Spain, France, Italy from marsellies

A pleasant thing to do is simply sit down at one of the cafes overlooking the port of Marseilles and, sipping a Pastis, observe the landscape and the people who inhabit it. Also called the Porpoise City, Marseille is France’s sunniest town, charming with its gullies where you can swim, its history and culture and restaurants with cosmopolitan cuisine. You cannot leave without having first toured on the “Cours Julien”, the street for shopping. The port of Marseille is perhaps a typical tourist destination, but it deserves to be visited for the ferry that leaves from the Town Hall and the old church, which replaced a Templar building.

Above the port of Savona, the Priamar Fortress greets every departure and arrival of the Costa ships sailing in the Mediterranean. Genoa and its aquarium are nearby. The port of Savona, which you can explore during your cruise in Italy, is one of the prettiest of the Italian Riviera. The lovely climate, summers that are never to hot, mild winters and the exceptional beauty of the sea near the town makes Savona an excellent base to set out to explore Liguria. Savona is notable for the Priamar Fortress, which has dominated the town since the 16th century, and also for its historic centre where you can visit Savona Cathedral. A stop in Savona can also be an opportunity to visit the nearby city of Genoa and its narrow, picturesque streets, known as “caruggi”.

From the ancient port of Civitavecchia you will land in the heart of the Roman and Etruscan civilisations; the old town is also a fabulous mediaeval village. Civitavecchia of today is the result of a thousand-year long process of civilisation and urbanisation in the Lazio region. In the area, close to where this city is located (and just 70 km from Rome), there are important historical elements that, over the centuries, have overlapped and accumulated to confirm the presence and evolution of organised social groups as far back as the prehistoric age. In fact, numerous traces of primitive settlements are found along the coast of Civitavecchia. Equally numerous and important are the Etruscan, Roman and mediaeval structures that have made the city an important urban centre and renowned as the Port of Rome since antiquity. During a cruise departing from Civitavecchia, before continuing in the Mediterranean, you can take advantage of this stop to visit Rome, the grandiose capital with its…

Naples is the heart of the Mediterranean. A unrivalled city where everything becomes a pleasant experience. The port of Naples is located right in the heart of the city and you can easily reach the city centre on foot. One of Italy’s symbolic cities: a cruise to Naples will immerse you in a universe of flavours and traditions that have developed during a history of almost 3,000 years. A shore excursion around Naples is like a visit to an open-air museum watched over by the majestic slopes of Vesuvius. The true soul of the city is Spaccanapoli in the ancient heart of the Decumani—the streets built in the Greco-Roman era—where you dodge mopeds as you stroll among the artisan workshops. It would be sacrilege to take a trip to Naples and not enter at least one of the over 500 churches in the old city. Take advantage of the break to visit Pompeii. You will be offered two shore excursions to immerse yourself in the heart of history and visit the ruins of this ancient Roman city. Then, let y…

The origins of Messina are uncertain, as is the case with other cities on the island of Sicily. The first evidence of the city concerns Zancle, its first name, as baptised by Zanclon, a character of mystery and legend. The historical centre of the city was constructed by the Phoenicians who made Messina a flourishing commercial centre, followed by Greek colonists from Cumae and Euboea.

Trapani in Italy, also known as ‘City of Salt and Sail’, stands on a promontory called Drepanum, meaning ‘scythe’, owing to its crescent shape. Trapani is a Sicilian town with welcoming crystal-clear waters and a coastline rich in history. The port of Trapani is of impressive dimensions, and is also one of the most protected ports in Sicily. From here you can discover Erice and its castles, which stand on the mountain of the same name. You can admire the valley of the temples in Agrigento and visit the Saline Nature Reserve You can continue the excursion by exploring the magnificent bay of Santa Margherita, which is a real corner of paradise, and the crystalline waters of San Vito lo Capo.

The Sea of Sardinia measures up to Caribbean standards. The same dream beaches, the same crystal clear water. Anyone who has been to Olbia in Costa Smeralda knows this. The port of Olbia is situated on the Costa Smeralda, considered one of the most beautiful coasts of Sardinia and of the whole Mediterranean. During the stopover in Olbia you can visit Roman ruins, such as the aqueduct, baths, the basilica of San Simplicio, but also the Holy wells of Sa Tesa, the archaeological site of the Riu Milinu or the Giant’s Grave of Su Mont’e s’Abe, symbols of Nuragic culture. Lovers of nature, divers and beautiful beaches will be enchanted by the islands of Tavolara and Molara.

