THE VIA EGNATIA: albania to thessaloniki

OVERVIEW

Like the better-known Appian Way, the Via Egnatia existed for two millennia as a crucial highway. It connected significant trade routes across the Roman Empire, from the Adriatic through ancient Illyria, Macedonia, Thracia and Constantinople, allowing for the movement of significant people, ideas and innovations. The Apostle Paul journeyed along this way, Julius Caesar and Pompey moved troops on the road and even the Norman crusaders would later expand east along the route.

This new 16-day tour explores the connected histories of Albania, northern Macedonia and Greece, through regions less visited by modern-day travellers. Beginning in Tirana, we witness a city transformed into a series of vibrant public squares and colourful buildings after decades of Stalinist rule. At Butrint, we uncover World Heritage-listed Greek, Roman and Venetian ruins in a delightful natural setting, and continue to cosmopolitan Durrës (Venetian Durazzo), a crucial leg of the Fourth Crusade on the Adriatic coast.

In northern Macedonia, we visit Byzantine churches and visit the legendary sites of Pella and Vergina on an encounter with the Macedonian dynasty of Phillip II, master tactician, diplomat, powerful politician and father of Alexander the Great. The tour concludes in Thessaloniki, where the region’s diverse cultural influences are evidenced through its outstanding Byzantine sites, fascinating modern history and remarkable food scene.