The word that matches perfectly when describing the city of Venice is “unique”. Positioned in northern Italy, the city is a key tourist destination famous for the fact that it is the only car-free city in the entire world and is thus very pleasant to be explored on foot and with a boat or gondola. Often Venice is named “the city of bridges”, “the city of canals” and the “city of masks” and even “queen of Adriatic”, but whatever the expression, this is definitely the most beautiful settlement ever constructed by people and still one of the most romantic holiday destinations on earth. Venice is positioned on total of 117 small islands set in a lagoon and used to be an important trade center, art zone and maritime power during the Middle Ages and after that during the Renaissance.

Nowadays, Venice remains an intriguing destination for vacationers, romantics and honeymooners alike. It is separated into six main districts including San Marco, Santa Groce, Castello and Dorsoduro, San Polo and Cannaregio, each of which features unique and  interesting sites. In addition, there are two main districts Giudecca and Lido di Venezia, as well as several islands like Murano and Burano, Torcello, etc. The city of Venice is a fantastic place to stay at as it features appealing serviced apartments often meters away from the major sites.

Among the major sites that deserve the attention are to be mentioned the main square San Marco with the marvelous basilica bearing the same name with the four horses above the main entrance. Next to it is set the bell tower; where from its top visitors could enjoy delightful panoramic view over Venice and the lagoon. Close to these are set the Correr Museum with its collection of globes and the Doge’s Palace with the Bridge of Sighs. Other places to visit include the Theatre La Fenice, the Peggy Guggenheim Museum.

Accommodations in Venice are ample, but look for furnished and equipped vacation apartments to make your stay reasonable and memorable.

The best advice I can give when heading to Venice is that you allow yourself to be charmed – try to find your way without a map, go on an evening trip with gondola, ride the Vaporetti boats and of course, try the local food and wines.

With the summer cruise season in full throttle mode, I thought it would be a good idea to talk about one of my favorite cruise destinations – the Mediterranean.

The Mediterranean Sea divides Africa and Europe and is the largest sea in the world (based on coverage area). It also boasts great summer weather with lots of sunshine and cool breezes. But most importantly, it is host to many famous sea ports and cities like Venice, Athens, Barcelona, Nice and Alexandria. Additionally, islands like Malta, Sicily, Sardinia, Capri and Santorini, all sway to the tune of the Mediterranean Sea.

The decision to cruise the Mediterranean is simple enough, but its deciding which route and ports to visit that is difficult. So, I have attempted to list my ten favorite ports here, along with what you can expect to do at each of these ports.

Nice, France – I believe most cruise ships call this port Cannes which is known for its popular Film Festival. But the charm of this port is Nice with its pebble beaches and cobblestone streets. In the old town, cars are forbidden abd tourists can outdoor markets, cafe’s and the beautiful sites of the French Riviera. 30 minutes from Nice, a small quaint town called Eze sits perched above the Mediterranean. This is the epitome of what is called Côte d’Azur. The town of Eze, albeit small, is very picturesque and has great pathways that reveal some post card views of the Mediterranean. You can take a bus from Nice to go to Eze and save some money. For the young and the restless, I don’t recommend an excursion here.

Monaco – The second smallest country in the world and ruled by a monarch, Monaco’s most famous icons are Grace Kelly and Casino Royale. Living there is something few of us could ever afford, but it is worth a visit. The Palace in Monaco is still home to the Prince of Monaco but is open to the public. Cafe du Paris, right outside Casino Royale offers great coffee and sundaes and the Casino itself is also worth a peek. The whole country can be walked on foot in about 1 to 2 hours. Take in the Palace and the Casino and you can spend the whole day enjoying Monaco and its elegant beauty.

Monaco

Florence, Italy – Florence is a beautiful city. But its beauty lies not in the sea and the views, but in its historic buildings and cathedrals. The port itself is Livorno, and getting to Florence takes well over an hour. I recommend taking a cab from the port (hint: cab sharing with fellow cruisers is an easy way to save money). Make sure you negotiate both pisa and Florence with your cab driver. During my visit in 2009, our group of 8 people paid 320 euros total for the whole day (including Pisa and Florence).

