Cruise trips around the Italian peninsula and islands are a great way of discovering what the country has to offer. Located in the centre of the Mediterranean, it is easy an easy country to get to and away from.
From the northern sea resorts of Ligura, to the southernmost islands like Sicily as well as the Adriatic Sea to the east, Italy has diverse regions – each with their own style. The coasts can only really be said to have been discovered if you travel by ship. Cruise trips offer a certain amount of luxury and relaxation that other ways modes of transport, like the rail network and car travel, simply cannot compete with.
San Remo, Genoa And The North
One of the first places of note once you enter Italian waters from France, San Remo is a charming city famous for an annual musical festival with an accent on Jazz and Wold music. Further along the Ligurian coast you come to the region’s capital, Genoa. Here, there is an excellent maritime museum, highlighting Genoese naval power from centuries ago. Kids will love the so-called Children’s City and the city’s world famous aquarium. All over Liguria, expect to find high quality pasta dishes served with the region’s signature sauce – pesto.
Mid Italy
Many cruises from the UK, including Royal Caribbean cruises from Southampton, make time for the delights of mid-Italy on their itineraries. Although Rome itself is not on the coast, cruises tend to head a little further south to the wonderful city of Naples. Facing the large bay of Naples, the island of Capri is well worth a visit and a popular stopping point for many cruises. Capri is well known for its large caves, which the locals refer to as grottoes. It in this area that many tourists disembark for organised tours of the ancient city of Pompeii which was destroyed by a volcanic eruption in ancient times.
Sicily And The South
The southern regions of the country get very hot so, if high temperatures will affect anyone in your party, pick a cruise that avoids this region in high summer. However, holidaymakers should not miss out on a visit to Syracuse, in Sicily, which was originally a Greek settlement and home to one of the greatest inventors of all time, Archimedes. The Teatro Massimo Opera House, located in Palermo, is also well worth a visit with regular productions of Verdi, amongst others. There is growing interest in Sicily as a wine producing region, so enquire about one of the many organised tours you can take inland to sample the island’s vineyards.
Ravenna, Venice And The Adriatic
This eastern coastline of Italy is famed for thick sand dunes and natural pine woods. Just set back from coast, Ravenna is one of the highlights of this seashore. The city is full of Byzantine and Roman historic monuments, having once been the capital of the ancient Empire. Ravenna’s spring festival is a great time to come when the locals are in party mood. Further north along the coast, cruises reach the unique city of Venice. The city has a distinctive culture and history all of its own. There is nowhere else like it in the world, let alone Italy. Explore the famous lagoon and canals for which the city is most famous. Food lovers will enjoy indulging on local seafood as well as Venetian sausages and ham.
