Eastern Mediterranean Cruise - from Civitavecchia / Rome - 121002

The Italian capital of Rome is also often called "the eternal city", as this buzzing metropolis still has many precious treasures from ancient times, which are known around the world. The most impressive sights include the "Thermae of Caracalla", the emperor's forum, the Colosseum, the Piazza Navona, the Fountain of Neptune and of course St. Peter's Basilica, with the dome designed by Michelangelo.

Salerno lies directly at the Gulf of the same name, which is also home to Capri, and is the capital of the region of Campania. The romantic old town is totally enchanting, in the shadows of the San Matteo cathedral and the Castello di Arechi with its splendid bell tower. Sights include: the cathedral and its museum, the aquaeduct, the Archaeological Museum, the local museum and the old town with its Roman, Byzantine and Norman influences.

The largest city in Sicily rises up from the Conca d'Oro bay (Golden Shell Bay), surrounded by glorious orange and citrus groves. It was founded in the 8th century B.C. by the Phoenicians and has been variously ruled by the Romans, the Byzantines, the Arabs, the Normans, the Spanish and the Bourbons, all of whom have left their mark on the city. Parlermo's historic centre is one of the largest in Europe; it has 158 churches, 55 monasteries, more than 400 stately homes and 7 theatres. Tours of the city can be organised depending on the various eras one is most interested in, but the cathedral dating from 1185 and the famous Cappella Palatina are not to be missed. Over the last few years the city has been undergoing a transition and wants a new image, to encourage culturally-interested tourists to visit. The Teatro Massimo, the former monastery of Spasimo, the Albergo delle Povere, Villa Niscemi, the Palazzo Merlo, the Chiesa di San Domenico and many other sights have now re-opened their doors for visitors following extensive restoration work.

The Italian port lies at the foot of Mount Etna. Catania is the second-largest town in Sicily and the most important industrial centre in the region. The town on the Ionian coast is also famous for its fertile citrus gardens. Sights include: the old town area with St. Agatha's cathedral, baroque palaces owned by the aristocracy, Ursino castle; funicular railway to Mount Etna.

The third-largest and most southerly of the islands in the Ionian Sea lies just 10 nautical miles from the west coast of the Peloponnese. The Venetians named the island "Fiore di Levante" (flower of the east). The mild Mediterranean climate and the increased humidity mean Zakynthos is a very green island. The new museum at Solomos square has some of the most important Byzantine and post-Byzantine works of art on exhibit. The Solomos and Kalvas museum houses the mortal remains of the national poets Dionysios Solomos and Andreas Kalvas in its mausoleum. While there are few beaches on the North and West coast, this is where you will find the famous "Blue Caves" at Cape Skinari and the renowned smuggler's wreck not far from Volimes, where the coast is lined with craggy cliffs.

Gythion is a picturesque little town with painted white houses nestled up against the mountainside. Legend has it that this city at the eastern Mediterranean was founded by the the Greek gods Heracles and Apollo. In addition to the houses typical of the region, there are several buildings at the harbour dating from the era of Classicism, some with wrought iron balconies and stucco fronts. Business is centred around the harbour promenade, with its many banks and travel agencies.

Die Hafenstadt beherbergt den größten Teil der ca. 3.500 Einwohner der griechischen Insel Mykonos. Die Altstadt ist am besten vom Ufer aus zu betreten. Im Zentrum der Stadt befindet sich der Drei-Brunnen-Platz "Platia Tria Pigadia" mit drei Ziehbrunnen, die noch bis in die Fünfzigerjahre des 20. Jh. hinein die Altstadt mit Wasser versorgen. Sehenswürdigkeiten: "Nautiko Moussío", eines der reizvollsten Museen aus dem 19. Jh. zum Thema Seefahrt in Griechenland mit schönem schattigen Garten, das "Haus der Lena", das ca. 200 Jahre alt, mit Möbeln und Kunst ausgestattet ist und einen Einblick in ein Bürgerhaus des 19. Jh. gibt, die kleine "Agios-Nikolaos-Kirche", das Rathaus mit rotem Ziegeldach.