Go to Pisa first, (20 minutes from Livorno) and climb the Tower. I say this because they don’t let more than 30 people climb the Leaning Tower at a given time. Lines can be long, specially if you go with the crowds. So if you put it off as the last thing you do before heading to the ship, you may not be able to make it.

In Florence, visit the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore (the Duomo), at Piazza del Duomo. Also check out the famous statue of Michelangelo’s David, and stroll to the 14th century Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge) over River Arno, with its many shops. Florence is an art lover’s dream and the short amount of time a cruise ship allows you to visit this great city does not do it justice. Given that you have both Pisa and Florence to cover in a day, you definitely want to get an early start and get to Florence as quickly as possible so you can see as much as possible. Oh and if you want to buy a souvenir, a painting on the streets of Florence makes for a great collectible. Just make sure you bargain hard. Usually, you can get something for at least 50% of what the vendors first quote you.

Florence, Italy - The Duomo

Rome, Italy – Rome needs no introduction. It is the capital of the ancient world and the best preserved city from the Roman empire. However, the port for Rome is Civitavecchia (a nightmare for anyone spelling, pronouncing or visiting). It takes two hours just to get to Rome via a taxi so don’t even try the rail or bus. Get a taxi for your group or simply do an excursion. Better yet, if your cruise has Rome as its first or last stop, you can spend a few days here. This is the best way to go. But if you are simply stopping here for a day, you can either do an end to end tour of Vatican City (including St. Peter’s) or simply take in a city tour that will cover the Forum, the Coliseum, St. Peter’s Basilica, the Pantheon and perhaps Piazza Navona. I also recommend the Angels and Demons tours that have sprouted in light of Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons.

St. Peters Basilica, Vatican City

Naples, Italy – If you are on a budget, consider public transportation to get around Naples. While most consider Naples, loud, dirty and rough, I think it is one of the best stops on a cruise. There are four major attractions in Naples, each warranting attention. Pompei is an obvious choice for its rich history. Then there is Mount Vesuvius, which destroyed most of ancient Pompei. Isle of Capri is another option with its glamorous views of the ocean. Finally, there is the huge National Archeology Museum with the largest collection of artifacts from the Roman empire anywhere. Needless to say, Naples is quite a destination. If your cruise itinerary involves any of the Greek Islands, you might want to consider skipping Capri.

Pompei near Naples, Italy

In any case, I recommend picking one option from the above rather than trying to do too much. I say this because Naples has a great shopping scene, as well as the fact that it was the birthplace of Pizza (Neapolitan pizza). So, save a couple of hours for shopping and pizza before departing.

Venice, Italy – Paris, while beautiful and romantic, is often over hyped. Pound for pound, I believe Venice is the more romantic of the two. St Mark’s square (Piazza San Marcos) is where all the action is. Grand buildings lines the square with St. Mark’s Basilica on one end, neighbored by Doge’s Palace. Both these structures are worth seeing. Rialto Bridge, which is a 10 minute walk from St. Mark’s square is famous for its shopping and dining. If you can get just transportation from port to San Marcos, you can figure out how to navigate this port. It is very easy to get around on foot. I am sure you can also just take a water shuttle tour to take you to various stops (like a Hop-on, Hop-off).

Piazza San Marcos, Venice

Since Venice is a connection of small islands, they don’t have cars. You take the Vaporatto (their version of a public bus system) or a water taxi (the more expensive option) to move around. Venetian architecture is quite distinct from Roman.

Venice is also known for Murano glass, which comes from the island of Murano in Venice. If this is something you fancy, you might want to consider touring Murano. During my stay there, we were offered to do the tour for free.

One thing everyone likes to do in Venice is the gondola ride. While these are expensive, you can negotiate with the gondola operators if business is slow. It is certainly worth the price to do this at least once.

