An Archaeological Study Tour
Cultural Treasures of the Balkans
Serbia, Kosovo, Montenegro & Croatia
20 Days
May 31 - June 19, 2008
Led by Dr. Robert S. Bianchi Art Historian

During the 1990s, the Balkans became home to several independent states, each with a rich artistic and cultural heritage. As we explore the major landmarks of the Byzantine and Roman empires, we will discover the region’s vast wealth of artistic expressions: Epi-Palaeolithic stone sculptures, mysterious clay figurines made by the first Neolithic farmers and exquisite Bronze and Iron Age metal vessels, tools, and weapons, treasures largely unknown in the Western world.

The Romans called the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea Illyria and built extraordinary residential and urban complexes at Split, Salona and on the Istrian Peninsula. The Slavs arrived 1,400 years ago and, on becoming Christian, created an additional layer of artistic heritage, lavishly decorating their churches and monasteries with entire suites of frescoes rivaling the best of their Byzantine contemporaries. Our exploration of the charming old cities and medieval monuments of Dubrovnick, Belgrade and Zagreb nestled amid majestic mountains and along gorgeous coastal landscapes will add to the pleasure of this unique tour.

Saturday, May 31: Depart New York on Air France.

Sunday, June 1: BELGRADE: We arrive into Belgrade midday and transfer to the centrally located Moscow Hotel/Majestic Hotel. This evening we will meet with Dr. Bianchi for our opening lecture, followed by dinner.
Meals: Dinner

Monday, June 2: BELGRADE: Our Belgrade city tour will wend its way through Stari Grad, the Old City, giving us an overview of the city’s wonderful architecture. We will stop to tour the Kalemegdan Fortress, which overlooks the confluence of two great rivers, the Sava and the Danube. This huge fortress was built initially by the Celts, expanded by the Romans and rebuilt during the medieval period. After a complete visit, we will have lunch within its walls and continue our city touring.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Tuesday, June 3: BELGRADE: We will spend the full day out of Belgrade. Driving north to Novi Sad, we will visit its excellent Archaeological Museum, which houses unique artifacts from the region and the city’s 18th-century architectural gems. In the Fuska Gora range south of the city, 35 monasteries were built between the 16th and 18th centuries. Only 17 remain today and we shall visit Krušedol for its frescoes. Our last stop will be in the village of Kovacica, renowned for its Naive Art. We will have time to visit the museum and meet some of the artists before returning to Belgrade.
Meals: Breakfast & lunch

Wednesday, June 4: PRIŠTINA: We will depart early for a long, beautiful drive to Studenica Monastery. Within its walls are three churches, the biggest, Church of Sv. Bogorodica, is capped with a great cupola in the Byzantine tradition and decorated with sculpted figures, animals, gryphons, birds and centaurs. The frescoes inside were painted in 1208 and restored in the 16th century. After completing our visit, we continue to the Church of Sopocani, one of the masterpieces of the Raška school. It was founded in the 13th century and, despite years of neglect, many of its wonderful frescoes survive. Crossing into Kosovo, we will spend two nights in the interesting town of Priština, at the Grand Hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Thursday, June 5: PRIŠTINA: Just outside of Priština is one of the finest examples of Serbian art, the Church of Gracanica. Built of polished pink stone, almost every inch of its interior walls are covered with frescoes, possibly painted by Mihailo and Evtihije. The church houses several notable works, including a magnificent painting of St. John the Baptist. A short drive brings us to Pec where we visit the Patriarchate of Pec, whose jurisdiction once reached from the Adriatic coast to Budapest. It sits in a lovely, serene setting just outside of town and its churches are decorated with wonderful frescoes. We will have time to explore the old bazaar area, where a few Turkish houses and mosques still survive. The day’s last visit, Decani Monasteries, is a UNESCO Heritage Site. The remaining monastic buildings are reached through a fortified gate. The Church of Christ Pantokrator was designed by a Catholic monk, Vid, and remains one of the loveliest buildings in the area. The inside is covered with frescoes, all painted between 1335 and 1350 and still considered to be true masterpieces.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Friday, June 6: CETINJE: Our journey continues through spectacular mountain vistas. We cross into Montenegro, making stops along the way. We will reach the old capital, Cetinje, and the Grand Hotel in the late afternoon.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Saturday, June 7: DUBROVNIK: We will spend the morning visiting the museums and monastery of this charming town, which is renowned for its elegant architecture. A spectacular drive brings us out of the mountains and down to the Adriatic coast. We will stop for lunch in Kotor, renowned for its charm and labyrinthine streets. We then take the ferry across Kotor Bay to Dubrovnik. The next three nights will be at the deluxe Hilton Hotel, situated just outside the walls of the Old City. (B/L)
Meals: Breakfast & lunch

