France, Italy, Malta, Greece

Ένα ευχάριστο πράγμα που μπορείτε να κάνετε είναι απλά να καθίσετε σε μια από τις καφετέριες με θέα το λιμάνι της Marseilles και πίνοντας ένα Pastis, να παρατηρήσετε το τοπίο και τους ανθρώπους που το κατοικούν. Η Μαρσέιγ, που αποκαλείται επίσης “Πόλη των Πορπόζων “, είναι η πιο ηλιόλουστη πόλη της Γαλλίας, γοητευτική με τις ρεματιές της όπου μπορείτε να κολυμπήσετε, την ιστορία και τον πολιτισμό της και τα εστιατόρια με κοσμοπολίτικη κουζίνα. Δεν μπορείτε να φύγετε χωρίς να έχετε πρώτα περιηγηθεί στην “Cours Julien”, το δρόμο για ψώνια. Το λιμάνι της Μαρσέιγ είναι ίσως ένας τυπικός τουριστικός προορισμός, αλλά αξίζει να το επισκεφθείτε για το πλοίο που αναχωρεί από το Δημαρχείο και την παλιά εκκλησία, η οποία αντικατέστησε ένα κτίριο των Ναϊτών.

Above the port of Savona, the Priamar Fortress greets every departure and arrival of the Costa ships sailing in the Mediterranean. Genoa and its aquarium are nearby.
The port of Savona, which you can explore during your cruise in Italy, is one of the prettiest of the Italian Riviera. The lovely climate, summers that are never to hot, mild winters and the exceptional beauty of the sea near the town makes Savona an excellent base to set out to explore Liguria. Savona is notable for the Priamar Fortress, which has dominated the town since the 16th century, and also for its historic centre where you can visit Savona Cathedral. A stop in Savona can also be an opportunity to visit the nearby city of Genoa and its narrow, picturesque streets, known as “caruggi”.

From the ancient port of Civitavecchia you will land in the heart of the Roman and Etruscan civilisations; the old town is also a fabulous mediaeval village.
Civitavecchia of today is the result of a thousand-year long process of civilisation and urbanisation in the Lazio region. In the area, close to where this city is located (and just 70 km from Rome), there are important historical elements that, over the centuries, have overlapped and accumulated to confirm the presence and evolution of organised social groups as far back as the prehistoric age. In fact, numerous traces of primitive settlements are found along the coast of Civitavecchia. Equally numerous and important are the Etruscan, Roman and mediaeval structures that have made the city an important urban centre and renowned as the Port of Rome since antiquity. During a cruise departing from Civitavecchia, before continuing in the Mediterranean, you can take advantage of this stop to visit Rome, the grandiose capital with its world-famous monuments: the Forums, the Colosseum, the Pantheon, Trajan’s Column, the St. Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, the Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona, Piazza Venezia, Piazza di Spagna and many more.

The origins of Messina are uncertain, as is the case with other cities on the island of Sicily. The first evidence of the city concerns Zancle, its first name, as baptised by Zanclon, a character of mystery and legend. The historical centre of the city was constructed by the Phoenicians who made Messina a flourishing commercial centre, followed by Greek colonists from Cumae and Euboea.

Το λιμάνι της Βαλέττα είναι η καρδιά της Μάλτας. Από εδώ ξεκίνησαν οι ιππότες του Τάγματος για τις Σταυροφορίες και αφιερώθηκαν στη φροντίδα των τραυματιών. Στη Μεσόγειο, το λιμάνι της Βαλέτα έχει σημαντική ιστορία και στρατηγική θέση. Η είσοδός του, που βρίσκεται μεταξύ του Αγίου Φρουρίου και των οχυρών SantAngelo και Ricasoli, σας μεταφέρει αμέσως στο ιπποτικό παρελθόν του νησιού. Κατά τη διάρκεια της στάσης σας στη Βαλέττα θα μπορέσετε να περπατήσετε στους δρόμους με τις πολύχρωμες και διακοσμημένες προσόψεις των σπιτιών. Μην παραλείψετε να επισκεφθείτε τους υπέροχους κήπους Barrakka από τη μεγαλιθική εποχή και τον καθεδρικό ναό του Αγίου Ιωάννη του Βαπτιστή. Στη συνέχεια επισκεφθείτε το Γκόζο για να θαυμάσετε το τοπίο των φυσικών γλυπτών που έχει σμιλέψει η θάλασσα.

Crete is part of the history of the Mediterranean. The myth about Theseus, the Minotaur in the labyrinth of Knossos and Ariadne’s famous thread is among the best known in the world.
The stop at Heraklion starts with a visit to the port of Crete. Situated in the centre of the island, this former British watchtower has a long history. You cannot land on the island that gave birth to the legend of the Minotaur without visiting the ancient Palace of Knossos. Its ancient Minoan ruins and its maze of corridors and rooms evoke the famous Greek myth of the labyrinth. Equally impressive is the island fortress of Spinalonga, which is well worth a visit. Heraklion embodies the charm of an era both ancient and medieval.

The cradle of Greek culture, Athens welcomes us to its port of Piraeus, watching us from above the wonderful Acropolis.
Piraeus is the port of Athens, the largest in Europe, allowing you to visit the city, a place of dreams. A place of emigration, it has inspired numerous songs. Most ships will be making a stop in Athens before resuming the Mediterranean route or returning to the Atlantic. Take the time to visit the Acropolis and maybe the museum located at its base. Before flying out, enjoy the spectacle of a sunset at Capo Sunio. Try not to visit the city when it’s too hot in summer, much of the population moves out of town.

Not to be missed:

• The mythical Parthenon

• The Ancient Agora

• The Olympic Stadium