Slovenia, Montenegro, Greece, Malta, Italy Cruise on AIDAblu from Trieste (Italy)

Trieste (Italy)

Trieste is a city and seaport in northeastern Italy. It is situated towards the end of a narrow strip of Italian territory lying between the Adriatic Sea and Slovenia, which lies almost immediately south and east of the city. Once a very influential and powerful centre of politics, literature, music, art and culture under Austrian-Hungarian dominion, its importance fell into decline towards the end of the 20th century, and today, Trieste is often forgotten as tourists head off to the big Italian cities like Rome and Milan. It is, however, a very charming underestimated city, with a quiet and lovely almost Eastern European atmosphere, several pubs and cafes, some stunning architecture and a beautiful sea view. It was also, for a while, the residence of famous Irish writer James Joyce.

Koper (Slovenia)

Found in the Istrian Region of southwestern Slovenia, Koper is home to the largest commercial port in Slovenia. Just 5km from Slovenia's boarder with Italy, the Italian influence can be felt thought the city. The 15th-century Praetorian Palace and the Loggia Palace are prime examples with their Gothic Venetian architecture. The 12th century Carmine Rotunda church, and the Cathedral of St Nazarius, with its 14th-century tower also offer a view into the citys long history.

Rijeka (Croatia)

This cosmopolitan coastal city is famous for its annual carnival, Rijeka’s theatres, museums and abundant history make cruises to Rijeka an intriguing destination at any time of the year. The unique Baroque rotunda of St Vitus Cathedral, dedicated to the port’s Patron Saint and protector, is in the old town. He appears again in a relief on the early 16th century city flagpole outside the Municipal Palace close to the Church of St Jerome, once part of an Augustinian monastery complex. Further stone decorations, this time of fish and molluscs, are found in the city’s Great Market. Energetic visitors on Rijeka cruises can climb the 500 steps to reach the ancient district of Trsat and the Church of Our Lady of Trsat, the oldest Croatian sanctuary dedicated to the Virgin Mary

Korcula (Croatia)

The island of Korcula is situated in the Adriatic Sea, just off the Dalmatian coast of Croatia. Its coast is made up of more than 200 bays, golden beaches and small secluded coves. Said to the the Birth-place of Marco Polo, the island has rich history that can still be seen with its almost gothic, renaissance inspired medievil architechture. The town of Korcula is the cultural and commercial centre of the island offering visitors a range of resteraunts, bars and cafés as well as playing host to the Korkyra Baroque Music Festival.

Kotor (Montenegro)

Kotor is a coastal town in a secluded part of the Gulf of Kotor in Montenegro. The old Mediterranean port of Kotor is surrounded by fortifications built during the Venetian period. It is located on the Bay of Kotor , one of the most indented parts of the Adriatic Sea. Some have called the southernmost fjord in Europe, but it is a ria, a submerged river canyon. Together with the nearly overhanging limestone cliffs of Orjen and Lovcen, Kotor and its surrounding area form an impressive and picturesque Mediterranean landscape. In recent years, Kotor has seen a steady increase in tourists, many of them coming by cruise ship. Visitors are attracted both by the natural beauty of the Gulf of Kotor and by the old town of Kotor. Kotor is part of the World Heritage Site dubbed the Natural and Culture Historical Region of Kotor. Kotor has one of the best preserved medieval old towns in the Adriatic and is a UNESCO world heritage site. Narrow streets, contiguous houses, bulwarks, churches, cathedrals, squares, carnivals and feasts. It is home to numerous sights, such as the Cathedral of Saint Tryphon in the old town (built in 1166), and the ancient walls which stretch for 3 miles directly above the city. Sveti Ðorde and Gospa od Skrpijela islets off the coast of Perast are also among the more popular destinations in the vicinity of Kotor.

Corfu

Corfu is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea. It is the second largest of the Ionian Islands,[2] and, including its small satellite islands, forms the edge of the northwestern frontier of Greece. The island is part of the Corfu regional unit, and is administered as a single municipality. The municipality includes the island Corfu and the smaller islands Ereikoussa, Mathraki and Othonoi. The principal city of the island and seat of the municipality is also named Corfu. The island´s history is laden with battles and conquests. The legacy of these struggles is visible in the form of castles punctuating strategic locations across the island. Two of these castles enclose its capital, which is the only city in Greece to be surrounded in such a way. The city´s old city was designated for the UNESCO World Heritage List.Corfu is a very popular tourist destination.

