Zadar and Islands of the North Yacht Cruise with Krka Waterfalls - MS Il Mare

Split's ancient core is so spectacular and unusual that a visit is more than worth your time. The heart of the city lies within the walls of Roman emperor Diocletian's retirement palace, which was built in the 3rd century AD. Diocletian, born in the nearby Roman settlement of Salona in AD 245, achieved a brilliant career as a soldier and became emperor at the age of 40. In 295 he ordered this vast palace to be built in his native Dalmatia, and when it was completed he stepped down from the throne and retired to his beloved homeland. Upon his death, he was laid to rest in an octagonal mausoleum, around which Split's magnificent cathedral was built.In 615, when Salona was sacked by barbarian tribes, those fortunate enough to escape found refuge within the stout palace walls and divided up the vast imperial apartments into more modest living quarters. Thus, the palace developed into an urban center, and by the 11th century the settlement had expanded beyond the ancient walls.Under the rule of Venice (1420–1797), Split—as a gateway to the Balkan interior—became one of the Adriatic's main trading ports, and the city's splendid Renaissance palaces bear witness to the affluence of those times. When the Habsburgs took control during the 19th century, an overland connection to Central Europe was established by the construction of the Split–Zagreb–Vienna railway line.After World War II, the Tito years saw a period of rapid urban expansion: industrialization accelerated and the suburbs extended to accommodate high-rise apartment blocks. Today the historic center of Split is included on UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites.

Arrival in Split - In Split, you’ll board the beautiful MS Il Mare, moored in the picturesque, ancient harbour. The professional crew welcome you on board and will be on hand to help you settle in.  The rest of the day is free to relax in your comfortable cabin or wander ashore and begin exploring this fascinating city (flight time permitting). It’ll soon be time for dinner in the ship’s stylish restaurant and a chance to meet your fellow travelling companions; with just 40 guests in total, a relaxed, uncrowded ambience pervades the ship so, after dinner, retire to a comfy armchair on the terrace for a nightcap and contemplate all that lies in store tomorrow!

Dalmatia's capital for more than 1,000 years, Zadar is all too often passed over by travelers on their way to Split or Dubrovnik. What they miss out on is a city of more than 73,000 that is remarkably lovely and lively despite—and, in some measure, because of—its tumultuous history. The Old Town, separated from the rest of the city on a peninsula some 4 km (2½ miles) long and just 1,640 feet wide, is bustling and beautiful: the marble pedestrian streets are replete with Roman ruins, medieval churches, palaces, museums, archives, and libraries. Parts of the new town are comparatively dreary, a testament to what a world war followed by decades of communism, not to mention a civil war, can do to the architecture of a city that is 3,000 years old. A settlement had already existed on the site of the present-day city for some 2,000 years when Rome finally conquered Zadar in the 1st century BC; the foundations of the forum can be seen today. Before the Romans came the Liburnians had made it a key center for trade with the Greeks and Romans for 800 years. In the 3rd century BC the Romans began to seriously pester the Liburnians, but required two centuries to bring the area under their control. During the Byzantine era, Zadar became the capital of Dalmatia, and this period saw the construction of its most famous church, the 9th-century St. Donat's Basilica. It remained the region's foremost city through the ensuing centuries. The city then experienced successive onslaughts and occupations—both long and short—by the Osogoths, the Croatian-Hungarian kings, the Venetians, the Turks, the Habsburgs, the French, the Habsburgs again, and finally the Italians before becoming part of Yugoslavia and, in 1991, the independent republic of Croatia. Zadar was for centuries an Italian-speaking city, and Italian is still spoken widely, especially by older people. Indeed, it was ceded to Italy in 1921 under the Treaty of Rapallo (and reverted to its Italian name of Zara). Its occupation by the Germans from 1943 led to intense bombing by the Allies during World War II, which left most of the city in ruins. Zadar became part of Tito's Yugoslavia in 1947, prompting many Italian residents to leave. Zadar's most recent ravages occurred during a three-month siege by Serb forces and months more of bombardment during the Croatian-Serbian war between 1991 and 1995. But you'd be hard-pressed to find outward signs of this today in what is a city to behold. There are helpful interpretive signs in English all around the Old Town, so you certainly won't feel lost when trying to make sense of the wide variety of architectural sites you might otherwise pass by with only a cursory look.

