A Gondola - an unmistakable Venetian icon confirming you're in romantic Italy.
Venice is the starting point for our 22 day Mediterranean Cruise (2015) taking in 18 ports and 6 countries with a 3 day Venice launching point. The cruise will conclude in Barcelona for a 4 day recharge before heading home. Six of our group are from Australia with four joining us from the UK.
Venice, the capital of northern Italy’s Veneto region, is built on more than 100 small islands in a lagoon in the Adriatic Sea. It has no roads, just canals – including the Grand Canal thoroughfare – lined with Renaissance and Gothic palaces. The central square, Piazza San Marco, contains St. Mark’s Basilica, which is tiled with Byzantine mosaics, and the Campanile bell tower offering views of the city’s red roofs
Around the central square visitors gather at outdoor restaurants to enjoy light meals and soak up the atmosphere. It's expensive but oh so worth the experience.
Venice is known for it's skillful glassblowers producing exquisite collectables in the form of jewellery, ornaments and vases
Foodie Heaven - every where you look the freshest produce, cakes and delicacies
I could not resist purchasing a beautiful hand made Carnival mask to take home.
Surrounded by food. Little wonder I've always loved visiting Italy.
Departing Venice by Holland America cruise ship "Zuiderdam" our next Italian destination is Naples to discover the ancient city of Pompeii
Pompeii is a vast archaeological site in southern Italy’s Campania region, near the coast of the Bay of Naples. Once a thriving and sophisticated Roman city, Pompeii was buried under meters of ash and pumice after the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. The preserved site features excavated ruins of streets and houses that visitors can freely explore
As iconic at the Gondola is to Venice the Colosseum is to the city of Rome
The Spanish Steps
Throw in a coin and make a wish in the famous Trevi Fountain
A picture says a "thousand words"
Our cruise headed back to Naples where we hired a car and headed for the Amalfi Coastline
Along the way we visited a roadside stall producing remarkable Limoncello Liqueur
This coastline is spectacular and very popular
Seafood Pasta for lunch
Palermo is the capital of the Italian island of Sicily. The 12th-century Palermo Cathedral houses royal tombs, while the huge neoclassical Teatro Massimo is known for opera performances. Also in the center are the Palazzo dei Normanni, a royal palace started in the 9th century, and the Cappella Palatina, with Byzantine mosaics. Busy markets include the central Ballarò street market and the Vucciria, near the port.
Our visit to the city of Florence also included a visit to the iconic leaning Tower of Pisa
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