Santorini, Greece – I have never seen anything more beautiful than Santorini. Every picture you take her is post card material. Every corner yields a dreamy landscape. The white-washed stone buildings with shiny blue tops, white churches with blue domes, the narrow stone streets of Oia and the black sand beach, all add to the allure of Santorini. Make sure you either do the Donkey ride up the stairs or climb the stairs if you can withstand the physical exertion. It is quite an experience and the views along the way are breathtaking. Food in Santorini is divine and for dessert, try the yogurt with honey and nuts. It is the perfect summer dessert.

Santorini, Greece

Athens, Greece – Much like Rome, Athens needs no introduction. The oldest of civilizations and architectural wonders are here. Acropolis sits with the grand Parthenon, overlooking the city, giving it a God-like appearance. Athens, much like Rome, is a busy and bustling city. The language is Greek (pun intended) and the city is rather dirty and loud. But if you are a history buff, you must visit Athens. There are plenty of other sites here other than Acropolis, but that alone will take most of the day. If you have time to spare, check out the new museum at the base of the Acropolis and enjoy charcoaled corn with lemon from a street vendor.

Acropolis, Athens

Corfu, Greece – Corfu is the second largest of the Ionian islands. It looks very different from most Greek towns, because of Corfu’s unique history. For almost four centuries, from the 1300′s to the 1700′s, Corfu was ruled by the Venetian nobility. In the 1800′s, it was first part of the French colony and then the British. This diverse history has left its architectural mark on Corfu. Some buildings look distinctly Venetian, yet some others look French.

Corfu, Greece

There is plenty to do in Corfu. From walking around, shopping and hiking to the top of the Island and enjoying the views from the old fort to renting a jeep or motorbikes and exploring the island and its sandy beaches, Corfu has a lot to offer. For lunch, the place to eat is Spilia. Owners Andreas and his wife are friendly and warm and prepare a great meal. Try either the Sofrito or the Pastitsado, along with the local drink called Retsina.

Barcelona, Spain – Barcelona is another port that might be best served as a destination. There are far too many places to visit here than a docked cruise ships allows for.

Barcelona is a walkable city, particularly places such as Barrio Gothic. There’s an excellent tube and public transportation system. Large cruise ships dock at a location accessible to Las Ramblas, one of the most popular streets in Barcelona. Take the cruise ship’s shuttle to Las Ramblas. From there, you can catch public transportation to one or two of many attractions including La Sagrada Familia, an unfinished but gorgeous structure and fantastic view from the top, the Gothic Quarter with its boutique galleries, narrow streets and 13th century architecture and the monastery of Montserrat.

No matter what stops you have on your Mediterranean Cruise, one thing is for sure. It will be one heck of a cruise and if you are thinking about cruising the Mediterranean, stop thinking and just do it. Find special deals on Mediterranean Cruises on CruiseDirect.

If you liked this post, and do end up booking a cruise, I’d appreciate you doing it through this link. It helps support my costs for this site.

Venice (also known as Venezzia) is one of those cities that seem out of this world. The city is built on and around water and the only real means of transport is via water ways and canals. I bet more people here own boats than cars. In fact, apart from taxis, cars are a rare sight in Venice. The public bus is called the Vaporetto and takes people heading to work or tourists to major stops all over this island city. Then there are water taxi’s, a la limo service on water. These are private, more expensive mode of transport.

Some may argue that Venice is the most romantic city, even more so than Paris. I have to say, I agree. The people are friendly and life in Venice just seems to be in a daze.

The Rialto bridge marks the center of the city. It is also one of the historical landmarks of Vencie. If you are staying in Venice, it is a good idea to find something close to the Rialto Bridge. Local restaurants, the meat and produce market and shopping – all happens within a few minutes of each other, on and around Rialto.

Gondola rides may be cliche now, but worth every bit. In harsh times like today when tourism is declining due to the falling dollar and economic recession, gondoleers are willing to bargain down their prices from 100 euros to 60 euros to get patrons. If you’ve taken a gondola ride at the Venetian in Las Vegas, make no mistake; the real thing is completely different and out of this world. Gondoleers are friendly, smiling guys. looking to please. I still remember vividly, the melodic “Oye Oye” they call out before rounding a corner, to warn oncoming fellow gondoleers.