Zadar - We’ll spend a leisurely day on board today; during breakfast we cast off once more heading out into the glistening Adriatic. This magnificent coast is littered with idyllic bays where the calm water is perfect for swimming, so during our cruising this morning we’ll make time for a refreshing swim stop, allowing you to work up an appetite for our on-board lunch. Later, you could venture up on deck and absorb the best panoramic views from the comfort of a sun lounger. As we sail northwards, there’ll be the chance for a spot of reading perhaps or simply unwind to the sound of gulls soaring high above. With a long refreshing drink from the bar watch the coastal views drift by, and the mesmerising waters of the Adriatic dazzle under the warm rays of a hazy afternoon sun – now you’re really on holiday!  Later we’ll arrive in the ancient capital of Dalmatia, Zadar. This bustling coastal town with the style and charm of the Italian Riviera, was ruled by the Venetians for centuries. There’ll be time for a fascinating guided tour around its marble streets, discovering Roman ruins and lovely medieval churches before you are free to explore under your own steam. Dinner is at leisure tonight so why not try one of the many cosy restaurants with simple appetising menus of grilled meats or freshly caught fish. Make sure you don't miss the sound and light show of the Sea Organ and the Sun Salutation at the waterfront! Perhaps end the evening with a glass of maraschino, a local cherry liqueur produced here since the 16th century.

Šibenik's main monument, its Gothic-Renaissance cathedral, built of pale-gray Dalmatian stone and designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, stands on a raised piazza close to the seafront promenade. From here a network of narrow, cobbled streets leads through the medieval quarter of tightly packed, terra-cotta–roof houses, and up to the ruins of a 16th-century hilltop fortress. The city has never been a real tourist destination. Before the Croatian war for independence, it was a relatively prosperous industrial center, but when the factories closed, Šibenik sank into an economic depression. However, the cathedral more than warrants a look, and it makes a decent base for visiting the waterfalls of Krka National Park.

Kornati Park & Šibenik - Another day dawns and you rise refreshed as we continue our southerly course. This morning, have your camera at the ready as we enter the waters of the breathtaking Kornati archipelago; an explosion of numerous fascinating desert-like islands that lie scattered around the central island of Kornat. George Bernard Shaw wrote that [God] ‘created the Kornati Islands out of tears, stars and breath' and there is certainly something ethereal about their distinctive barren beauty. In fact, this remarkable region was designated a National Park in 1980, in celebration of its extraordinarily unusual and desolate charm. The Kornati Islands hide a multitude of secret caves and grottoes amongst the rugged cliffs. Our Captain will drop anchor to allow a swim stop this morning, so enjoy a cooling dip before lunch again on board.  Later we’ll arrive at the little port of Šibenik, where our guided tour reveals more about the history of this delightful town as we wander its medieval streets, seeing the beautifully restored Renaissance town hall and remarkable Gothic cathedral, thought to be the world’s largest church built without brick or wood supports. This evening the MS Il Mare remains moored in Šibenik. Dinner is at leisure tonight so you can wander ashore and seek out some traditional Croatian fare: hearty fish stew or mouth-wateringly tender slow cooked beef, simmered with wine and prunes, with fresh crusty bread baked ‘under the lid’ – a typical Croatian style of cooking. After dinner, you can sit back and soak in the magical ambience of historic Šibenik.

Split's ancient core is so spectacular and unusual that a visit is more than worth your time. The heart of the city lies within the walls of Roman emperor Diocletian's retirement palace, which was built in the 3rd century AD. Diocletian, born in the nearby Roman settlement of Salona in AD 245, achieved a brilliant career as a soldier and became emperor at the age of 40. In 295 he ordered this vast palace to be built in his native Dalmatia, and when it was completed he stepped down from the throne and retired to his beloved homeland. Upon his death, he was laid to rest in an octagonal mausoleum, around which Split's magnificent cathedral was built.In 615, when Salona was sacked by barbarian tribes, those fortunate enough to escape found refuge within the stout palace walls and divided up the vast imperial apartments into more modest living quarters. Thus, the palace developed into an urban center, and by the 11th century the settlement had expanded beyond the ancient walls.Under the rule of Venice (1420–1797), Split—as a gateway to the Balkan interior—became one of the Adriatic's main trading ports, and the city's splendid Renaissance palaces bear witness to the affluence of those times. When the Habsburgs took control during the 19th century, an overland connection to Central Europe was established by the construction of the Split–Zagreb–Vienna railway line.After World War II, the Tito years saw a period of rapid urban expansion: industrialization accelerated and the suburbs extended to accommodate high-rise apartment blocks. Today the historic center of Split is included on UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites.

