European Connoisseur

In its history, Cordoba has been both a capital of a Roman province and capital of the Arab state of Al-Andalus. A great cultural reference point in Europe, this ancient city has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and contains a mixture of wonderful buildings, monuments and artefacts that are a reminder of the cultures that have settled it throughout history. It has been estimated that in the 10th century Cordoba was the most populous city in the world, and today it is a moderately sized city with a population of about 330,000.

The historic quarter of Cordoba is a beautiful network of small streets, alleys, squares and whitewashed courtyards arranged around the Mezquita, which reflects the city's prominent place in the Islamic world during medieval times. You will visit the most famous and inspiring monuments of the city, including the Roman Bridge and the famous Great Mosque, a building that was considered a wonder of the medieval world by both Muslims and Christians. The building is most notable for its giant arches with over 1,000 columns of jasper, onyx, marble and granite. These were made from pieces of the Roman temple that had occupied the site previously. When Cordoba was re-conquered from the Moors in 1236 by King Ferdinand III of Castile, the mosque became a Catholic church.

Another highlight is the old Jewish quarter. You will have the opportunity to visit the ancient market, now transformed to artisan market, and walk through the well known “Calle de las Flores” or “street of flowers”, a beautiful example of a typical Andalusian street decorated with plants and flowers. Before heading to lunch, you will have some time at leisure to explore the city independently

Heading towards the west side of Lisbon, you will arrive at the historical Belem Quarter, a pleasant riverside area that has historic links with the 15th-century Portuguese Age of Discovery as it was from here that the Caravels set sail on their voyages to the New World. Belem is also where the most famous Lisbon’s landmarks are located including the Belem Tower, the Discoveries Monument and the Monastery of Jeronimos. Belem’s undisputed heart-stealer is this UNESCO-listed monastery. The mosteiro was commissioned by Manuel I to trumpet Vasco da Gama’s discovery of a sea route to India in 1498 and the great explorer is interred in the church here.

Then take a scenic drive from Belem to the city centre passing by the Alfama Quarter, Baixa (Downtown), Restauradores, and the fancy Avenida da Liberdade with its highend shops. Stop at Alto do Parque to admire Lisbon from the north and from here you have an astonishing view to the banks of the River Tagus.

Afterwards stop at Rossio Square where you can enjoy some free time. Praca do Rossio, or the Rossio Square, is one of the most beautiful places to see in Lisbon. The square, which is located in downtown Lisbon, has been a witness to various historical events in the city, from popular celebrations and revolutions to executions and bullfights. Today, Praca do Rossio is a popular destination both for locals and tourists. Every day, people from different places flock to the square to relax, hang out, and just take in the atmosphere.

This panoramic tour begins in the city of Queluz, with the magnificent 18th-century Queluz National Palace, one of the last great Rococo buildings to be designed in Europe and the former seat of the Portuguese royal family. Frequently compared with Versailles, Queluz is actually earlier in date than the French masterpiece.

From here, we will proceed to Sintra, one of the most famous places in Portugal, built against the northern slope of the "Serra de Sintra" mountains. This small village is well known for its charming narrow roads and lush greenery, where climbing flowers and semi-tropical vine-like plants trail from mossy walls and balconies. Noble houses and palaces with walled gardens and stately courtyards are scattered throughout the forested hills, revelling in the soft, cool microclimate that the mountain position brings to the town.

Please note: this optional excursion can be booked using the signup sheet and paid for on-board the ship (all prices for purchases on-board Aegean Odyssey are listed in US dollars).

Historically, Oporto is no doubt one of the most important cities in Portugal. The town centre dates mainly from the 18th century, when trade was booming and merchants embellished the city with large squares and avenues that made a big contrast with the narrow little streets of the old medieval quarters, and all around you can see the façades of elegant homes and palaces that show how prosperous they were in days gone by.

Our first stop is the Romanesque-style Cathedral, built in the 12th century and extensively rebuilt in the 17th and 18th centuries. You’ll be able to admire the interior and see the altar dating from the baroque period.

