Venice – Catania · 22 September – 2 October 2026

Rovinj lies on the western coast of Istria. The old town was built on a hill and was part of the Republic of Venice for over 500 years. St Euphemia's Basilica sits above the terracotta roofs in solitary splendour and its tower has become the town's landmark. A stroll through the winding lanes transports you straight into the Mediterranean lifestyle and the region's culinary delights. Istrian wines seem to embody the sun's rich heat, the oak forests conceal precious white truffles and the region's olive oil is among the finest in the world.

As if on display, the Croatian city of Zadar stretches its beautiful old town towards visitors: The historical quarter is separated from the new town on a peninsula in the blue of the Adriatic Sea. As soon as you step through one of the Venetian gates, you walk right through the 3,000-year history of the old fortified city. Passing the Square of the Five Fountains and the Roman Forum, you will reach the landmark of Zadar, the Donatus Church with its pre-Romanesque and Byzantine elements. At sunset, locals and guests meet in a very modern way – at the sea organ and the installation Greetings to the Sun".

When film crews search for a city location with charming alleys, a colossal fortress, and medieval charm, Trogir is often the number one choice. On the central Adriatic coast in Croatia, the Pearl of Dalmatia, as it’s known, is considered the best preserved Romanesque-Gothic complex in the whole of Eastern Europe. Its beautiful city center, located on a small island, also enchanted UNESCO, which made it a protected heritage site in 1997. Here, the Cathedral of St. Lawrence overlooks small alleys, palaces, patrician houses, and a sea of red-tiled roofs. Meanwhile, Trogir’s palm-lined waterfront is a modern place to stroll around and have a coffee with a view of sleek yachts.

The Adriatic island of Korcula is one of the greenest in the region. Vineyards and olive groves stretch across rolling hills. The island's main town of the same name is protected by a city wall. It is one of the best-preserved medieval Mediterranean towns. Some buildings evoke the time when the maritime power of Venice ruled. Tintoretto is immortalised in the cathedral, and in one of the narrow streets you can search for the house where Marco Polo was born.

When Venice still ruled the Adriatic, Dubrovnik was an important maritime republic and the floating city's chief rival. Dubrovnik proudly calls itself the "Pearl of the Adriatic" and its fortress is one of the best preserved in Europe. As you walk around the imposing walls of the old town, you can look out across two seas – the deep blue Adriatic and a sea of red roof shingles. The old town, with its beautiful squares, magnificent boulevards and narrow winding alleyways, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Climbing the rigging, untying ropes, setting sails – today is all about sailing. Time to lean back and relax in the deck chair and watch the passionate crew hoisting the sails by hand.

Otranto is the most easterly port in Italy and, due to its geographic location in the Adriatic, has had an extremely eventful history over the centuries. Not far away is Lecce, one of the most beautiful and affluent cities in southern Italy whose heyday was immortalised in stone over 200 years. The Baroque cityscape, in the idiosyncratic "barocco leccese" style, is characterised by a marble-like stone known as Lecce stone. The numerous palaces and the Basilica di Santa Croce have profusely decorated facades and art feels right at home here. There is good reason why people are proud of its evocative nickname, the Florence of the South.

Is that an oversized sandcastle sitting right on the golden beach? No, it’s the imposing Turri Cabrera, the oldest building in Pozzallo, which has been guarding the southern Sicilian coast since the 15th century. Sailors discovered natural springs in the area early on, and a trading post was later established, attracting pirates. That’s when Count Giovanni Bernardo Cabrera had the mighty defense tower built. Over time, a fishing village grew up around the tower, and today, Pozzallo draws visitors with its sunny beaches and charming promenade. It’s also a great starting point for trips to the Baroque city of Noto or the art town of Ragusa Ibla.

Goethe wrote, "Do you know the land where the lemon trees bloom and oranges glow from the leaves' dark gloom." Sicily and the picture-perfect Baroque town of Catania, set right at the foot of Mount Etna, were genuine inspirations for him on his travels around Italy. On the fertile volcanic soil around Catania, orange and lemon trees try to out-glow each other, and you will be tempted to enjoy the coastline with its wonderful sandy beaches and impressive rock formations. The town was destroyed by a volcanic eruption and earthquake in the 17th century and, in the 18th century, a masterpiece of Roman Baroque emerged which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.