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You depart on your overnight flight to Tunisia, connecting in Europe and arriving in Tunis in mid-morning.

Upon arrival in Tunis you will be met by your guide who will take you the nearby town of Sidi Bou Said whose doors and windows are painted a unique shade of blue which stands out in contrast to the whitewashed buildings. After exploring the town you are delivered to your deluxe boutique hotel. After freshening up you head for a delightful restaurant overlooking the bay where a welcome dinner awaits.

After breakfast your guide will meet you at your hotel for an exploration of contemporary Tunis and ancient Carthage. Our first stop today is the Bardo Museum which is housed in the Bey of Tunis' former palace. Famous for its Roman mosaics taken from archaeological sites all over the country, it is widely considered to be one of the best collections in the world. You will next visit the medina in the old city of Tunis with its narrow streets and interesting shops. You will stop for lunch in the medina. After lunch, you will be taken to Carthage which is not far from modern day Tunis. With your knowledgeable guide you will start exploring the ruins of both Punic and Roman Carthage. Carthage was founded by the Phoenicians in 814 BC and you will see some of these early settlements on Byrsa Hill. After Hannibal's failed invasion of Rome, the old Carthage was destroyed by the Romans in 146 BC and a new Roman town built on top which became the city through which Rome controlled Africa. Recent excavations have uncovered some of the original homes and also two areas of the famous port from which Carthage ruled the Mediterranean. Tonight you have dinner at a typical Tunisian restaurant.

After breakfast, you are driven to Dougga, the best preserved Roman site in Tunisia and incorporating some of the largest Roman ruins in North Africa. Your guide will take you through the well-preserved complex (better than the forum in Rome, in fact) starting with the theater built in the 2nd Century AD by the Gracchus family, the market place, dominated by Mercury the god of commerce, the Capitoline temple, the forum and the public baths. After a relaxing lunch at a local restaurant you will head to Bulla Regia which was located on the main road linking the key ports of Carthage and Hippo Radius (now called Anabas, in Algeria). St Augustine studied as a young man in Bulla Regia and later served as bishop of Hippo. At the completion of your visits, you drive south to the resort area of Sousse where you check into your hotel on the beach. You have time for an evening swim in the sea or the pool before enjoying dinner.

This morning you head out for Kairouan "the city of 50 mosques". Kairouan is Tunisia's holiest city and the 4th holiest Islamic city in the world after Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem. It is here that Islam gained its first foothold in North Africa. Although legend indicates otherwise, Kairouan was most likely founded on the site of an earlier Roman settlement. You will spend some time at the great mosque, built in the 9th Century and in the Medina where would famous Kairouan carpets of pure wool are woven and sold. Your next stop is El Jem one of the most visited towns because of its Roman Amphitheatre. This monumental edifice was built between 230 and 240 AD and is the largest Roman monument left in Africa. It ranks number three in the former Empire after Rome and Verona. Since it was one of the last large amphitheatres built, its architectural design is an improvement over that of the Coliseum in Rome. You return to your hotel to freshen up before setting out for your farewell dinner in Tunisia.

After breakfast you are driven to the airport for your brief flight to Valetta the capital of the Maltese Islands. In early times, Malta was physically connected to both Africa and Europe but today that connection to both continents is cultural rather than geographic. Since both Tunisia and Sicily are nearby neighbors the lifestyle and cuisine are definitely Mediterranean but as a former British colony, the British influence is still prevalent. Upon arrival you will be met by your guide and taken to the neighboring town of Mdina which retains its medieval charm situated on a plateau overlooking the city and the sea. Dinner is at your hotel's roof top restaurant this evening.

This morning, your guide will meet you to take you on a personally guided tour of the highlights of Valletta. The Knights of St.John were an order created to assist pilgrims on their way to the Holy Land, much like the Knights Templar. After successfully defeating the Turks during an invasion attempt in 1565 the order decided that it would need an impregnable fortress to protect the island. This was not the only time that the island fought off attackers, during World War II this island was a British toehold, along with Gibraltar, in the Mediterranean. Despite a blockade and constant air attacks, the island held out and as recognition, the entire island was awarded the George Cross one of the highest honors for valor. You will visit St. John's Cathedral which was, at the time, the Knights' own church and the Maltese Parliament building which was once home to the Grand Master of the Order. You then proceed to The Upper Barakka Gardens which proved spectacular views of the harbor. You return to Mdina for lunch and in the afternoon you walk with your guide through its quaint winding streets. Tonight you are taken to the Valetta waterfront for a charming and casual dinner.

