Italy Luxury Cruises

Clearly Rome was not built in a day. The Eternal City as we know it has evolved over 2700 years with the site occupied long before that, leaving a legacy of a plethora of treasures to discover. Roma, non basta una vita – Rome, a lifetime is not enough. Visiting the colossal Colosseum and Pantheon, is a vivid reminder of an era when Nero and Trajan ruled the Roman Empire, when Rome reigned as Caput Mundi or Capital of the World. Fast forward in time to the Renaissance period, and delight in the iconic Trevi Fountain or marvel at the world’s largest church, Saint Peter’s Basilica situated along with the Sistine chapel in the Vatican City.

One of the most photographed villages along the coast, with a decidedly romantic and affluent aura, Portofino has long been a popular destination for the rich and famous. Once an ancient Roman colony and taken by the Republic of Genoa in 1229, it's also been ruled by the French, English, Spanish, and Austrians, as well as by marauding bands of 16th-century pirates. Elite British tourists first flocked to the lush harbor in the mid-1800s.

Venice is a city unlike any other. No matter how often you've seen it in photos and films, the real thing is more dreamlike than you could imagine. With canals where streets should be, water shimmers everywhere. The fabulous palaces and churches reflect centuries of history in what was a wealthy trading centre between Europe and the Orient.

Sorrento may have become a jumping-off point for visitors to Pompeii, Capri, and Amalfi, but you can find countless reasons to love it for itself. The Sorrentine people are fair-minded and hardworking, bubbling with life and warmth. The tuff cliff on which the town rests is spread over the bay, absorbing sunlight, while orange and lemon trees waft their perfume in spring. Winding along a cliff above a small beach and two harbours, the town is split in two by a narrow ravine formed by a former mountain stream.

The medieval cliff-hanging town of Taormina is overrun with tourists, yet its natural beauty is still hard to dispute. The view of the sea and Mt. Etna from its jagged cactus-covered cliffs is as close to perfection as a panorama can get—especially on clear days, when the snowcapped volcano's white puffs of smoke rise against the blue sky. Writers have extolled Taormina's beauty almost since it was founded in the 6th century BC by Greeks from nearby Naxos; Goethe and D. H. Lawrence were among its well-known enthusiasts.