Mediterranean from Istanbul

Many say this is the most beautiful city in the world. What is certain is that it’s a unique city, the gateway to the East with a portion of its heart still in the West.
The city of Istanbul is located on the border between Europe and Asia. It’s the largest city in Turkey and is included on the UNESCO World Heritage list. The port of Istanbul is located on the Bosphorus, in Karaköy. From there you can easily reach the city centre on foot or by tram. During the stop you can take a walk to visit the main historical monuments and browse through the bazaars you will encounter along the way. Let yourself be carried away by this incredible experience and fascinating culture that unites Europe and Asia.

Many say this is the most beautiful city in the world. What is certain is that it’s a unique city, the gateway to the East with a portion of its heart still in the West.
The city of Istanbul is located on the border between Europe and Asia. It’s the largest city in Turkey and is included on the UNESCO World Heritage list. The port of Istanbul is located on the Bosphorus, in Karaköy. From there you can easily reach the city centre on foot or by tram. During the stop you can take a walk to visit the main historical monuments and browse through the bazaars you will encounter along the way. Let yourself be carried away by this incredible experience and fascinating culture that unites Europe and Asia.

Capital of a province, with nearly three million inhabitants, Smirne (Izmir in Turkish) is Turkey’s second city, after Istanbul, thanks to its busy port and to the intense industrial activity which, from traditional fields tied to agriculture, has expanded to include shipbuilding, mechanical and chemical plants for oil refinery.
Located within a beautiful bay, surrounded by lovely hills, the town has changed in the course of recent years, into a modern metropolis with an established urbanistic structure and new residencial areas.

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

Facing the Adriatic Sea, the city is famous for its walls, built in stages from ancient times to the present, surrounding it, along with the port. Its splendid historical centre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, exudes charm at every corner: the pearl of the Adriatic, as Lord Byron called it.
Dubrovnik is located in the south of Croatia, on the Dalmatian coast, and is protected from the bora and scirocco. This means that its climate is pleasant, even in the summer months. Its sea is among the cleanest and bluest in the world and, breathing deeply on the coast, you cannot help but feel the scent of pine trees, which surround the beaches and cool the hottest hours of the day. The beaches, amongst the most beautiful of the whole of Croatia, are uncrowded and perfect for romantic evenings by the sea.

Visiting Bari during a cruise holiday means exploring the old town for a journey through time.
Bari is the wonderful capital of Puglia and is built around the port, and the Borgo Antico is its mediaeval district characterised by narrow and winding streets. It is definitely one of the most beautiful cities in the Mediterranean.

During the stopover in Bari visit the historic city rich in history, one of the most beautiful in Italy, and its surroundings, especially Matera, designated by UNESCO as the 2019 European Capital of Culture. “Bari Vecchia” is the old part of the city that, with its partly Norman and partly Swabian fortress, the Romanesque Basilica of Saint Nicholas built on the ruins of the Byzantine Palace, the 12th century cathedral of San Sabino and a dozen little churches of the same period, still bears the traces of conquerors who succeeded over the centuries.

On the border between Italy and Istria, Trieste awaits you with that “surly grace” as sung by Umberto Saba: a mysterious charm of sullen beauty and Central European allure.
At the foot of the karst plateau, where the two peninsulas span the Adriatic, outlining a vast secluded Gulf, Trieste is a natural port and one of the most important in the Mediterranean. Its particular geographical position, which made it the setting for some major historical events, is today a tourist destination of endless fascination.
Among the splendours of the landscape and traces of an imperial past, the visit to Trieste is a tour of historical and architectural wonders. A short way from the port, after passing the Grand Canal built by Trieste’s Venetian neighbours, Piazza Unità d’Italia invites you to admire the ancient Habsburg heart of the city and enjoy a glass of Prosecco. And if you love hiking and photography, a walk on the Rilke path overlooking the sea and the “Napoleonic road” with a view of the Gulf from the edge of the karst plateau is a real treat.

The antiquity of Split harbour, located in Croatia, is testified by the presence of a palace built by Emperor Diocletian 295 BC.
Split harbour is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful, but also one of the oldest in the Adriatic: it is over 1,700 years old, and is surrounded by an extraordinary historical heritage. You can easily reach the nearby islands from here. With its 16 towers and three temples, the Palace of Diocletian, built in around 295 BC, still enjoys an extraordinary state of preservation that makes this an unmissable stage during our stop-off.

Treat yourself to a trip to Corfu and you will experience the unforgettable thrill of cruising to one of Greece’s most beautiful islands.
The city of Corfu owes much of its charm to the wonderful old town, an ancient district made of narrow, cobbled alleys, with cafés and artisan shops. A labyrinth to lose yourself in and where every sight will be an indelible memory of your cruise to Corfu. In the old city, studded with Venetian architectural influences but best represented in the Campiello district, don’t miss a shore excursion to the 16th century fortress that stands on a spur of rock overlooking the sea. At the foot of the old town is the beautiful Spianada, once a Venetian parade ground, now a green city square overlooking the Museum of Asian Art.

During a Mediterranean cruise you will arrive at the port of Corfu, Neo Limani, which is a few minutes’ walk from the city centre, and therefore a quick hop from the quay. Entrance to the town lies at the foot of the New Fortress. At this point, stopping at Corfu lets you roam the narrow streets lined with tourist shops. Complete your tour of the island with total immersion in the lush greenery: olive trees, orange trees, cypresses as well as cultural events in the heart of the walled city are the norm!

The spirit of the Olympics still lingers in their hometown of Olympia. From the port of Katakolon you can easily reach the site of the legendary ancient athletes.
During the stopover in Katakolon, treat yourself to a visit to the port located on the Bay of Agios Andreas; despite having undergone several changes, it has managed to retain its historic soul. Do not miss the chance to visit the archaeological site of Olympia, one of the largest in Greece, which hosted the first Panhellenic Olympic Games. Katakolon is a small tourist town: have fun and discover the ways of its inhabitants, stroll among flowering streets and sit in one of the many cafés.

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.

Many say this is the most beautiful city in the world. What is certain is that it’s a unique city, the gateway to the East with a portion of its heart still in the West.
The city of Istanbul is located on the border between Europe and Asia. It’s the largest city in Turkey and is included on the UNESCO World Heritage list. The port of Istanbul is located on the Bosphorus, in Karaköy. From there you can easily reach the city centre on foot or by tram. During the stop you can take a walk to visit the main historical monuments and browse through the bazaars you will encounter along the way. Let yourself be carried away by this incredible experience and fascinating culture that unites Europe and Asia.

Many say this is the most beautiful city in the world. What is certain is that it’s a unique city, the gateway to the East with a portion of its heart still in the West.
The city of Istanbul is located on the border between Europe and Asia. It’s the largest city in Turkey and is included on the UNESCO World Heritage list. The port of Istanbul is located on the Bosphorus, in Karaköy. From there you can easily reach the city centre on foot or by tram. During the stop you can take a walk to visit the main historical monuments and browse through the bazaars you will encounter along the way. Let yourself be carried away by this incredible experience and fascinating culture that unites Europe and Asia.