9 nights from Trieste (Italy) with MSC Splendida

Katakolon

Heraklion

Heraklion is the capital of Cray. It is the largest port and economic center of the island and the third largest city in Greece. This city hosts the archbishop of the Greek Orthodox Church and has religious buildings of great interest.

Heraklion is located in the center of the northern coast of the Greek Islands. With more than 100,00 inhabitants, the city is the capital of Crete, a Venetian fortress during the Middle Ages. The ancient city, with its squares and wide cobbled streets, balconies with wonderful view on the sea, mantains numerous fortifications. In particular there are important and magnificent monuments such as the Church of Agia Ekaterini, dated back to 1555, where the Museum of Sacred Art is hosted. The Archaeological Museum, home to ceramic sculptures, jewellery and frescoes on the Minoan culture. The Historical Museum, home to the only exhibited work of the painter Domenico Theotokopoulos (The Greek), and where you can have a view of Mount Sinai. The Cathedral of St Mena, the patron saint of the city, built between 1862 and 1895 is one of the largest buildings in the area.

Heraklion has an important port and a considerable center for the coastal trade of oil, soap, wine and hides. It has ferry boats and ships with regular itineraries to the islands of Santorini, Ios, Paros, Mykonos, Rhodes, Karpathos and Syros. There are also several daily ferry bgoats to Piraeus, south-west of Athens. The Venetian fortress, still in perfect condition, protects the entrance to the port.

The large combination of reality and mythology, tradition and modernity, make Herklion a cosmopolitan center and one of the most important tourist destination in the Mediterranean. Great beaches, lively nightlife, sunny people, excellent cuisine and the strange "interplay" between the old and the new, guarantees to tourists an unforgettable holiday.

Kusadasi

Istanbul

Korfu

Bari

Bari is one of the most flourishing cities in southern Italy renowned for its important historic centre, once enterly sorrounded by walls. Some of them are still visible and inside them you can visit churches, several theatres and numerous medieval palaces connected by narrow and picturesque streets. Located between two provinces, Brindisi and Foggia, is the third most populous city for number of inhabitants in southern Italy after Naples and Palermo. The relics of St Nicholas, the city's patron saint, are kept in Bari, making its church an important Orthodox centre.

The conformation of the city resembles that of an eagle, whose head is represented by Bari Vecchia, the oldest part of the city. We suggest to you to visit Bari especially in spring and autumn, when the climate is milder and rainfall is scarce. In Bari there are many monuments to visit to those who decide to embark from its port and perhaps take a tour of the city. Don't miss the Cathedral of San Sabino, palazzo de Gemmis and in the center of the Murat district palazzo Mincuzzi, rich in Art Nouveau decorations.

If your ship allows you a long stopover and you are a nature lover, don't miss the Alta Murgia nature park or the Gargano park about 2 hours away from the city. In Bari, the main city park is the 2 Giugno park, with a rich and cool pine forest where you can relax and perhaps have a snack of the classic zeppole. For lunch, we recommend a dish of the famous Apulian orecchiette, Bari's cuisine is rich in traditional agricultural products such as extra virgin olive oil, wheat and tomatoes. Friselle, panzerotti, taralli and fried polenta are very famous. Also of great importance at the table is fresh fish, from gilthead bream alla San Nicola to meatball casserole.

Trieste

Trieste overlooks the Adriatic Sea and it is the starting point of serveral cruise ships. Set sail from Trieste and discover the pearls of the Adriatic, Dubrovink e Kotor, up to reach the enchanting Greek Islands for a unique cruise!

Trieste is a city located in the far end of the Adriatic Sea, in Friuli Venezia Giulia, Trieste is developed on several levels. One of its peculiarities are its wide streets, squares where there are majestic buildings of various architectural styles, they are typical of the Austrian domination era. One feature of the city that is known worldwide is its tourist and commercial port.

The port of Trieste has always been an important commercial centre, for example during the Habsburg Empire it was the main sea outlet for commercial activities.

We suggest you to visit the majestic Piazza dell'Unità d'Italia, that directly overlooks the sea and offers a very suggestive sight. Trieste is a city where the influence of the East is evident both in its traditions and in the local cuisine that has united flavours and various ingredients for unique recipts. The main dishes consist of soups and stews, but also gnocchi and stuffed pasta. If, on the other hand, you want to try a meat dish, don't miss the tasty cevapcici, very spicy meatballs of Balkan origin. While to finish, enjoy a presnitz, a pastry made of puff pastry and dried fruit of Hungarian origin.

If your ship sets sail from Trieste, do not miss the opportunity to visit this city and its most important monuments such as the Molo Audace. From here you can admire the sea before heading towards the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, built in Baroque style. Not to be missed is the San Giusto Hill and the famous Roman Theatre, which will leave all archaeology lovers speechless.