Eastern Mediterranean Cruise - from Venice - 122502

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'.

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.

The old town of the Mediterranean port of Split on the eastern Adriatic coast in Dalmatia has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979. The heart of Croatia's second-largest city beats in the walls of the 1,500-year-old Diocletian palace. Even upon entering the port, Split presents itself at its best: the palm-lined waterside promenade in front of the Emperor's palace and the rooftops of the old town create a truly unique panorama. Sights include: the medieval old town, Diocletian Palace, the waterside promenade Riva, the Archaeological Museum, the Municipal Art Gallery, the Goldern Gate, the cathedral and the old town hall.

Kotor is a picturesque little town in the bay of the same name which was founded by Greek settlers. It now belongs to the Republic of Montenegro. Despite the severe earthquake in 1979, all of the old buildings stayed standing. These buildings are also the most important sights: the 12th century Romanesque cathedral of St. Tripun with its opulent interior, St. Luka church, built in the Greek-Byzantine style, a clock tower dating from the 17th century and the fortress St. Ivan with its triple defensive wall. The maritime museum is also worth a visit. The Bay of Kotor, "Boka Kotorska", has some of the most beautiful scenery in Europe. It cuts deep into the land in the shape of a fjord and is surrounded by high mountains. Several small bays are perfect for swimming. The asymmetric fronts of the narrow streets and squares feature many precious monuments in the medieval architectural style, which helped Kotor gain its status as a World Heritage Site.

The port of Bari has two contrasting images: on the one hand, the spacious new town built in a regimented pattern with seemingly endless shopping streets and countless boutiques, and on the other the charming, almost provinical, picturesque old town with its winding narrow streets. Sights include: the Romanesque cathedral, the San Nicola basilica, dedicated to the town's protector (which also has a museum), the Byzantine castle, the Museum of Archaeology and the district's art gallery with works of art by Venetian, Neapolitan and Apulian masters.

The town is Greek in origin and in the 11th century belonged to the Norman Kingdom of Sicily and from 1282 until the founding of Italy in 1861, was the capital of the Kingdom of Naples. The Piazza Garibaldi is a must-see - it is the main square in Naples, located in front of the main train station and the site of the Garibaldi monument, Via Umberto I. with many shops, fruit and fish markets and lots of streets sellers everywhere in between; the old town with the harbour, the city gate Porta Capuana, the Franciscan church, the town hall and Galleria Umberto I.; the former royal palace Palazzo Reale, which also houses the national library; Castel Sant Elmo dating from the 14th century and built on a hilltop overlooking the city; the San Gennaro cathedral, built in the 13th century, which houses the grave of the city's patron, -St. Januarius; the National Archaeological Museum, home to the famous Alexander mosaic; the National Museum with many finds from Herculaneum and Pompeii.

The town is Greek in origin and in the 11th century belonged to the Norman Kingdom of Sicily and from 1282 until the founding of Italy in 1861, was the capital of the Kingdom of Naples. The Piazza Garibaldi is a must-see - it is the main square in Naples, located in front of the main train station and the site of the Garibaldi monument, Via Umberto I. with many shops, fruit and fish markets and lots of streets sellers everywhere in between; the old town with the harbour, the city gate Porta Capuana, the Franciscan church, the town hall and Galleria Umberto I.; the former royal palace Palazzo Reale, which also houses the national library; Castel Sant Elmo dating from the 14th century and built on a hilltop overlooking the city; the San Gennaro cathedral, built in the 13th century, which houses the grave of the city's patron, -St. Januarius; the National Archaeological Museum, home to the famous Alexander mosaic; the National Museum with many finds from Herculaneum and Pompeii.

Livorno is around 20 km from Pisa. With a population of 180,000 it is the second-largest town in Tuscany. Via the "Fossi Medici" (italian meaning Medici moat), the canals of "new Venice" that connect the fort with the harbour, you come to the "Piazza Grande" with the San Francesco cathedral. Along the "Viale Italia" you can take a walk all the way to the Terrazza Mascagni, from where you can enjoy a wonderful view of the sea and the island of Gorgona which lies directly opposite. The seafront is also where you can find the municipal aquarium "Diacinto Cestoni", which is also the university's centre for marine biology.

This magical town on the Mediterranean coast has numerous museums, lovely hotels and unusual cuisine. Sights include: the exotic garden, the observatory cave, the Museum of Prehistoric Anthropology, the gardens and terraces of the casino, Casino Square, St. Charles' Church, The National Puppet Museum, the "La rampe Major" staircase, the Prince's Palace, the Oceanographic Museum and Aquarium, the Old Monaco Museum and the waxworks museum.