Highlights - French and Italian coasts
From Nice to Naples and from Venice to Bari, a Mediterranean cruise is the perfect chance to dip your toes in the coastal lifestyle and (re)discover the treasures of France and Italy.
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Essential - Italian Coast
From the Amalfi Coast to Venice, passing through Naples, Otranto, Bari and Ancona, an Italian cruise offers travellers the very best of the Mediterranean: sunbathing, coves of crystal clear water, and Greek and Roman ruins.
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Highlights - French and Italian coasts
From Nice to Naples and from Venice to Bari, a Mediterranean cruise is the perfect chance to dip your toes in the coastal lifestyle and (re)discover the treasures of France and Italy.
Wander the streets of Nice - France
In the south of France, on the Côte d'Azur, Nice is the archetypal Mediterranean city. With shady alleys and sunny walls painted in shades of ochre, pastel pink and sienna, it is an ideal destination for walkers. The palm-lined Promenade des Anglais was designed for strolling, offering spectacular views over the sea and out to the horizon. From the Cours Saleya in the old town to the Palais Lascaris and the Matisse and Chagall museums, Nice combines the best of French culture with a splash of la dolce vita.
Enjoy a cultural adventure in Venice - Veneto, Italy
Of all the cities in Italy, Venice needs no introduction. Protected from the dangers of car traffic, the city has barely changed since the 17th century, but it still has the power to amaze. The Punta della Dogana , completed in 1682, is a prime example of Venetian architecture. This former customs building is now home to the Pinault art collection, offering remarkable views of the Doge's Palace and Piazza San Marco. The alleys of Venice are filled with colourful displays, including the celebrated Venetian mask workshops, where you can enjoy a glimpse into the fascinating world of the carnival.
Visit Pompeii - Campania, Italy
When you step inside the walls of Pompeii, you are instantly transported back to the time of the Roman Empire. When the city and its 20,000 inhabitants were buried under volcanic ash in the year 79, everything was preserved in near-perfect condition. The city gates, the main square, the administrative buildings, the market, the baths, the basilica, the villas, the temples, the shops and 3,200 metres of walls are all still standing, frozen in time.
Sail along the Apulian coast - Apulia, Italy
From the pretty beach of Castro Marina, at the heel of Italy, some of Apulia's most precious hidden gems are just a boat ride away, including the caves of Azzurra, Palombara, Zinzulusa, Romanelli, Streghe and Solfatara. The "Grotta Azzurra" is famous for the spectacular light effects that are reflected on its walls, making a dip in its sapphire waters a truly magical experience.
Discover Amalfi - Campania, Italy
With hillside villages and colourful houses overlooking the sea, the Amalfi Coast is the Cinque Terre of the south. The main town of Amalfi embodies the area's Spanish style, complete with a cathedral and a 12th-century monastery. Particularly easy to explore on foot, it was once the capital of the Duchy of Amalfi, Italy's oldest maritime republic, founded in 840.
Essential - Italian Coast
From the Amalfi Coast to Venice, passing through Naples, Otranto, Bari and Ancona, an Italian cruise offers travellers the very best of the Mediterranean: sunbathing, coves of crystal clear water, and Greek and Roman ruins.
Helpful tips
Dos. When in Rome... Dress to impress. Appropriate attire is required in town and on the beach and can be enforced by the Italian police.
Don'ts. In Italy, adding parmesan to your pasta with fish or seafood may not go down well with the restaurateur. And remember, you can only order a cappuccino in the morning!
Unique features
In the province of Lecce, at the heel of Italy, is Grecìa Salentina , a collection of eleven towns where the population speaks Griko, a Greek dialect. Although it is still taught in schools, the language is in decline. In an effort to keep the dialect alive, the community have organised several Griko festivals.
Essential Italian phrases
Hello / Good evening: Buongiorno / Buona sera
Goodbye: Arrivederci
Welcome: Benvenuto
Excuse me / please: Scusi / Per favore
Thank you: Grazie
Yes / no: Si / No
How are you?: Come sta ?
Very well, thank you, and you?: Molto bene, grazie. E lei ?
My name is…: Mi chiamo...
Gastronomy
When it comes to southern Italian food, there is one dish that really steals the show: pizza. This global phenomenon was born in the working-class neighbourhoods of Naples. Originally, pizza referred to a small flatbread that was used to test the temperature of the baker's oven. Over time, people began adding olive oil, tomato and cheese to make a simple lunch. Today, the label "Traditional Speciality Guaranteed" imposes rules to protect authentic Neapolitan pizza: the shape, size and ingredients must all meet strict specifications.
In the spotlight
The Row Venice association is a group of around twenty Venetian women who have been teaching gondola rowing since 2011. Their aim is to highlight the threat posed to the city's traditional rowing boats by their motorised competitors. The gondolieras also participate in professional competitions, allowing them to demonstrate their skills in this male-dominate field. In Venice, there is only one female gondolier who actually takes tourists out on her boat.
Culture
Book. Elena Ferrante's My Brilliant Friend follows the friendship between two girls growing up in a working-class neighbourhood of Naples in the 1950s. From childhood to adolescence, we see them form a powerful bond and forge their own identities as women. Elena and Lila are two sides of the same coin, and their ambiguous relationship, unfolding against a rich historical backdrop, keeps the reader in suspense throughout this coming-of-age novel.
Music. A traditional style of music and dance, pizzica is a popular pastime for southern Italians of every age and stage. An annual event in the village of Melpignano, Puglia, the Notte della Taranta showcases the very best of this genre, which is derived from the tarantella.
Film. The Great Beauty (2013) combines the decadence of the roaring twenties with a pervasive undercurrent of doubt. The viewer follows Jep Gambardella, an author who wrote a successful novel 40 years earlier, through his wild nights and opulent days in Paolo Sorrentino's amplified version of Rome. Lazy and idle, he lets himself be swept along by his hectic lifestyle, drifting from one furtive encounter to the next. To write another book or to seek out greater wisdom... At age 65, Jep Gambardella is beginning to ask himself some existential questions, seeking answers from his grotesque companions and the turbulent world around him.
Facts and figures
90 000 000Located around forty kilometres from Bari, the Castellana Caves are an impressive underground network of limestone caves and paths. Formed 90 million years ago, this incredible landmark is adorned with stalactites and stalagmites.
