Europe may be experienced a number of ways, during any season. This past fall I was fortunate to have enjoyed a Mediterranean Cruise onboard the Sovereign. The 7-night all inclusive cruise was an ideal way to discover this historical and picturesque region of the world that highlighted Barcelona, the French Riviera, Pompeii, Rome, Florence and Tunisia.
From Villefranche, we re-traced the steps of the rich and famous in the French Riviera home to Monte Carlo, Cannes and Nice. The remarkable port of Villefranche offers sunny beaches, sophisticated resort cities and spectacular views. The drive along the highway is spectacular. At times it seemed the bus was barely hanging on to the edge of the road as we looked down the cliff side to the town below. The twisting highway arrives into Monaco, once the home to Grace Kelly and Prince Ranier. The small principality of Monaco is still celebrating the recent marriage of Prince Albert and his beautiful wife, Charlene Wittstock, this past summer. Here one can observe the lovely church and former residence of the Grimaldi family who conquered the area to claim it from France.
Not far down the road is Monte Carlo where you may pass the time people watching, gambling, or race along the Formula 1 Grand Prix route to reach the Casino Square. You can relax by having a glass of local wine and enjoy the scenic view of the gardens.
Our first Italian stop was the bustling commercial port of Naples. From here we enjoyed a quick panoramic tour of Naples taking in the Castle Dell’Ovo, one of five castles in Naples, and visiting the Franciscan Monastery at the hilltop before heading to Pompeii.
The countryside is dotted with vineyards, apricot orchards and farmland. All the time Mount Vesuvius beckons on the horizon. We entered the city of Pompeii on foot. This city was buried under volcanic ash spewed from Mount Vesuvius in 79 B.C. Wandering through the city ruins, it is hard to believe that 60,000 people once inhabited this place, 40 percent of which were slaves. If planning on being in this part of Italy, it is definitely worth the visit.
From the Port of Civitavecchia we reached Rome, the highlight of our trip. The scenery along the highway is beautiful, with rolling hills, green vegetation, and farmland. In Rome we wandered along the outside of the Coliseum and moved towards the Forum. Here are the buildings of the Roman Empire, Renaissance, and 20th century. We travelled along the avenue to the Trevi Fountain. Not forgetting to throw in our coins, using the right and over the left shoulder to ensure our return to Rome.
We enjoyed a lunch break at one of the many cafes with a slice of pizza and a Cappuccino before heading to Vatican City where you can tour the biggest cathedral in the world, St. Peter’s Cathedral, Make sure to include a visit to the Sistine Chapel to see the great works of Michelangelo.
Arriving at the port of Livornia, the gateway to Florence, the coach swiftly carried us through the Tuscan countryside, with rolling fields covered with grapevines and poplar trees. The grapes from this region are used to produce Chianti wine.
You pass the walls which once served to protect the city of Florence from its enemies. Walking through the square towards the Cathedral of Santa Maria Del Fiora we were struck by its beauty. Whether sunny or cloudy, the craftsmanship of the cathedral leaves you in awe. Florence has been renowned for the great minds of the centuries such as Michael Angelo, and Galileo. Examples of their works and contributions are shown in the National Museum. It is quite relaxing to take a moment and taste the local wine at one of the street cafes.
Afterward we traveled to the local “straw” market for some souvenirs. Departing Florence, we crossed the “old” bridge dating back to the 1300’s and returned to modern times passing by wind turbines and solar panels lining the fields. Florence is a fabulous city requiring more than a one day visit.
As our Mediterranean cruise ended, we came away truly pleased with our experience. Our delightful journey blended delectable rustic dishes with no shortage of olive oil, pasta and wine complimented by historic cities, country roads and idyllic villages. The perfect holiday!
For more information contact me at 519-660-6966 Ext 248 or email at kmcphail@uniglobeinstant.com
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