Ancient Wonders and Culinary Delights: Cruising Southern Italy and Sicily

Port of call for Italy’s capital, Civitavecchia (Italy) is our gateway to “the Eternal City” of Rome. Having dominated the “Western World” for so long, this ancient metropolis harbours a thousand and one testimonies to its rich past. over 400 churches, 300 fountains and countless ruins have become so much a part of the myth and mystery surrounding the great Italian city, held in such esteem by visitors.

Gaeta takes its name from the legend of the nanny of Aeneas. This illustrious relationship can be seen in the nobility of this old town, built on a peninsula, at the end of a headland. In Roman times, Gaeta was already a renowned seaside destination; it fell under Byzantine domination then became an autonomous duchy and an independent republic. The fortifications that surround this ancient fort remind us of this rich history, as does the cathedral bell tower, an elegant building of both Roman and Moor influence, decorated with ceramic in the style of bell-towers of Amalfi.

Jewel of Italy’s Campania Region, Naples is home to some magnificent palaces, sumptuous Baroque churches and countless romantic squores. Classed as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1995, the old district’s rich artistic and cultural history is without equal. Nearby, the ruins of Pompeii provide a grandiose and moving vision of what was once a great city at the height of the Roman Empire. Having been asleep under a blanket of ash for so long, objects, houses and beautiful frescoes have been preserved almost intact. Pompeii offers a valuable insight into the past and is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Generating a veritable explosion of intense emotions, the province of Salerno fascinates and enchants travellers. Its fascinating history will lead you to the extraordinary archaeological site of Pompeii, whose sprawling ruins provide a grandiose and moving vision of what a Roman city looked like in Imperial times. The city which was frozen in time under the ashes from the eruption of Mont Vesuvius offers you its peerless historical and cultural wealth, as well as the unique beauty of its location, which has earned it classification as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Agropoli is a town and comune located in the Cilento area of the province of Salerno, Campania, Italy. It is situated at the start of the Cilentan Coast, on the Tyrrhenian Sea.

On the edge of Catania, Taormina (Italy) stands out against the slopes of Mount Tauro in the heart of a picturesque and charming location. Its ancient Greek theatre offers a magnificent panorama with the majestic Mount Etna, its lava flows still smoking, in the background.

Syracuse (Italy) was one of Sicily’s most prestigious cities and at the height of its splendour competed with Athens. Visiting Syracuse is like stepping back in time to plunge oneself into the fabulous history of Sicily. Since its role as a central city of ancient Greece, numerous civilisations have followed one another to these shores, each leaving their mark. Arabs, Romans, Normans, Byzantines and Spanish influences give Syracuse its extraordinarily rich culture, a mosaic of perfumes, colours and flavours.