Split - The end of our cruise is in sight so make sure you make the most of our last scenic morning on board, whilst watching the coastal views float by. We’ll enjoy one last swim stop before commencing our journey to Split once again. Later, after a final lunch on board, the impressive cityscape will appear, and we’ll begin our final approach into this unique historic city.  Croatia’s second city, Split, is one of its most vibrant and alluring. At its core lies the huge ancient ruins of the Emperor Diocletian’s Palace, undoubtedly one of the most exceptional legacies from the city’s Roman past and more recently used as the setting for the globally successful television drama ‘Game of Thrones’. A building constructed with the finest materials, Italian marble, lustrous local limestone, even sphinxes from Egypt. The whole palace complex occupies over 30,000 square metres, and is surrounded by towering walls, two metres thick and over 25 metres in places! During medieval times, other buildings were grafted on to it, integrating the palace with the rest of the town and creating the quirky jumble of houses, churches, chapels and other buildings seen today. We will have a guided walking tour, seeing all the major sights and learning more about this city’s glorious past before you have some free time to wander. Dinner is at leisure tonight so you might choose to return to the alluring tangle of streets in the old town for some delicious local cuisine whilst absorbing the magical ambience of this beguiling place.

Split's ancient core is so spectacular and unusual that a visit is more than worth your time. The heart of the city lies within the walls of Roman emperor Diocletian's retirement palace, which was built in the 3rd century AD. Diocletian, born in the nearby Roman settlement of Salona in AD 245, achieved a brilliant career as a soldier and became emperor at the age of 40. In 295 he ordered this vast palace to be built in his native Dalmatia, and when it was completed he stepped down from the throne and retired to his beloved homeland. Upon his death, he was laid to rest in an octagonal mausoleum, around which Split's magnificent cathedral was built.In 615, when Salona was sacked by barbarian tribes, those fortunate enough to escape found refuge within the stout palace walls and divided up the vast imperial apartments into more modest living quarters. Thus, the palace developed into an urban center, and by the 11th century the settlement had expanded beyond the ancient walls.Under the rule of Venice (1420–1797), Split—as a gateway to the Balkan interior—became one of the Adriatic's main trading ports, and the city's splendid Renaissance palaces bear witness to the affluence of those times. When the Habsburgs took control during the 19th century, an overland connection to Central Europe was established by the construction of the Split–Zagreb–Vienna railway line.After World War II, the Tito years saw a period of rapid urban expansion: industrialization accelerated and the suburbs extended to accommodate high-rise apartment blocks. Today the historic center of Split is included on UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites.

Krka Waterfalls - After breakfast, we'll bid farewell to our crew as we disembark MS Il Mare and drive inland to the Krka Valley, home to an impressive sequence of lakes, where water cascades dramatically from one to the next via steep interlocking waterfalls. Minerals dissolved in the water trigger stunning colour changes, from turquoise to azure-blue and from vibrant green to steely grey. With reflections of the majestic surrounding peaks and luxuriant forests rippling on lake surfaces, it’s impossible not to be awestruck. The valley in its entirety has been awarded national park status and we will visit part of this exquisitely beautiful area on this morning’s tour. We'll also witness one of the river's most dramatic stretches - several waterfalls tumbling into one broad, shallow pool.  We'll return to Split this afternoon and spend the rest of the evening at leisure, staying for two nights in the largest city on the Croatian coast. 

Split's ancient core is so spectacular and unusual that a visit is more than worth your time. The heart of the city lies within the walls of Roman emperor Diocletian's retirement palace, which was built in the 3rd century AD. Diocletian, born in the nearby Roman settlement of Salona in AD 245, achieved a brilliant career as a soldier and became emperor at the age of 40. In 295 he ordered this vast palace to be built in his native Dalmatia, and when it was completed he stepped down from the throne and retired to his beloved homeland. Upon his death, he was laid to rest in an octagonal mausoleum, around which Split's magnificent cathedral was built.In 615, when Salona was sacked by barbarian tribes, those fortunate enough to escape found refuge within the stout palace walls and divided up the vast imperial apartments into more modest living quarters. Thus, the palace developed into an urban center, and by the 11th century the settlement had expanded beyond the ancient walls.Under the rule of Venice (1420–1797), Split—as a gateway to the Balkan interior—became one of the Adriatic's main trading ports, and the city's splendid Renaissance palaces bear witness to the affluence of those times. When the Habsburgs took control during the 19th century, an overland connection to Central Europe was established by the construction of the Split–Zagreb–Vienna railway line.After World War II, the Tito years saw a period of rapid urban expansion: industrialization accelerated and the suburbs extended to accommodate high-rise apartment blocks. Today the historic center of Split is included on UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites.

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