History, wine, serene beauty, dramatic people
and stunning views - an Italy cruise has it all! You can visit the main sites of
Italy on a European cruise or a Mediterranean cruise, but to really experience
Italy - to really taste it - you need to immerse yourself in everything that
Italy has to offer by taking an Italy cruise...
Italy cruises depart from several
ports around the country. Many depart from Civitavecchia - the
gateway port to Rome. However, to get the full Italy experience it
is recommended that an Italy cruise be embarked upon from the ports
of Savona or Genoa on the Ligurian Peninsula and taken all the way
round to Venice, or vice-versa. This way, you'll discover that
there's a lot more to Italy than a cruise departing from
Civitavecchia would be able to show you!
So, what delights await in this classical land?
The Ligurian Peninsula is a true paradise. Largely undiscovered by mass tourism,
quaint Italian villages line the coastline in this spectacular part of Italy.
Beautiful sandy beaches alternate with rocky headlands, and magnificent coastal
villages shine like beacons on the shore...
In Genoa you can discover the birthplace of
Christopher Columbus and marvel at the city's stunning Gothic architecture. A
little further to the south Livorno is a port of call worth spending a little
time at. Here, you will be able to arrange shore excursions to see the famous
leaning tower of Pisa, as well as visit the grand Renaissance city of Florence -
home to Dante, Michelangelo and the Medici's...
The Colosseum at Rome, Mount Vesuvius and the
ancient city that it buried - Pompeii - are essential attractions to visit when
on an Italy cruise, as is Rimini on the Adriatic Sea. From Rimini you can take a
shore excursion to visit the enclave of San Marino, which is less than an hour's
drive from Rimini port...
Finally, irresistible Venice awaits as the
final stop at the end of your cruise. Venice is a true waterworld, consisting of
more than 120 islands through which a network of waterways can be explored by
gondola. Renaissance-style architecture is everywhere in this city, and you'll
be able to take a shore excursion that takes in the famous Rialto Bridge and the
Bridge of Sighs...
So, whether you want to discover what it felt
like to be a gladiator in Rome's Colosseum, peer into the gigantic crater of Mt
Vesuvius or navigate your way around Venice's canal system, an Italy cruise is a
special adventure that you'll never forget.