MEDITERRANEAN CRUISE: FRANCE, ITALY & GREECE Cruise on Azamara Journey from Nice (France)

Nice (France)

Nice is a large city in France on the French Riviera. It´s a popular destination for vacationers, with something to offer for everyone. It is well known for the beautiful view on the Promenade des Anglais, its famous waterfront, and is an ethnically diverse port city. The Colline du Chateau overlooking the Baie des Anges and harbour offers a spectacular vantage point overlooking the city. Among its many attractions are its beautiful beaches, lovely seaside promenade, interesting museums, famous city landmarks and other tourist attractions. Nice on the Mediterranean Cote d´Azur is a wonderful place, with its flower market, beautiful coastline, terrace restaurants and outdoor bars, great shopping and wonderful cultural experiences.

Portoferraio (Elba)

portoferraio is a city and municipality in the province of livorno, Italy, in the Island of Elba. The port has always been considered the safest in the Mediterranean. It is located in the center, respect the other 7 municipalities in the island. These aspects are interesting for the visitors nowadays, but years ago it was like a magnet for other villages.

Porto Vecchio, Corsica

Porto Vecchio is a location in France, in the department of Corsica. It is the third city in Corsica and an important touristic area, with a position between the sea and the mountain. The mayor attraction is the coast and the beaches, some of which are part of the Natural reserve of Bonifacio. the hich city, or ciudadela, the sports port, and the Ospedale mass, are some of the places to discover.

Cagliari (Sardinia)

Founded by the Fenitians, Cagliari is one of the most important ports in Sardinia, located at the south of the island. A place to get lost and forget about the bustle of the city. It is also famous for having one of the most extensive urban beaches in Italy. The beach of Il Poetto. Like Spain in many ways, such as the habits, expressions, and even the gastronomy, because Sardinia belonged to Spain for 400 years. It is often noted that the best way to arrive in Cagliari is by sea, so visiting via cruise ship already allows you an advantage and a unique view. You’ll find something here for the whole family to enjoy, from local cuisines, museums, beaches, and great shopping opportunities to purchase locally produced goods. 

La Goulette (Tunis)

La Goulette is the port of Tunis, the capital of Tunisia. La Goulette is linked to Tunis by the TGM railway. As you disembark the port it will bring you closer to a totally different and fascinating culture. Tunisia is one of the favorite most exotic destinations you can visit. There are several festivals each year, of which the largest is the Carthage International Festival which takes place in July and August with international attraction. Tourist attractions are: Camel ride, Cathedral of St Vincent de Paul, Dar Ben Abdallah, MuseumBab el Bahr French Gate, The Great Mosque, Old City Medina, Bardo Museum & Souks.

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.

Mgarr (Gozo - Malta)

Syracuse (Sicily)

Syracuse, one of the smallest cities in Sicily, is one of the most interesting and popular destinations and is a great destination for a day trip or a week-long holiday. Sunny weather, beautiful landscapes and oceanviews and ancient Greek archeological attractions provide plenty of entertainment for all types of travelers.

Taormina (Italy)

One of those charming places that italian geography hides, especially in the Isle of Siciliy. In this case we are talking about this city in the Mesina province. This city is famous because it was a rest and inspiration place for Truman Capote or Thomas Mann, and also well known artists as Salvador Dali and Orson Wells. As many cities in SIcily, Taormina is located on a mountain, 200 meters abouve love level, where you will find idyllic views that end up in beaches with clear waters. Some points of interest of this city are: The Greco-Roman Theatre, that was built by the romans three centuries b.C., the structure is mainly roman as it was restored by them on the first century a.C. You can also visit the Villa Comunale and see the wonderful views to Etna Volcano. Also outstands the Palaces Corvaia, Ciampoli, o dei Duchi di Santo Stefano.

Heraklion (Crete)

Heraklion, or Heraclion is the largest city and capital of the island of Crete, Greece. It is one of the largest cities in Greece. The ruins of Knossos, which were excavated and restored by Arthur Evans, are nearby. Top places to visit include the Minoan Palaces of Knossos and Phaistos and the Venetian structures in Heraklion Town, like the Koules Fortress and the Morosini Lions Fountain. Heraklion is a beautiful island and is loved by cruise passengers. There are pristine beaches to enjoy, including Matala, Agia Pelagia, and Malia. Delicious local cuisines also await, and you can’t visit Greece without trying some delicacies such as Dakos, Dolma and Kalitsounia. In short, Heraklion is an island that offers it all and we’re sure one visit won’t be enough.

Santorini

Santorini is an island in the southern Aegean Sea, about 200 km (120 mi) southeast from Greece´s mainland The island remains the home of a small, but flourishing, wine industry, based on the indigenous grape variety, Assyrtiko, with auxiliary cultivations of two other Aegean varietals, Athiri and Aidani. Wine Industry The vines are extremely old and resistant to phylloxera (attributed by local winemakers to the well-drained volcanic soil and its chemistry), so the vines needed no replacement during the great phylloxera epidemic of the late 19th century. In their adaptation to their habitat, such vines are planted far apart, as their principal source of moisture is dew, and they often are trained in the shape of low-spiralling baskets, with the grapes hanging inside to protect them from the winds. Architecture The traditional architecture of Santorini is similar to that of the other Cyclades, with low-lying cubical houses, made of local stone and whitewashed or limewashed with various volcanic ashes used as colours. The unique characteristic is the common utilisation of the hypóskapha: extensions of houses dug sideways or downwards into the surrounding pumice

Athens (Piraeus)

Athens, the capital city of Greece is an active cosmopolitan mix of different cultures and people, passionate about their art and history. The climate is one of the best in Europe, with mild winters and very hot summers, ideal for tourism. It is located just a few miles from the port of Piraeus, the central commercial port of the capital, and the shores of southern Attica. The main attractions of Athens are The Ancient Agora, Anafiotika, The Acropolis, Mount Lycabettus, Thiseion Cinema, Gazi, Monastiraki Flea Market, Pireaus seaside, Pireaus open air market, Kastella Hill, Veakio open air theatre and Piraeus Archaeological.