Sunday, Monday, June 8 & 9: DUBROVNIK: We will spend the full day visiting Dubrovnik. We enter the old city through the Pile Gate, with its statue of Sv. Vlaho, the patron saint of the city. This brings us into the lovely Placa, bordered by the Franciscan monastery, our first stop. We then continue into the heart of the old city, visiting all of the major monuments, including the 14th-century Dominican monastery, with its rich art collection, and the Gothic Rector’s Palace. After lunch, we will walk around the city on the fabulous walls, which are said to be the finest in the world. Monday will be completely at leisure to explore the city or take a ferry to a nearby island.
Meals: Breakfast & 1 lunch

Tuesday, June 10: SPLIT: This morning we will drive along the beautiful Dalmatian coast, arriving into Split in time for lunch. This afternoon our touring begins at Diocletian’s palace and the medieval quarter. Diocletian made himself emperor in 284 and ruled until 305, by which time his palace was complete. He lived in the palace until his death in 313 and was then buried in it. This amazing structure survived and formed the basis of Robert Adam’s architectural style that greatly influenced Georgian architecture. Diocletian’s mausoleum was converted to a cathedral at the end of the 7th century. President Hotel.
Meals: Breakfast & lunch

Wednesday, June 11: SPLIT: We will spend the morning at Salona. This vast city began as a Greek colony in the 3rd century BC on the site of an Illyrian settlement. It later became an important Roman city and then a vital center of early Christianity. We then return to Split to visit the Museum of Croation Monuments and the Archaeological Museum, both with major collections.
Meals: Breakfast & lunch

Thursday, June 12: SPLIT: Trogir is renowned for its profusion of Romanesque and Renaissance architecture and its gorgeous three-nave Venetian Cathedral of Sv. Lovro. We will examine its wonderful portal and interior before returning to Split for an afternoon at leisure.
Meals: Breakfast

Friday, June 13: ZADAR: We depart for Zadar, stopping en route at Šibenik to see the Sv. Jakov Cathedral, which rivals Sv. Lovro in beauty. Touring in the bustling port city of Zadar will include the Archaeological Museum and the medieval city. Zadar was bombed heavily in WW II, resulting in today’s mixture of old and new architecture. Hotel Kolovare.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Saturday, June 14: ROVINJ: We continue our drive along the coast. Our vista is dotted with pretty offshore islands and sparkling white beaches. Stopping for lunch near Opatija, we cross the Istrian Peninsula to Rovinj, a charming little port whose historic center has a distinctly Italian atmosphere. Our beachside hotel is walking distance from town. Hotel Eden.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Sunday, June 15: ROVINJ: We will spend the full day visiting the many archaeological sites on the peninsula, including Pula’s Arch of the Sergians, temples, museums and the immense amphitheater. Built at the end of the 1st century with a capacity for 22,000 people, this amphitheater is the sixth largest in the world. (B/L)

Monday, June 16: ZAGREB: This morning we will complete our touring in Porec, including the 6th-century Basilica of Euphrasius, which features beautifully preserved Byzantine gold mosaics. After our touring is completed we will either drive or fly to Zagreb, depending on the flight schedules. Our three-night stay will be at the lovely, centrally located Westin Hotel.
Meals: Breakfast & lunch

Tuesday, June 17: ZAGREB: Our tour of the city will include a walking tour of the Upper Town, reached by funicular, the Lower Town, with its lovely square and wide, tree-lined boulevards, the Cathedral and excellent Archaeological Museum.
Meals: Breakfast & lunch

Wednesday, June 18: ZAGREB: Zagreb must be seen on foot. It is filled with interesting museums, galleries and even a lovely botanical garden. This full day will be at leisure to explore the city before we gather for our farewell dinner.
Meals: Breakfast & dinner

Thursday, June 19: Our Air France flight departs midday and returns to New York via Paris.
Meals: Breakfast