Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Malta

Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain with three million inhabitants, a dominating port in northern Mediterranean with one of the most renowned and important universities in the world. The city is a very rich commercial centre, where industrial operations crucial to the Spanish economy take place.
In fact, Catalans have always considered their region unique compared with the other Spanish regions and we can find its roots in the power exercised by Barcelona for four hundred years at least on Spanish monarchy and on European commercial events.

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.

Costa Cruises stops in Catania on the Mediterranean cruise. This Sicilian city, proud of its ancient history, is a port that should not be missed.
The stop in Catania will offer you both cultural visits, which are some of the most beautiful in Italy, and shore excursions full of wonderful surprises. Dynamic and full of energy, it will surprises with the richness of its old town and the unique sight of the lava layers on the slopes of Mount Etna. Catania, like Sicily, is rich in monuments, ancient traditions and sumptuous food, which it shares generously with the rest of the world.

The port of Catania is located about 300 metres from the historic city centre. We suggest that you visit the Piazza del Duomo, symbol of the city. If you cross Via Crociferi, one of the city’s most famous streets, you come to Palazzo Biscari, one of the most impressive and majestic buildings in the whole of Sicily. Finally, you can see Mount Etna looking north, with its famous lava flows.

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

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.

Think of a trip to Greece and you will imagine Mykonos. The port of Mykonos, or perhaps it would be more correct to say of Chora, is located on the west coast of the island.
The Cyclades islands in the Aegean are wonderful and the beaches are no less marvellous, with the pleasant distinction of being among the most festive in the archipelago. After docking at the port of Mykonos, enjoy the numerous natural coves, beaches and cliffs of this beautiful island. You can enjoy the clean, azure sea of Paradise Beach, while in the evening let yourself be carried away by the rhythm of this cosmopolitan and youthful island. The harbour district, the Kastro, is known as the ‘little Venice’. In its alleys, the shops and restaurants alternate with white houses with blue doors and windows. On a trip to Mykonos, take advantage of the stop to go on shore excursions, stroll through the maze of streets and alleys where you can discover the beauty of the architecture and the design of the city. The small white houses with shutters as blue as the sky, the pigeon houses and the numerous small churches of Mykonos will simply enchant you.

One of the Cyclades islands, Santorini is a spectacular jewel of the Aegean. Born out of a volcanic eruption in approximately 1500BC, which formed the two islands of Aspronissi and Terrasia, Santorini is a magnificent mixture of dramatic cliffside villages, glorious black sand beaches and ancient treasures. Steep cliffs plunging into a crystalline sea distinguish the west coast, while the east coast is gentler, featuring a fertile plain and delicate bays, with the Profitis Ilias mountains in the background.

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.

The island of Ibiza, or ‘Eivissa’ as the Catalans call it, is a great travel destination for those who want to escape from everyday life and be lulled by the crystal-clear waters of the Balearic Sea.
It is an island of beauty and excess, blessed with spectacular pristine beaches and dense pine forests. Ibiza has long attracted hedonistic personalities, while today it is the extraordinary clubbing scene that attracts tourists from all over the world. Ibiza is in fact the major clubbing capital of the world, where all the best international DJs gather during the summer season. However, you’ll find a much quieter island if you visit between October and May. For those who want to enrich their trip with a little art and culture. The old city, designated a World Heritage Site for its perfect state of preservation, is a fortified citadel of the Renaissance era. The walls reach a dramatic climax at the main entrance of the arch, the imposing Portal de ses Taules. Beyond it is the elegant Plaça de Vila, lined with restaurants and cafés making it a pleasant setting for tapas or a meal. It’s worth climbing the cathedral’s steep, winding streets, if only to enjoy the beautiful views of the harbour. What are you waiting for? Choose Costa and discover our offers for a cruise in the Balearic Islands.

Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain with three million inhabitants, a dominating port in northern Mediterranean with one of the most renowned and important universities in the world. The city is a very rich commercial centre, where industrial operations crucial to the Spanish economy take place.
In fact, Catalans have always considered their region unique compared with the other Spanish regions and we can find its roots in the power exercised by Barcelona for four hundred years at least on Spanish monarchy and on European commercial events.