“In the Mediterranean, the present is forever being shaped by the past.”
– Michael Wood
From the first Stone Age travelers to the Mediterranean and onwards to the Neolithic farmers and sea voyaging islanders, the Mediterranean’s stones and sea hold our stories and heritage from antiquity.
The Mediterranean’s ports and harbors tell the story of human seafaring achievement. In Phoenician Byblos, Lebanese cedar was traded to Egypt, and Egyptian papyrus came back, from around 3000 BCE. At Piraeus, 5th-century BCE harbor installations still show how Athens maintained its naval empire. Roman Ostia’s warehouses reveal a complex trading network that moved grain, oil, and wine across three continents. The archaeological evidence – from Bronze Age shipwrecks laden with copper ingots to medieval maritime republics like Venice and Genoa – documents over 3000 years of Mediterranean seafaring civilization.
Each port city adds a chapter to this maritime narrative. Carthage’s artificial harbors demonstrate advanced engineering. Constantinople’s Golden Horn protected Byzantine shipping for a millennium.
Along these same routes, ideas traveled too – proven by the spread of architectural styles, religious practices, and technologies that we can still study in the archaeological record today.
Our expert-led tours delve deep into this rich heritage. You’ll explore archaeological sites with professional archaeologists and understand the context behind major monuments. Whether examining frescoes in medieval churches or studying ancient engineering at Roman aqueducts, you’ll gain insights that transform how you see Mediterranean civilization.
Join our small group journeys to experience the Mediterranean’s archaeological wonders through the lens of those who know them best.
If you’re interested in discovering more of the culture and history of the Mediterranean, browse our Mediterranean Tours or get in touch and we’ll create the perfect itinerary for you.
Each day on our multi-country Mediterranean guided tours is a step into the extraordinary. Walk among ancient ruins with an archaeologist who brings the past vividly to life. Go back in time to when the Mediterranean was the hub of trade, the heart of innovation and new technologies, and the desire of Kings, Emperors, and Conquerors.
At night, you’ll retreat to luxurious boutique lodgings, their warmth and comfort wrapping you in the anticipation of what tomorrow will bring. Whether you choose one of our inclusive small-group tours or our private, tailor-made journeys, every detail is designed for an unforgettable encounter with the past.
If you’re ready to embark on your Mediterranean archaeology and history tour, get in touch with our team.
FREEFree guide + 2027 catalogue
A 16-page guide written by our archaeologists, sent with our 2027 catalogue.
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Free 16-page guide
Written by archaeologists. Submerged Roman villas, underground cities and abandoned Greek quarries –, with maps, access details and what to see at each.
One email a week. Unsubscribe anytime.