Mediterranean from Haifa

On your cruise to Israel, you’ll land at the port of Haifa from which you can reach Nazareth and Bethlehem, both huge attractions for people of faith from all around the world.
Multicultural and lively, this city of Galilee lies at the foot of Mount Carmel, the “vineyard of God”, which boasts lush vegetation and caves declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO. During your stay you can enjoy the beaches, ideal for a family outing, but also the ascent of Mount Carmel, from which you can enjoy the beautiful view over the old port of Haifa before heading off to Nazareth and Bethlehem, veritable cradles of Catholic, Orthodox Christian and Protestant tradition, at the crossroads with Jewish culture.

What used to be a small village at the time of the Pharaohs, certainly lower in importance and wealth than the extraordinary and mythical Alexandria of Egypt, is presently the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the African continent and in the Islamic world. In fact Cairo betrays its origins, more Muslim than Egyptian.

Its history lies in the pages of a thousand books enclosed in the world’s most famous library, the library of Alexandria in Egypt, the crossroad of cultures.
Acclaimed a thousand times for its library and lighthouse, Alexandria has always been a crossroads of civilisations. Even today, the port of Alexandria welcomes the whole world into its cultural heritage. During the stop in Alexandria, Egypt, visit the site where the lighthouse once stood and don’t forget to stroll along the entire scenic route. Visit the new library that proudly honours its illustrious ancestor. Check out this welcoming population that will have you trying a thousand recipes with beans and let yourself be seduced by the local pastries.

The Mediterranean island of Malta, situated between the North African coast and Sicily, is a land of history and mystique. The ancient Greeks claimed the island had divine origins and was the province of the Calypso nymph who lived on nearby Gozo. In Homer’s Odyssey, Ulysses landed on the island during his epic journey to Ithaca. In the Middle Ages, the Crusaders partially fortified the island during their expeditions to the Holy Land, giving rise to the powerful Maltese Knights of St John.

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.

A pleasant thing to do is simply sit down at one of the cafes overlooking the port of Marseilles and, sipping a Pastis, observe the landscape and the people who inhabit it.
Also called the “Porpoise City “, Marseille is France’s sunniest town, charming with its gullies where you can swim, its history and culture and restaurants with cosmopolitan cuisine. You cannot leave without having first toured on the “Cours Julien”, the street for shopping. The port of Marseille is perhaps a typical tourist destination, but it deserves to be visited for the ferry that leaves from the Town Hall and the old church, which replaced a Templar building.

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”.