Old buildings, water ways, bridges, small streets and the smell of pizza and cheese add to Venice’s unique ambience. Dining by the water, while expensive, and compromising of food, is still a wonderful experience.

San Marcos square or Piazza San Marcos is a huge square which is famous for the San Marcos Basilica, Doges Palace, and pigeons. The basilica, with its golden dome interiors, frescos and the four bronze horse statues and view of the Piazza from the terrace is a rare one of its kind. Doge’s Palace, with its sprawling grounds, hundreds of large rooms with art for every taste, is typically Italian and memorable. While there, make sure you see the underground prisons and the Bridge of Sigh’s, named after the sighs that prisoners would let out as they saw their last view of the city before being marched to year’s of underground captivity.

Shopping in Venice is expensive and should be avoided. If that is your cup of tea, consider a day in Naples, where shopping is amazingly cheap. However, two things that you should definitely buy here are a mask, and something made from Murano glass. Venice is the authentic place to buy both these things.

For me, two days in Venice is the right amount of time, and the best way to enjoy Venice is to discover it by foot. The city is the most unique I have ever experienced and gives Paris a run for its money in terms of romance.

Rome is one of the most memorable cities you will ever visit. Even though most consider Paris to be the most romantic city in the world, I would argue that perhaps that distinction should belong to Rome.

If you are planning to visit Rome, I recommend finding accomodation in a very specific area. First, most of what Rome has to offer to tourists, lies within a 3 mile radius so if you are farther out, you will find yourself cabbing back and forth at least twice a day to and from your hotel. Second, with all the gelatos, the pasta and bread you will be consuming during your stay, staying close to the action means you will be walking to all the sites, hence burning off your intake to allow for more intake later.

On my very first visit to Rome, I stayed at the Eurostars International Palace on Via Nazionale. This proved to be an ideal location and I would recommend it to first time visitors to Rome. If you have been to Rome at least once before, then I think bed and breakfasts might be a better option on your following visits. While B&B’s are cheaper and include breakfast, they also often lack the service and hospitality of some of the larger hotels. The hosts often don’t speak english so that might be an issue.

One of the things I noticed during that stay was that it was amazing how much you can discover when on foot. For example, we walked four blocks west from our hotel and ran into the Vittoriano monument. Most people don’t even have this place on their radar, but it is an amazing looking building. A few blocks south of here are the ruins of ancient rome – the Forum and the Colliseum, while a few blocks north of here lie the most of the other places on your checklist. Indeed, the Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Campo dei Fiori and even the bridge to cross over to Vatican city, all lie within a few minutes walk of each other. While it might be worth while to get to the Vatican via a cab ride (since its the farthest), all the other sites are best covered on foot. Along the way, there are many popular cafes, gelatarias, restaurants and historic sites to discover. All you need is a map and the right attitude.

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Stay tuned for my List of Things to Do in Rome!

Last year, I made my annual pilgrimage to Europe, and Rome was one of the cities on my agenda. On the trip with me, I had a book called Angels & Demons by Dan Brown, apparently a book written before the more famed The Da Vinci Code by the same author.

Little did I know that this book would be so deeply rooted in Rome. As I read on, I realized that the story unfolded amidst the same streets and piazzas that I had visited the day before or planning to visit. Be it St. Peter’s, Piazza Navona, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, the Pantheon and even the famous Tazza d’Oro Casa del Caffe – all were sites I would enjoy during the day, and read about at night. It was surreal.

With the release of the movie Angels and Demons, I relived some of those memories recently. Rome is an exceptional city and arguably even more romantic than Paris. With cobble-stone streets and narrow walk-ways giving way to a large piazza, fountains and statues erected every few blocks, Rome is truly ancient Europe at its best and most historical.

If you haven’t already, I recommend reading Angels and Demons. It is a good way to get some additional details on the different monuments and churches in Rome that some travel guides may have left out.

Happy Roaming!