How about a cruise to see the Coliseum, the Vatican or the Trevi Fountain in Rome? Or exploring the fascinating cities of Barcelona, Florence, Naples or the archaeological sites of Herculaneum and Pompeii on your cruise holiday?
Roman antiquities abound in Sardinia and Sicily too, where the winding alleyways of bustling old towns give way to stunning island coastlines and rustic countryside of olive groves, vineyards and picturesque villages, and in Sicily, the rugged slopes of volcanic Mount Etna. A cruise to the magnificent Italian Renaissance cities of Florence, Pisa, or Lucca and Siena in Tuscany will leave lasting memories. The rival families that built these beautiful cities as symbols of their wealth and power left behind some of the finest works of art and architecture in the world.
For that touch of glamour, make sure you include Cannes, St Tropez or Monte Carlo on your cruise itinerary. Each with its own unique appeal, these smart seaside resorts are perfect places to promenade along the quayside, people-watch from a pavement café or visit a trendy art gallery or glitzy casino.
Barcelona lives up to its reputation as a flamboyant, spirited city, constantly reinventing itself without losing its heritage. The Romans, the art nouveau movement, and especially the playful artist Antoni Gaudi have all left their most extravagant marks on this inventive city. Lisbon, Portugal, and Bilbao and Valencia in Spain are fascinating ports of call and provide a vibrant contrast to the beach resorts and sunshine islands of Gibraltar, Majorca and Ibiza.
On the southern edge of the Med, Libya’s capital of Tripoli is one of the best-preserved ancient Roman cities on the Med, slowly opening up its treasures to the outside world. With a fascinating medina or old town of narrow streets, mosques within Roman walls, a vast palace complex at The Red Castle and many traditional markets, Tripoli has much to offer.
Tunis is a graceful city of tree-lined squares, beautiful palm-lined beaches, and lively souks or markets. From here you can visit the remains of Carthage with its Coliseum and temple.
View our live Western Mediterranean cruise webcams to see which ships are in port
Take a virtual tour of the Western and Southern Mediterranean using our Google Earth cruise and see the ports often visited
If you do not have Google Earth on your computer go to our Google Earth info pages for a step by step guide |
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