Western Mediterranean Cruise - from Trieste - 129439

Trieste has an extremely picturesque setting, framed as it is by the sea and the mountains on the northern Adriatic. Narrow streets line the old town. At the Piazza Unità d'Italia, the heart of the city and the traditional meeting place for the people of Trieste, you can see impressive neoclassical buildings; in contrast, the ancient monuments of the town can be found in Colle di San Giusto. At the foot of this mountain you can visit the baroque church Santa Maria Maggiore. The San Giusto cathedral is the town's most important symbol, while the waterside promenades are the perfect place for a stroll. Sights include: Duino castle, the huge caves, the remnants of the city wall and the Roman heart of the town, the marine aquarium, the victory lighthouse and the old stock exchange.

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.

Kefalonia is not only the largest and most northerly of the Ionian Islands, but also the most multifaceted. It has thick, dark fir forests on the slopes of the highest mountain Enos (1628m), and mesa mountains shaped like steps as well as peaceful olive groves with cypress trees. There are various caves and some very unusual geological features. In cultural terms, the island boasts a monastery, among other things. The sixth-largest Greek island covers an area of 781 km2. Kefalonia comprises four peninsulas (Paliki, Erissos, Livatho and Omalon). To the North-East is Ithaca.

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 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.

Marseille is considered to be the largest and oldest port on the French Mediterranean coast and a glamorous metropolis. The city was founded in a picturesque bay in the 6th century B.C. by the Greek colonists. Initially it thrived from trading and quickly developed into an important port. Marseille is a welcoming cosmopolitan tourist town with a wide variety of shopping, entertainment and recreational facilities. Sights include: St. Victor's basilica, the old harbour, the poor house "la Ville Charité", the cathedral of la Major, the town hall, the historical museum, the Roman Docks Museum, the Archaeological Museum, Longchamp Museum, Grobet-Labadié Museum, Cantini Museum.

The capital of the French island of Corsica and the "Département Corse-du-Sud" is surrounded by beautiful mountainous countryside, valleys and little villages that make it the perfect place for walks and daytrips. But this city, which has a population of 59,300, is not only a popular winter resort, but also the birthplace of Napoleon I., who was born on August 15th 1769 in a house in the Rue Saint Charles. Today, many streets, statues and monuments commemorate the city's most famous son. The town hall also has some impressive exhibits relating to the coronation of the former emperor. Sights include: the Saint-Erasme church where Napolean was christened in 1539 , also dedicated to the patron of seafarers and decorated with model ships. The Fesch Museum has a collection of works by Boticelli, Bellini und Titian -donated by Cardinal Fesch, Napoleon's uncle. Sporting activities in Ajaccio focus mainly on water sports: all year round, visitors can enjoy diving trips, jet-ski, sailing, fun-boards and angling.

The city of La Spezia, which has a population of approximately 110,000 lies nestled among the green hills of Italy. The port borders to the North onto the steep mountain ridges of "Cinque Terre" and has wonderful beaches to the South near Carrara. La Spezia is known as a modern port and industrial city with a touch of Art Nouveau charm. Palms and oleander trees are characteristic of the cityscape. The city is shaped by both tourism and the naval base located here. Sights include: the large Friday market at "Viale Garibaldi", the Museum of Shipbuilding "Museo Navale" and "Castello San Giorgio".

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.