Next you’ll visit the Stock Exchange Palace, built in the 19th century to impress European investors. The surprising Moorish decorated rooms are nowadays used by the Chamber of Commerce, the President and members of the government for official receptions. You’ll cross the Douro River by way of the unique double-decker Dom Luis Bridge to Gaia to visit a well-known wine cellar for a tasting of the port wine.

Enjoy a panoramic tour by boat along the beautiful bay of Vigo. First stop is at the “Bateas” or wooden floating docks located in the estuary, used to grow mussels. Galician mussels are world known for its quality. There are around 3,400 rafts producing mussels throughout Galicia. Your guide will point out the main aspects and impacts of mussel farming in the region. Continue passing by the  “Rande bridge”  where the “Battle of Rande” took place during the opening years of the War of the Spanish Succession. Next stop is at the San Simon island, a place full of old stories of pirates, naval battles and also, in recent years, it was a prison during the Franco´s regime. During the cruise you will be enjoy a tasting of some mussels accompanied with Galician white wine.

Vigo, the Gateway to the Atlantic, is a great combination of ancient history, beautiful beaches and a modern cosmopolitan outlook. This Galician city also has a proud heritage. Vigo was where the Roman Empire met the ocean and, in the 19th century, it became the main transatlantic departure point for a nation.

Leave Vigo by road for Santiago de Compostela one of the most important places in Catholicism, because it is reputed to be the place where St James, one of the twelve Apostles of Christ, is buried.

On arrival, enjoy a guided tour of Obradoiro Square. Named after the workmen who built the Cathedral, this square sits in front of the main entrance of the Cathedral on its northern façade.

Facing the Cathedral is the Palacio de Rajoy that was built in the eighteenth century to house the choirboys and a seminary for priests. It was later used as a prison and is now the Town Hall. Facing the Cathedral is the Hostal dos Reis Catolicos that was built as a hospital for pilgrims during the reign of the Catholic kings in the XV century and today is one of the most beautiful buildings combining different styles such as Renaissance, Gothic and Baroque.

The Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela is the reputed burial-place of Saint James, one of the apostles of Jesus Christ, and it has been a place of pilgrimage on the Way of St James since the early Middle Ages. What we see today is actually the fourth church to stand on this spot. The lavish baroque façade facing Praza do Obradoiro was erected in the 18th century, replacing the weather-damaged Romanesque one. This is the cathedral's main entrance, but owing to repair work on the towers and interior, it's likely to be closed until about 2021. In the meantime, most people enter through the south door on Praza das Praterias.

Chartrons, cradle of the Bordeaux wine trade, your tour of the Medoc starts just north of the city. The Medoc wine road, located between the Gironde estuary and the Landes forest, provides magnificent views of vine-covered gravelly rises as far as the eye can see. You will have the opportunity to take photos of some of the most famous Chateaux of the area i.e. Margaux, Pichon Longueville.

Medoc vineyards are orderly and well-kept almost to the point of fanaticism, and the region's world famous chateaux produce wine that are nothing short of divine... Moulis, Listrac, Saint Julien, Saint Estephe, Pauillac, Medoc, Haut Medoc and Margaux (with the celebrated chateau of the same name).

You will visit the cellars of one of the following famous estates: Chateau Pichon Longueville Baron, Chateau Lynch-Bages, Chateau Lagrange or Chateau Kirwan. After your guided visit of the estate, you will be introduced to the secret wine-making techniques of the estate before following your guide to the tasting room to indulge yourself with their wines.

For many years Bordeaux was known as “La Belle au Bois Dormant” (Sleeping Beauty) due to its magnificent buildings being shrouded in centuries of black soot. Then in 2000, the mayor, former Prime Minister Alain Juppé, roused Bordeaux, restoring its neoclassical architecture and implementing a high-tech public transport system. His efforts paid off: in mid-2007 half of the entire city (18 sq km, from the outer boulevards to the banks of the Garonne) was UNESCOlisted, making it the largest urban World Heritage Site.

After a panoramic tour of the main sites including the 13th-century cathedral, the Palais Rohan and the Grand Theatre de Bordeaux, you will leave the city for the nearby world-famous vineyards that surround Bordeaux.