Valletta (Malta)

Valletta is the capital of Malta, situated in the east central portion of Malta. It is the second southernmost capital of Europe. The city was officially recognised as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1980. The city is essentially Baroque in character, with elements of Mannerist, Neo Classical and Modern architecture in selected areas. The city consists of buildings from the 16th century onwards, built during the rule of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, also known as Knights Hospitaller. The official name given by the Order of Saint John was Humilissima Civitas - Valletta the Most Humble City of Valletta. The bastions, curtains along with the beauty of its Baroque palaces, gardens, and churches, led the ruling houses of Europe to give the city its nickname Superbissima - Most Proud. Valletta cruise port is stunning and the views from your ship of the harbour will blow you away. There’s lots to see and do in the immediate port area, and shuttle buses are sometimes provided to take you further into the city. A day of exploring here will not disappoint.

Catania (Sicily)

Cataniais the second city of Sicily, after Palermo. The Cathedral square where we can find the Comune and the Cathedral of Catania, the Duomo, around the Elephant Fountain of Vacarini; the Pescheria market, and the market of Fiera, the theatre and the roman amphitheater, the odeon, Via Crociferi with an endless line of churches, the Bellini gardens, the theatre Massimo Vincenzo Bellini, Saint Nicolo and the Benedictine Convent (headquarters of the University di Lettere de Catania), without forgetting the Ursino Castle and multitude of baroque palaces proliferating in Catania.

Crotone, Italy

Crotone is a city and comune in Calabria, southern Italy, on the Ionian Sea. Founded c. 710 BC as the Achaean colony of Croton, it was known as Cotrone from the Middle Ages until 1928, when its name was changed to the current one. In 1994 it became the capital of the newly established Province of Crotone. Places of Interest: the Cathedral, originally from the 9th-11th centuries, but largely rebuilt. It has a neo-classical façade, while the interior has a nave with two aisles, with Baroque decorations. Noteworthy are a baptismal font (12th century) and the Madonna di Capo Colonna, the icon of the Black Madonna which, according to the tradition, was brought from East in the first years of the Christian era.The 16th-century Castle of Charles V. It houses the Town Museum, with findings excavated in the ancient site of Kroton. Notable are also the remnants of the walls, of the same century, and of various watchtowers.The ancient castle built on an island, with accessibility on foot limited to a narrow strip of land, is referred to as Le Castella.

Katakolon (Greece)

Katakolon is a beautiful seaside town and it is situated in the municipality of Pyrgos in western Elis, Greece. The port of Katakolo is popular destination for cruises. It offers great opportunity to the passengers to visit the site of Ancient Olympia. Port of Katakolon where Greek mythology started .Greece is where the first Olympics was ever held and where you can find a historical landmark anywhere. Places of interest: Museum of Ancient Greek Technology, Stadium of Olympia, Greece and the remains of the medieval Pontikokastro/Beauvoir castle still stand on a hilltop northeast of the modern port.

Argostoli (Kefalonia island)

Argostoli is a town and a former municipality on the island of Kefalonia, Ionian Islands, Greece. Argostoli developed into one of the busiest ports in Greece, leading to prosperity and growth. To the east of Argostoli, at the end of the bay, beneath the aforementioned Castle of St. George, sits the Koutavos Lagoon, a feeding ground for the Loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta). Now a nature reserve, the Koutavos Lagoon was once an almost impassable swamp where mosquitoes and malaria were rife. Under the British governor of the island, a wooden bridge was constructed across the lagoon.

Corfu

Corfu is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea. It is the second largest of the Ionian Islands,[2] and, including its small satellite islands, forms the edge of the northwestern frontier of Greece. The island is part of the Corfu regional unit, and is administered as a single municipality. The municipality includes the island Corfu and the smaller islands Ereikoussa, Mathraki and Othonoi. The principal city of the island and seat of the municipality is also named Corfu. The island´s history is laden with battles and conquests. The legacy of these struggles is visible in the form of castles punctuating strategic locations across the island. Two of these castles enclose its capital, which is the only city in Greece to be surrounded in such a way. The city´s old city was designated for the UNESCO World Heritage List.Corfu is a very popular tourist destination.

Trieste (Italy)

Trieste is a city and seaport in northeastern Italy. It is situated towards the end of a narrow strip of Italian territory lying between the Adriatic Sea and Slovenia, which lies almost immediately south and east of the city. Once a very influential and powerful centre of politics, literature, music, art and culture under Austrian-Hungarian dominion, its importance fell into decline towards the end of the 20th century, and today, Trieste is often forgotten as tourists head off to the big Italian cities like Rome and Milan. It is, however, a very charming underestimated city, with a quiet and lovely almost Eastern European atmosphere, several pubs and cafes, some stunning architecture and a beautiful sea view. It was also, for a while, the residence of famous Irish writer James Joyce.