Spanish & Italian Hot Spots Cruise on Scarlet Lady from Civitavecchia (Rome)

Civitavecchia (Rome)

 Civitavecchia is the city of Rome´s port on the Tyrrhenian Sea. The harbour is formed by two piers and a breakwater, on which is a lighthouse. The name Civitavecchia means Ancient Town. There, the Eternal City lies before us in large format architectural and artistic sculptures such as the Colosseum, the most important monument of ancient Rome and used for public entertainment. Do not miss the Trevi Fountain and make a wish while you throw a coin over your shoulder and then continue to the Pantheon, one of the best-preserved monuments of antiquity, Piazza Navona, and the Vatican City. Take a walk through the Plaza of Spain and rest on the steps of Trinita dei Monti before heading to Via Condotti, a wide avenue lined with shops. Civitavecchia is always popular with cruise passengers because, as noted earlier, it is the gateway to Rome. All cruise lines tend to offer shore excursions here to the Eternal City and we highly recommend that you book one. 

Naples (Italy)

Naples is the capital of Campania, one of the largest metropolises on the Mediterranean Sea. The Port of Naples is one of the largest Italian seaport and one of the largest seaport in the Mediterranean Sea. Naples' historic city centre is the largest in Europe and is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Naples has long been a major cultural centre with a global sphere of influence, particularly during the Renaissance and Enlightenment eras. In the immediate vicinity of Naples are numerous culturally and historically significant sites, including the Palace of Caserta and the Roman ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Culinary Naples is synonymous with pizza, which originated in the city. Neapolitan music has furthermore been highly influential, credited with the invention of the romantic guitar and the mandolin, as well as notable contributions to opera and folk standards.

Palermo (Sicily)

 Palermo, the capital of Sicily and the Province of Palermo is situated in the northwest of the island of Sicily, right by the Gulf of Palermo in the Tyrrhenian Sea. Palermo is a beautiful place and has a noteworthy architectural heritage. It is known for many of its Norman buildings, including churches, museums, palaces, and gastronomy, playing an important role throughout much of its existence - it is over 2,700 years old. The city is rich in history, culture, art, music, and food. There are many tourist attractions such as Palermo’s Arabic quarter, Orto botanico Botanical Gardens and Real Tenuta della Favorita Park. In Vucciria market, visitors will experience the unique, strongly Sicilian atmosphere, as well as taste the typical local produce. Things to see and do include the Vucciria market, Palazzo dei Normanni, Quattro Canti, Norman churches, palaces, museums, and the Capuchin Catacombs – the latter of which being not for the faint hearted. It is here where you can see the mummified bodies of monks and more, including that of a small child named Rosalia Lombardo who died in 1920. She is a true marvel.

Marina di Carrara (Florence/Pisa)

Carrara, 20 minutes’ drive inland, is nicknamed the Marble City. The dramatic white-marked mountains behind Marina di Carrara have played a key role in sculpting Italy’s historic looks. What looks like snow, is some of the purest marble in the world, used to build Rome’s famous Pantheon and Trajan’s Column. Florences is just an hour and 45 minutes’ drive from here, being worth a visit to enjoy the work of the renowned artists Leonardo Da Vinci and Michelangelo. Pisa is even nearer, just 50 minutes drive down the coast.

Ajaccio (Corsica)

The capital of Corsica, Ajaccio lies in a calm bay on the west coast of Corsica, set against a backdrop of wooded hills. It is a relaxed rather than lively town and visitors come here to enjoy its wealth of cafes, restaurants and shops. The sights here mainly revolve around Napoleon, who was born here. The town's main sights are the magnificent cathedral where Napoleon was christened, the Bonaparte residence and numerous statues and street names related to his family. The peninsula carries the citadel and terminates in the Citadel jetty. To the south-west of this peninsula lies the Place Bonaparte, a quarter frequented chiefly by winter visitors attracted by the mild climate of the town. Apart from one or two fine thoroughfares converging on the Place Bonaparte, the streets are mean and narrow and the town has a deserted appearance. The house in which Napoleon Bonaparte was born in 1769 is preserved, and his associations with the town are everywhere emphasized by street-names and statues. The Musée Fesch, which contains the art collection of Napoleon's maternal uncle, Cardinal Fesch. The collection of Italian paintings is considered to rate second only to that of the Louvre

Barcelona

The port of Barcelona was born about the same time as the city was. It is one of themost important ports in the Mediterranean, cruise ships leave the city to call on some of themost desirable cities in the Western Mediterranean. The port has modern facilities and allthe services needed to accommodate the many passengers who have Barcelona as anembarkation and a disembarkation port. Barcelona is one of the most cosmopolitan andmulticultural capitals of Europe. Among many attractions that include the Sagrada Familia,Montjuic, Gaudi's Güell Park and the famous Ramblas. It’s a hub of activity and the city isalways bustling.