The island of Elba is a surprising place you can discover thanks to a stop at the port of Portoferraio during your Costa Cruise to the Mediterranean. The port of the Island of Elba, off the coast of Livorno, Italy, has kept its authentic and welcoming atmosphere. Its name apparently derives from the cliffs that overlook it, and the Argonauts are said to have passed by here. Every corner of the old town of Portoferraio encompasses historical jewels such as the Church of the Misericordia. Its narrow streets also give it a magical atmosphere. You can also make a stop at the Villa dei Mulini where Napoleon once lived. As such, this stop in Portoferraio will be one of the highlights of your trip.

The French island of Corsica, with a rich and sometimes turbulent history, is a land of enchanting landscapes and stunning beauty. A mild climate, with temperatures averaging 20°C, plus more than 2,700 hours of sunshine per year and an excellent cuisine, combine to make Corsica an increasingly popular tourist destination. Perhaps because of its harsh aspect, Corsica did not attract the attentions of some of the Mediterranean's ancient powers. Its location was removed from the routes of Spanish commerce and Saracen raids. It did gain the attention of the Genoese, however, who in the 1600s built a military outpost on the island, which was suitably situated for trade with Sardinia, the Middle East, Spain and North Africa. In some areas of Ajaccio, the ancient dialect used by Ligurian sailors can still be heard. Since its establishment Ajaccio, between Punta dell Parata in the north and Capo di Muro in the south, has developed into a busy commercial and passenger port. It is also renowned…

The island of Ibiza, or ‘Eivissa’ as the Catalans call it, is a great travel destination for those who want to escape from everyday life and be lulled by the crystal-clear waters of the Balearic Sea. It is an island of beauty and excess, blessed with spectacular pristine beaches and dense pine forests. Ibiza has long attracted hedonistic personalities, while today it is the extraordinary clubbing scene that attracts tourists from all over the world. Ibiza is in fact the major clubbing capital of the world, where all the best international DJs gather during the summer season. However, you’ll find a much quieter island if you visit between October and May. For those who want to enrich their trip with a little art and culture. The old city, designated a World Heritage Site for its perfect state of preservation, is a fortified citadel of the Renaissance era. The walls reach a dramatic climax at the main entrance of the arch, the imposing Portal de ses Taules. Beyond it is the elegant Plaç…

The island of Ibiza, or ‘Eivissa’ as the Catalans call it, is a great travel destination for those who want to escape from everyday life and be lulled by the crystal-clear waters of the Balearic Sea. It is an island of beauty and excess, blessed with spectacular pristine beaches and dense pine forests. Ibiza has long attracted hedonistic personalities, while today it is the extraordinary clubbing scene that attracts tourists from all over the world. Ibiza is in fact the major clubbing capital of the world, where all the best international DJs gather during the summer season. However, you’ll find a much quieter island if you visit between October and May. For those who want to enrich their trip with a little art and culture. The old city, designated a World Heritage Site for its perfect state of preservation, is a fortified citadel of the Renaissance era. The walls reach a dramatic climax at the main entrance of the arch, the imposing Portal de ses Taules. Beyond it is the elegant Plaç…

In Spain there is only one place that does holidays, leisure, shopping and culture: Palma de Mallorca, where we stop on our Costa Cruise. Capital of the Balearic Islands, the port of Palma of Mallorca is the gateway to a city rich in art and history. As in all the islands of the archipelago, even here, tourists on a Balearic Islands cruise will find beautiful beaches, one of them is S'Arenal, but the old town is the true pearl of Palma. Shore excursions to the city can start from the Cathedral of Santa Maria di Palma, better known as La Seu and built on the foundations of the previous Arab mosque by the ultra-Catholic Aragonese people. One of the most interesting details of the cathedral is the canopy above the central altar, the work of Gaudi. A trip to Palma will also allow you to discover another famous personality in the art world: Joan Mirò. Near the artificial lake of Parc de la Mar you can see a beautiful mural he created in ceramic tiles, while in the gardens of the Orto del R…

Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain with three million inhabitants, a dominating port in northern Mediterranean with one of the most renowned and important universities in the world. The city is a very rich commercial centre, where industrial operations crucial to the Spanish economy take place. In fact, Catalans have always considered their region unique compared with the other Spanish regions and we can find its roots in the power exercised by Barcelona for four hundred years at least on Spanish monarchy and on European commercial events.

A pleasant thing to do is simply sit down at one of the cafes overlooking the port of Marseilles and, sipping a Pastis, observe the landscape and the people who inhabit it. Also called the Porpoise City, Marseille is France’s sunniest town, charming with its gullies where you can swim, its history and culture and restaurants with cosmopolitan cuisine. You cannot leave without having first toured on the “Cours Julien”, the street for shopping. The port of Marseille is perhaps a typical tourist destination, but it deserves to be visited for the ferry that leaves from the Town Hall and the old church, which replaced a Templar building.