Italy’s Best Ports of Call
Planning A Mediterranean Cruise
Genoa – From the Ponte dei Mille cruise port area it’s a short walk or cab ride into the center of the old city, with its maze of narrow streets in the Caruggi section (don’t wander here at night or on weekends when the shops are closed). Via Balbi and Via Garibaldi are lined with palazzi of noble families; Galleria Nazionale di Palazzo Spinola and Palazzo Reale are open so you can see the stunning marble work, trompe l’oeil decoration, mosaic floors and paintings. No need for a shore excursion – a map of the city will show the sights, allowing you to linger at the most interesting spots.
Portofino -- So cute that it seems like a stage set for its harbor full of luxury yachts, but a good base for exploring the surrounding coast by the frequent ferries that hop from town to town. If you have all day, take the well-marked two-hour walk along the wooded hillside of Parco di Portofino to ancient abbey of San Fruttuoso.
Sorento – Clinging to a hillside above the Bay of Naples, this resort town is the jumping-off point for frequent ferries to Capri, or you can take a local train to Pompeii. A shore excursion might take you to the equally interesting buried city of Herculaneum.
Capri – You don’t need a tour to see the most important sights – the Blue Grotto (boats leave from the Marina Grande) or the mountaintop Villa San Michele (take a local bus to Anacapri).
La Spezia – Not much here, but the train station is a short cab ride and trains leave frequently for the charming towns of the Cinque Terre. Walk between them on the cliff path for beautiful coast views, returning by train
Palermo – A city map will guide you to the Norman cathedral and the Palazzo Real, close by; take a taxi from the port or walk the ¼ mile to the center of the city. But a shore excursion to Agrigento and the Greek temples is a good investment.
Venice -- Ships dock within walking distance of St Mark's, or take the vaporetto from the nearby stop. Better than any shore excursion here is a 24-hour pass that allows to you ride these floating streetcars anywhere, including the length of the Grand Canal and to the glass-making island of Murano or to ancient Torcello. Getting around is so easy that a tour is unnecessary.
Livorno – Take a cab the 1.5 miles to the rail station and board a train for Pisa’s Stazione Centrale, a 20-minute walk from the Leaning Tower, Baptistery and Campo dei Miracoli. If you are docked for two days, take the train 35 minutes past Pisa to the charming little city of Lucca, with towers of its own and surrounded by walls with a leafy park on top.
When choosing your cruise, be sure to consider not only the best cruise price, but the ports of call to determine if it will be the right cruise experience for you.
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