Italy is a wonderful country to visit full of lots of interesting things to see and places to visit, and a lot of these are accessible from the coast which means that a cruise offers a great way of visiting many of these places.
P&O cruises offer holiday deals on a number of different cruise ships which sail in the western Mediterranean and although their itineraries vary, almost all of them dock somewhere in Italy along the way. Where you stop will depend on which trip you take, but some of the places that are common ports of call are Florence (Livorno, Naples, Rome (Civitavecchia), Sicily, Genoa and Venice. Each has something quite unique to offer visitors, and in all of them, you’ll meet fabulously friendly people and enjoy spectacular Italian cuisine.
Genoa With its daring architecture and interesting frescos, Genoa is a gem of a place to visit. There are palaces, cathedrals and abbeys to see, and you can even enjoy a trip to see the house where Christopher Columbus was born and grew up. The Palazzo Rosso is one of the most famous museums locally, and a most fascinating place to visit.
Florence Although in fact ships dock at Livorno which is the official port town of Florence, The city of Florence is just 90 minutes away and very quick and easy to get to. The Piazza del Duomo and the Duomo itself are both popular places to see, and the famous statue of David can be visited at the Galleria dell’ Accademia. If you have time, a trip to nearby Pisa is very much worth while as its famous leaning tower has recently re-opened to the public after a decade of being closed.
Rome Easy to reach from the port of Civitavecchia, Rome is Italy’s most important cities. Here you can definitely see the Vatican City and if you’re lucky you may even have a chance to see the pope too. There’s the Sistine Chapel, and of course the famous Colosseum, Trevi Fountain and Pantheon too.
The places you see are of course important, but just as important as where you visit is the ship you travel on. All of P&O’s cruise ships from the Aurora to the Oceana have been created with style and comfort in mind. On board, you’ll find bars, restaurants, shops and lounges, as well as sun decks, swimming pools, and lots of entertainment too.
Wherever you visit in Italy, from the canals of Venice to the volcanoes of Sicily you’ll find plenty to see and do, and after each excursion, you’ll be able to return to the wonderfully relaxed atmosphere and luxury of your cruise ship.
