From Sorrento to Athens (Piraeus) · Mediterranean · 11 nights
Windstar’s Star Plus Class of vessels – Star Pride, Star Legend and Star Breeze – each carry just over 300 guests and are hugely popular for very good reason.
These small ships accommodate 312 guests in large all-suite
accommodation, following the completion of the Star Plus
refurbishment programme in 2021 which saw the ships lengthened.
There’s a choice of restaurants, comfortable lounges, and plenty of
deck space, while the ship’s marina ensures you can enjoy the
complimentary watersports when anchored in hidden bays and tiny
coves.
Lipari is the largest of the Aeolian Islands, a volcanic archipelago to the north of Sicily. The main port is Lipari Town, a charming little harbour of pastel-coloured houses, fishing boats and enticing restaurants, overlooked by the imposing 13th century citadel.
Situated on the north eastern tip of Sicily, so close to the Italian mainland you can almost touch it, Messina is the busy main entry point to the island. The city was flattened by an earthquake in 1908, and again by Allied bombing in 1943, so few historical sights remain, although the cathedral is one of Sicily’s most impressive.
Malta’s tiny capital, established by the Knights of St John, packs in an awful lot of history considering its diminutive size. The atmospheric old streets, bathed in Mediterranean sunshine, are full of attractive honey-golden buildings, along with an impressive selection of bars and restaurants.
Reggio Calabria is the main transport hub for travel to Sicily, and the seafront Lungomare promenade has great views across to Mount Etna. The city’s main attraction is the Museo Nazionale with its stunning Ancient Greek bronze statues, while the picturesque nearby town of Scilla is well worth a day trip.
The charming village of Giardini Naxos is one of the jewels of Sicily, a popular resort located on a majestic bay facing the Ionian Sea. Restaurants and bars line a long stretch of beach, and the attractive town of Taormina is within easy reach, along with the slopes of brooding Mount Etna.
The charming Puglian town of Gallipoli lies close to the bottom of Italy’s ‘heel’, with the modern town on the mainland connected by bridge to the walled old town, which sits just offshore on its own island. The cobbled streets are a delight to explore, full of beautiful baroque palazzi and enticing seafood restaurants.
Rugged Kefalonia is the largest of the Ionian islands, and remains unspoilt by tourism despite earning fame as the setting for ‘Captain Corelli’s Mandolin’. The island rewards exploration, with some splendid beaches and lovely little villages, and the vineyards here produce some excellent wines.
The port of Itea, situated on the Greek mainland to the west of Athens, is the gateway to the magnificent ruins of Delphi. The spectacular cliffside setting at the foot of Mount Parnassos adds to the drama of this holiest of Ancient Greek sites, home to a famous oracle in antiquity.
Athens is a city awash with historical and cultural significance, but it's much more than an open air museum; this is a dynamic, bustling metropolis, and a place where history is still very much unfolding.