The history of Bordeaux wine spans almost 2,000 years to Roman times when the first vineyards were planted. In the Middle Ages, the marriage of Henry Plantagenet and Eleanor of Aquitaine opened the Bordeaux region to the English market and eventually to the world's stage. Today, Bordeaux wine remains the world’s most popular and sought-after wine. You will stop at one of the prestigious wine estates such as Chateau La Louvière, Chateau Haut Bailly, Chateau Carbonnieux or Chateau Latour-Martillac to visit their cellars, be introduced to the art of wine making and, of course, to enjoy a wine tasting.

Depart by coach from the ship for a panoramic walking tour of Bordeaux. Drive along the river front where the wine trade has flourished for centuries and then view the Second World War German submarine base. In the summer of 1941, Admiral Dönitz decided to build highly fortified U-Boat pens in Bordeaux and construction began in September 1941. They were constructed with reinforced concrete and the roof above the pens was 5.6 m (18ft 4 in) thick.

Then on to L’Esplanade des Quinconces. This is one of Europe’s largest squares (12 hectares) and its principal monument was erected between 1894 and 1902 in memory of the Girondists who fell victim of the Reign of Terror during the French Revolution. Stop at the Palais Rohan, the 18th-century former home of the Archbishop that is now the City Hall and walk to the 13th-century Cathedral of St Andrew, where Eleanor of Aquitaine married Louis VII, for an inside visit. Continue to the nearby the Grand Theatre de Bordeaux which was built by the architect Victor Louis and inaugurated in 1780. This is one of the most beautiful theatres in Europe and a pure work of art from the 18th century.

Strolling through the Old Bordeaux area, you will come across beautiful squares such as La Place du Parlement, the former royal marketplace (1760) with its harmonious façades and fountain, and Place de la Bourse, the former royal square dedicated to Louis XV (1729). 

Saint-Emilion is a charming medieval village located in the heart of the famous Bordeaux wine area. This is a very special place that combines world-famous wineries, beautiful architecture and great monuments.

A local legend says that the village was founded by a monk from Brittany who fled from his hometown of Vannes to seek refuge in one of the natural caves in the 8th century. His name was Emilion and for many years, he lived as a hermit. He is said to have performed a few miracles and rapidly became famous in the region and beyond. Soon he had many disciples and with their help, he made the town a religious centre.

Even after his death his followers carried on his legacy and named the town after him: Saint-Emilion. In 1999, the vineyards of Saint-Emilion became the first winery in the world to be given World Heritage status by UNESCO.

Please note: this optional excursion can be booked using the signup sheet and paid for on-board the ship (all prices for purchases on-board Aegean Odyssey are listed in US dollars).

This panoramic tour of the Island of Guernsey showcases its beautiful coastline of rocky cliffs and wild sandy bays. Before that, however, we will travel inland along some winding country lanes to visit the delightful Little Chapel, possibly the smallest church in the world, where we will make a short photo stop to admire this fascinating building, beautifully decorated with seashells, pebbles and colourful pieces of broken china. Built in 1914 by two brothers to replicate the grotto at Lourdes, the chapel is a true labour of love that took three attempts to get right.

We will then continue to the wild cliffs at Pleinmont Point, on the south coast of the island, then west towards the broad sandy bays of Rocquaine Bay, with the Martello Tower of Fort Grey, Vazon Bay and Cobo Bay other highlights, before we return to St Peter Port.

This panoramic tour of the Island of Guernsey showcases its beautiful coastline of rocky cliffs and wild sandy bays. Before that, however, we will travel inland along some winding country lanes to visit the delightful Little Chapel, possibly the smallest church in the world, where we will make a short photo stop to admire this fascinating building, beautifully decorated with seashells, pebbles and colourful pieces of broken china. Built in 1914 by two brothers to replicate the grotto at Lourdes, the chapel is a true labour of love that took three attempts to get right.

We will then continue to the wild cliffs at Pleinmont Point, on the south coast of the island, then west towards the broad sandy bays of Rocquaine Bay, with the Martello Tower of Fort Grey, Vazon Bay and Cobo Bay other highlights, before we return to St Peter Port.