Today you will take an excursion to Gozo, one of Malta's sister islands. Legend has it that Calypso bewitched Ulysses for seven years when he washed up on the shore after his return from Troy. In contrast to the bustle of Valletta, Gozo offers green hills, picturesque villages and a rich ancient history. Your trip begins with a ferry ride to Gozo where you are taken on a tour of the island. You will have the chance to see the green countryside and the rugged cliffs and picturesque bays. Many of the people of Gozo are farmers or fishermen and live a simple but fulfilling life. During your visit you will visit the resort community of Marsalforn, have lunch in an outdoor restaurant, visit the Basilica of Ta'Pinu and take a brief tour of Victoria, the main town before taking the ferry back to Malta.

In the morning you will be taken to the docks where club class seats have been reserved on the hydrofoil to Catania, Sicily's second largest citY. After arriving in Catania you are met by your guide and given an orientation tour of the city. This lively town with Baroque-style charm is also known as the "black city" because of the dark color of the facades of the building carved from black lava stone. In addition to viewing its historic monuments you will also have the chance to visit its colorful fish market. You will then be driven to Taormina where you check into the San Domenico Palace, a monastery now turned into a luxury hotel situated on a natural terrace overlooking the sea. Dinner is at the hotel this evening.

Today you will have the chance to compare and contrast the Greek and Roman contributions to Sicilian history. Your visit this morning will be to the Valley of the Temples so-called because the Greeks, in the 5th Century B.C., built a number of them in honor of their gods and as a testament to their wealth. As in Greece, all the temples faced east to catch the life giving sun in the morning. The ruined temples include those dedicated to Juno, Jupiter, Castor and Pollux, Hercules Vulcan and Esculapio. The only one in a good state of preservation is the Concordia temple which was converted into a Christian church in the 6th Century A.D. Your guide will give you a private tour of the area before having lunch and allowing you some time to explore on your own. Your guide will then take you to the small town of Piazza Armerina where we visit Villa Romana del Casale a well preserved 3rd Century Roman villa with excellent mosaics and giving an interesting insight into Roman life at the time. After a tour of the villa you are driven to Syracuse and the luxury Grand Hotel Des Etrangers located on the island of Ortigia and offering spectacular sea views. This evening you will have dinner overlooking the port of Syracuse.

After you have had a leisurely breakfast your guide will be in the hotel lobby to take you to Agrigento, your next destination. First, however there are interesting and unique experiences to be enjoyed along the way. Your first experience will be a visit to the abandoned Greek city of Segesta built around 500 B.C. The highlight of the visit will be the Doric Temple considered to be one of the best preserved in the world. You then continue on to the delightful town of Erice which was originally built to honor Aphrodite and later expanded in medieval times. Located over 2,000 feet above sea level it has commanding views over the western part of Sicily, the Egadi Islands and the Mediterranean Sea. It is not just the views, however that brings people here since the quaint cobblestone streets have their own unique appeal. A stop at a pastry shop for some almond cakes filled with candied lemon will fortify your walk around the town. Your guide will then take you to Fortanasalsa, a village on the western coast where you will have lunch in an antique farm house surrounded by palm trees, olive trees and vineyards. You will have a chance to taste both the olive oils and the wines before continuing on to Agrigento founded by the Greeks in the 6th Century B. C.

After breakfast your guide will be waiting to take you on a short drive to Monreale located on the foothills of Mount Caputo overlooking the Conca d'Oro Valley. You are here to visit the spectacular 12th Century Cathedral which rivals Saint Sophia in Istanbul and Saint Mark's in Venice in its use of decorative mosaics. After the visit you will be taken to lunch at a restaurant before arriving in Palermo. Serving as a bridge between Europe and Africa both geographically and culturally, the city served as the capital of the Norman Kingdom of Sicily in the 12th Century. You will have a personally guided tour of the Palatine Chapel built in the 12th Century and an excellent example of Arabic-Norman architecture. You will also visit the church of St. John the Hermit which was originally a mosque then converted into a church. Your next stop is ILMercato Della Vucciria one of the oldest and most frequented markets in the city. Your guide will walk you through the market explaining the various stalls and their impact on everyday life in Palermo. You will then be taken to your hotel which is located on the outskirts of the city, surrounded by gardens that slope gently down to the sea. The hotel provides a therapeutic environment as you stroll through the grounds. Suitably revived you have the opportunity to dine in the hotel's fine restaurant this evening.

This morning your guide will be waiting to take you on a short drive to Monreale located on the foothills of Mount Caputo overlooking the Conca d'Oro Valley. You are here to visit the spectacular 12th Century Cathedral which rivals Saint Sophia in Istanbul and Saint Mark's in Venice in its use of decorative mosaics. While it is Romanesque in overall style, the cathedral combines aspects of Arab, Byzantine and Norman architecture. After the visit you will be taken to lunch at a restaurant before returning to Palermo. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure either for some last minute shopping or to relax in the grounds of the hotel. This evening you will be taken for a farewell dinner at a restaurant in the city.

In the morning your driver will be waiting to take you to the airport for the return flight to the US.