beaches. Whatever you choose to do, you'll remember to return to Hvar, this most romantic of all island escapes.
Overnight: The Riva Hotel
Tuesday 22 May:
HVAR-KORCULA Transfer and Walking Tour of Korcula
Departure from Hvar by ferry to Korcula, southern Dalmatia's most sophisticated island. Eight centuries under Venetian rule left Korcula Town a treasure trove of Gothic and Renaissance churches, palaces and piazzas all enclosed by its high city walls and graced by the red tiled roofs of the houses. The major sites to be visited are the impressive St. Mark's Cathedral (paintings of Tintoretto), its Abbot's Treasury featuring original drawings by da Vinci, Tiepolo and Raphael, and the Marco Polo House where the legendary 13C discoverer is said to have been born.
Overnight: Hotel Marko Polo
Wednesday 23 May:
KORCULA Free Day
A day to wander--and climb up and down--the narrow cobbled streets of Korcula Town or even muse down the passageway running alongside the southeastern wall known as the "Street of Thoughts" as you don't have to worry about the steps. Other possibilities are the 15C Franciscan Monastery, and the palace of the former Venetian governors. You might consider a short bus ride to the interior villages of Cara and Smokvica to see the vineyards and visit the cellars to sample what are reputed to be the best white wines of the entire Adriatic.
Overnight: Hotel Marko Polo
Thursday 24 May:
KORCULA-DUBROVNIK Transfer by Motor Coach and Ferry to Dubrovnik Visit to Vineyard
Visit to Arboretum Trsteno
In 1929, George Bernard Shaw summed it up: "If you want to see heaven on earth, come to Dubrovnik." So heaven it is! But on our way, we'll motor our way along the Peljesac peninsula, stop at the Matusko Family Vineyard and Cellars, and stop for lunch (on your own) at Ston, known as the town with the second biggest walls in the world: a seafood lunch accompanied by the region's famous Dingac wine while gazing at the Adriatic--not a bad way to spend an hour or two. A short break at the Arboretum will prepare us for the staggering beauty that is Dubrovnik.
Overnight: Excelsior Hotel and Spa
Friday 25 May:
DUBROVNIK Walking tour of Dubrovnik
A morning walking tour of the historic monuments of Old Town will introduce you to the 15C Dominican Monastery known for its floral Gothic cloister, the 14C Franciscan Monastery and its Romanesque arcades, and the baroque Cathedral of Our Lady featuring a large polyptych attributed to Titian. The rest of the day you can amble along the entire circumference of the 13C city walls and gaze in wonder at the copper domes, terra cotta roofs and soaring spires of the many churches in this magical city.
Overnight: Excelsior Hotel and Spa
Saturday 26 May:
DUBROVNIK Free Day or an Excursion Day
TBA: An excursion to one of the small islands near the coast; return to Dubrovnik.
Overnight: Excelsior Hotel and Spa
Sunday 27 May:
DUBROVNIK Free Day
A Free day to let your imagination take hold: to sleep, to shop, to drink, to eat, to watch people. Why not take your time to revisit what you've seen before or to visit the Maritime Museum, the Aquarium, the tiny evocative Synagogue or to hit one of the near by beaches or just jump in the sea at the end of the city's walls.
This evening, before dinner, join the locals for the korzo , a promenade on the grand pedestrian thruway known as the Placa; have a drink where people watching has evolved into a fine art.
Overnight: Excelsior Hotel and Spa
Monday 28 May: DEPART DUBROVNIK
Depart Dubrovnik for your flight home, or to parts of Europe still awaiting you.
NB: This itinerary is subject to change
PRICE:
$2,477 Per Person, Double Occupancy
($1,039 Single Supplement)
Price Includes:
- Four Nights Accommodation: Hotel Park, Split
- Two Nights Accommodation: Riva Hotel, Hvar
- Two Nights Accommodation: Hotel Marko Polo, Korcula
- Four Nights Accommodation: Excelsior Hotel and Spa, Dubrovnik
- Daily breakfasts, VAT, and all local taxes
- Welcome Dinner in Split
- Farewell Dinner in Dubrovnik
- Half-Day Guided Tour of Split
- Half-Day Guided Tour of Trogir
- Hosted Tour of Mestrovic Gallery in Split
- Half-Day Guided Tour of Hvar Town
- Half-Day Guided Tour of Korcula Town
- Half Day Guided Tour of Dubrovnik
- All Entrance Fees
- Motor Coach Transfer from Hotel Park to Ferry Pier
- Ferry Tickets from Split to Hvar
- Ferry Tickets from Hvar to Korcula
- Motor Coach transfer from Korcula Pier to Hotel
- Motor Coach/Ferry Transfer from Korcula to Dubrovnik
- Private Wine Tasting at Matusko Family Wine Cellar
Not Included
Transfer from Split Airport to Hotel Park
Transfer from Excelsior Hotel to Dubrovnik Airport
Optional Lunch in Ston (see Thursday 24 May)ABOUT THE HOTELS
HOTEL PARK--SPLIT (4 Stars)
Established in 1921, Hotel Park is known as the "Grand Hotel of the Dalmatian Coast." Fronted by a grand terrace graced with palm trees that face the beach front, the hotel features a first-class restaurant, "Bruna," the "Imperijal" bar, three salons, and a health club. (Imagine the pleasure of a massage after that long flight from the states!) the hotel park is within walking distance of Split's ancient city center, the city's beaches and the ferry terminal where we'll leave for Hvar.
Web Site: www.hotelpark-split.hr
RIVA HOTEL--HVAR (4 Stars)
Hotel Riva, Hvar Harbour Hotel, is a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World. While part of the hotel dates from one hundred years ago, all the buildings were completely remodeled in 2005. Located on the waterfront in the town centre on the island Conde Nast Traveller called one of the ten most beautiful islands in the world, the hotel affords the opportunity to watch romantic sunsets over the Palinski Islands across the bows of the numerous yachts anchored in the port. Services and facilities include the famous "Roots" restaurant, the "BB Club," an informal late night lounge, and 24-hour room service.
Web Site: www.suncanihvar.hr
HOTEL MARKO POLO--KORCULA (4 Stars)
Completely renovated in 2006, Hotel Marko Polo is situated on an elevation overlooking the sea and the unique medieval stone city of Korcula. The majority of the rooms have a sea view. Services and facilities include a restaurant, a café, a bar, a beauty salon, a small indoor swimming pool, tennis courts, billiards, and a health club. Boats are available for hire.
Web Site: www.korcula-hotels.com
EXCELSIOR HOTEL & SPA--DUBROVNIK (5 Stars)
A member of Adriatic Luxury Hotels, the Hotel Excelsior is an internationally renowned hotel and a welcome outpost of luxury and style within steps of the heart of the ancient city of Dubrovnik. Established in 1913 and to be completely renovated during the winter of 2006-7, the hotel, its charming guest rooms and elegant terraces with their stunning city and sea views, form part of a memorable experience in a setting is both truly intimate and archetypal Mediterranean. Services and facilities include the well regarded "Taverna Rustica," boutiques, an indoor swimming pool, two Jacuzzi pools, a private beach, a complete spa as well as restaurants, cafes and bars.
Web Site: www.hotel-excelsior.hr
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