St Peter Port has a fascinating history. A busy port since Roman times, its deep, safe anchorage and relative remoteness from France has made the town the Channel Islands’ premier harbour. It is a picturesque town with cobbled streets and narrow alleys filled with Regency buildings.

Our first destination will be Castle Cornet, originally built on an island and now reachable by a 19th-century raised walkway. The castle dates from the 13th Century and was built on the site of Neolithic and Bronze Age settlements for use as a fortification against the French following the English loss of Normandy. Since then it has been partially destroyed and rebuilt many times to guard the entrance to the harbour and offer a sea defence between the islands of Herm, Jethou and Guernsey, and towards Sark over many centuries. 

After your guide has taken you around the key highlights, you will have free time to enjoy the ‘Story of Castle Cornet’ exhibition or explore the castle and some of its four small gardens within the walls, including the apothecary’s garden, kitchen garden and ornamental gardens. The castle contains a number of other interesting museums including the Maritime Museum, the Story of Castle Cornet Museum, the 201 Squadron RAF (Guernsey's Own) Museum and the Militia Museum. You will then be able to return to Aegean Odyssey with your guide or on your own through the town.

The history of Honfleur, long sung about by poets and painted by famous artists, has always been tightly bound to the sea. Today, Honfleur offers visitors a unique heritage which can best be glimpsed by a leisurely stroll along its picturesque narrow streets lined by timber-framed houses.

One of Honfleur’s major sites is St Catherine’s Church, which dates from the 15^th century and also has the distinction of being France’s largest timber-built church. The separate bell tower, located opposite above the bell-ringer’s house, is likewise made of oak. Other sites of interest you will see on this tour are the Salt Warehouses, originally run by the Gabelle (tax on salt) collectors, the Lieutenancy, once the residence of the city governor, and the Old Port, which has some beautifully picturesque quaysides.

After your visit, you will then have some time on your own to enjoy the quaint atmosphere of this charming little town before returning to Aegean Odyssey.

From the hustle and bustle of Leicester Square, at the heart of London’s theatre district and the city’s quiet parks with their trees and lakes, to the grandeur of Buckingham Palace and the living history of Westminster Abbey, London’s fascination is its variety.

Old and new stand side by side. History, pageantry and tradition mix with the modern, eccentric and avant-garde, offering something for everyone. This leisurely tour is a great way for you to obtain an overall impression of one of the most lively and interesting cities in the world. Our tour itinerary takes us on a circular itinerary around the capital where we view the highlights from the comfort of the coach.

We see Westminster, Whitehall and St James’s section of London, crossing Westminster Bridge, and passing by the neo-Gothic Parliament buildings presiding over the banks of the River Thames and its adjacent 320-foot clock tower of Big Ben. From Parliament Square, we look across to St Margaret’s Church, scene of society weddings.

Standing adjacent is the architectural and masterpiece of the 13th to 16th centuries – Westminster Abbey. Your guide will point out the main external features of the building and you will be able to take photographs of the outside.

This leisurely guided tour begins with a stroll through Greenwich Royal Park to the world-famous Observatory, spiritual birthplace of GMT and traditional home to the Prime Meridian of global longitude. This hugely important line is represented on the ground by a brass strip and is one of London’s most popular attractions, where standing astride it one can truly be said to be in both eastern and western hemispheres at the same time.

A walk past the National Maritime Museum then leads us to The Queen’s House, commissioned in 1616 by the wife of James I, Anne of Denmark. Designed by Inigo Jones, this masterpiece is the first Palladian building to be built in Britain and became the inspiration for many other classical houses and villas over the subsequent two centuries. Originally used as a private retreat and “House of Delights”, it is now an active venue for the appreciation and exploration of art, including a collection of paintings owned by the National Maritime Museum.

The finally destination is the Old Royal Naval College, considered to be the “finest and most dramatically-sited architectural and landscape ensemble in the British Isles”. Founded in 1694 as the Royal Hospital for Seamen, the Old Royal Naval College is a superb example of Baroque landscape, designed by some of the greatest architects of their day, including Sir Christopher Wren and Nicholas Hawksmoor. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this enormously popular attraction is now managed by the Greenwich Foundation.