Vólos, the regional capital and the economic centre at the Pagasaean Gulf, with its waterside promenade, wide boulevards lined with cafés and a long shopping street, is the perfect place for a stroll. Sights include: the Archaeological Museum

A world city with a unique character. A city filled with beauty and contrast, with a breathtaking history - from Byzantium to Constantinople to the present day. But Istanbul has more to offer than culture - inexpensive shopping, oriental cuisine or meeting new people are just examples of the many things one can do here. The city is full of buildings, monuments, churches and mosques, all steeped in history.

The former pirate's stronghold Kusadasi has developed into a well-known holiday destination in Turkey. The many fish restaurants by the harbour, the tempting boutiques, oriental antiques shops, bars and pavement cafés at the beach promenade are characteristic of this town. Sights include: the old "Mehmet Pascha Karawanserei" which dates from the 17th century, the beautiful marina, one of the most modern yacht marinas in Turkey and the fort on the little island known as 'bird island'.

Katákolon is a small town with a harbour and lots of shops selling souvenirs and jewellery. It is 13 km to the East of Pyrgos and is also known as the port of Pyrgos. A traditional and extremely impressive place for a daytrip is the ancient ruins of Olympia on the slopes of the Peloponnes at the foot of Mount Kronos. Excavation work, which was instigated by German archaeologists in 1875, and is still ongoing, has uncovered a great deal of information about this mystic and sacred place. Its walls enclose the Temple of Jupiter, the Doric Temple of Hera, the "Hall of Echos", the gymnasium and the stadium.

The Croatian port of Dubrovnik is known as an important spa resort. It was founded by the Slavs at around the beginning of the 7th century. Today, the city by the Adriatic Sea is known for its excellent shopping, many shops and cultural facilities. The main street of the old town is the "Stradun" (also called "Placa"). From here, all of the important sights in the city are just a short walk away. The entire old town has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1980. Sights include: the city walls dating from the 13th century, a Franciscan monastery with its own apothecary, the 15th century Duke's palace, "Sponza Palace", the Museum of Popular Art, the Cathedral and St. Blasius' church.

Ravenna in the East of the Italian province of Emilia Romagna is one of the most important towns in Italy, both in historical and artistic terms. It was the last capital of the West-Roman empire, after which it was the centre of Byzantine culture in Italy. A famous location for music festivals, Ravenna has a broad range of recreational activities to offer. The bars, cafés and shops around the Piazza del Popolo and the adjacent streets are buzzing with life. This is also where visitors can find the early Christian San Vitale basilica with its famous frescoes and the tombs of Theodor the Great and Dante Alighieri, who completed "The Divine Comedy" here. The city is also famous for its Christian mosaics (a mosaic image depicting two doves). The town was once completely surrounded by a city wall; today, only the gates remain. The beautiful park is also worth a visit and in the Summer there is an outdoor cinema here.

With 160 canals, Venice is the city of gondolas and boats. It lies in a lagoon comprises a total of 116 islands. All of the buildings, bridges and squares are built on wooden stilts. The most famous canal is 'Canale Grande', on which you can explore the old town in a gondola. You could of course take a stroll through the city centre and have a look at the elegant shops or enjoy a well-deserved break at one of the typical Italian cafés. The special attraction in the lagoon city are the one hundred churches, the museums and art collections, as well as the Rialto bridge, which dates from the 16th century. Venice hosts the international festival for contemporary art, music and film, the 'Biennale'. The city was designated a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site in 1987 . Other sights include: St. Mark's Square and St. Mark's Basilica, the Doge's Palace and the 'Bridge of Sighs'.

With 160 canals, Venice is the city of gondolas and boats. It lies in a lagoon comprises a total of 116 islands. All of the buildings, bridges and squares are built on wooden stilts. The most famous canal is 'Canale Grande', on which you can explore the old town in a gondola. You could of course take a stroll through the city centre and have a look at the elegant shops or enjoy a well-deserved break at one of the typical Italian cafés. The special attraction in the lagoon city are the one hundred churches, the museums and art collections, as well as the Rialto bridge, which dates from the 16th century. Venice hosts the international festival for contemporary art, music and film, the 'Biennale'. The city was designated a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site in 1987 . Other sights include: St. Mark's Square and St. Mark's Basilica, the Doge's Palace and the 'Bridge of Sighs'.