Discover a different side of the Mediterranean this winter, one where you’ll find plenty of elbow room at popular attractions and get to rub elbows with the locals during their most congenial time of year. This itinerary offers a perfect combination of small towns and large, major attractions and new discoveries, all when locals are most relaxed. They have time to chat and share their lives with you, whether teaching you to cook authentic Croatian dishes or sharing a favorite vintage at a Sicilian winery. You’ll also discover gems like maiden port  Crotone  – a small town that gives you access to hidden treasures like a unique Vlatch culture and one of the most beautiful medieval villages in Italy .  From Crotone, discover Castello Aragonese located in nearby Le Castella or Santa Severina, one of the most beautiful ancient villages in Italy . Transit the narrow Corinth Canal, a small ship exclusive, to Itea and visit the UNESCO site of Delphi.  Take your time and explore the Acropolis, Pompeii, the Sistine Chapel and Corfu’s Old Town without the press of crowds. Spend the night in Catania with a view of Mt. Etna, perhaps with a snow-capped peak.