Since the days of the Grand Tour, Italy and its sumptuous, indulgent lifestyle have been a favorite haunt of British travellers. But make no mistake: This isn’t just one destination. Rather, it is a series of distinct regions, each with its own dialect, architecture, cuisine and fierce regional pride, bound together by tradition, family and a love of the good life. It is this great diversity that makes the modest cruise uniquely suited to exploration, offering the chance to dip in and out of these regions and sample contrasting flavours.
Compare the Amalfi Coast for example; the offshore islands of Sardinia and Sicily; The magnificence of Rome and Ravenna, the magnificent ends of Italy and you will appreciate it even more. The southern tip, home to Puglia and Calabria, where locals still speak a dialect of ancient Greek, combines very well with Venice. A trip along the Po river takes you deep into the heart of the walled Renaissance cities and fashionable houses of Milan. sit next to each other.
Then one day you’re standing under Juliet’s balcony in Verona, and just a few days later you’re walking among the ruins of Arab palaces in Messina. After all, variety is the spice of life, and nowhere does this adage apply more perfectly than la dolce vita.
Sicilian sailing
Explore the Italian coast in style. At Lipari, one of the seven volcanic Aeolian islands just off the north coast of Sicily, ascend the narrow streets to the medieval castle and pass by Stromboli, watching the skies for volcanic fireworks. Messina is the gateway to Sicily; Try the famous mezza con panna al caffè, which consists of half a glass of coffee-flavored granita and cream. Amalfi offers a visit to nearby Positano, said to be the most beautiful town in the Mediterranean. And Sorrento’s city walls, surrounded by magical gardens, rise directly from the sea. The town of Ponza in the Pontine islands is rarely visited by tourists, so you can enjoy the unspoiled town and harbour.
how to: Star Clippers (01473 242666; starclippers.co.uk) runs a seven-night ‘Amalfi and Sicily’ cruise for £1,660 per person on the 166-guest Star Flyer. Round-trip sailing from Civitavecchia to Lipari, Messina, Amalfi, Sorrento and Ponza on 24 August 2024.
floating palaces
There’s much more to Venice than St. Mark’s Square: This cruise sails into the Venetian lagoon and the outer islands, staying overnight in sumptuous hotels and exploring small fishing communities where few tourists come. The itinerary includes special visits to St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace, a visit to the gondola course, the Murano glassblowing center, in-villa wine tasting, and a trip to the Rialto market with the ship’s chef who collects fresh seafood to be served on board. at lunch. This cruise takes in Venice, the lagoon and the Veneto region, allowing you to truly explore the city and, more importantly, its islands from a small, luxury, floating boutique hotel.
how to: Uniworld (0808 168 9231; uniworld.com) organizes a seven-night ‘Venice and the Jewels of Veneto’ cruise on the 126-guest SS La Venezia, sailing from Venice and stopping at Burano and Chioggia, Mazzorbo, Torcello, Padua. Vicenza. Prices from £3,889 per person, departures May-October 2024.
Besta Lucca
Sardinia is Italy’s most rural region, and this journey takes you to Alghero, where street signs reveal Catalan heritage, and Costa Smeralda’s top destination, Porto Cervo, with its harbor brimming with luxury yachts. Visit Siena – it looks just like it did in the 14th century – and experience Cinque Terre by train on a full-day trip to enjoy the spectacular, colorful fishing villages and scenery of the Italian Riviera. Tour the island of Elba, where Napoleon spent his first exile, then discover Lucca, one of Tuscany’s most fascinating and best-preserved medieval cities, and the architectural beauty of Florence.
how to: CroisiEurope (001 800 768 7232; croisieurooperivercruises.com) runs a seven-night ‘La Dolce Vita’ cruise along the Italian Coast aboard La Belle des Océans for 130 guests; Sailing round trip from Nice to Livorno, Portoferraio, Alghero. Porto Cervo, Porto Santo Stefano and La Spezia. Prices start from £2,755 per person, departures 24 May, 12 July, 16 August 2024.
renaissance rivers
A journey through the Po River valley takes you deep into medieval Italy. This private opera tour includes front row seats to the magnificent Roman amphitheater Arena di Verona for Verdi’s performance. Aidaas well as excursions for opera lovers. This package includes a guided tour of Venice, a visit to Teatro La Fenice, a trip to the colorful town of Chioggia, often referred to as Venice without the tourists, and a dinner hosted by the countess of the 17th-century Villa Ca’Zen. Where Lord Byron wrote some of his best poems. You will also visit the Renaissance cities of Ferrara and Mantua, which have been designated World Heritage Sites for their beauty and cultural significance.
how to: European Waterways (01753 598555; europeanwaterways.com) runs a six-night ‘Classic Italy’ cruise on La Bella Vita for 20 guests, sailing from Venice to Chioggia, Ferrara and Villa. Prices start from £4,500 per person on 16 August 2024.
volcano holiday
This cruise allows you to sail around the “bootstrap” of Italy. It includes a stop at Crotone in Calabria, where you can explore ancient ruins or visit Le Castella, a fortified island village founded as the Greek colony of Croton in 710 BC. Located in the “Heel”, Bari is full of romantic honey-toned houses and Romanesque and baroque churches; Alberobello, on the other hand, is home to a forest of small conical, beehive-shaped huts called trulli. Next up is Naples, located at the foot of towering Mount Vesuvius, with visits to Pompeii and Herculaneum. Meanwhile, Messina in Sicily offers Greek and Roman treasures, and a trip to Taormina offers spectacular views of Mount Etna.
how to: Viking (0800 298 97 00; vikingcruises.co.uk) is running a seven-night ‘Italian Holiday’ from £2,790 per person on the 930-person Viking Jupiter from 4 August 2024. Departing from Civitavecchia, Naples, Messina, Crotone, Bari, Sibenik and Venice.
medieval mosaics
Ravenna is famous for its magnificent mosaics from the 5th and 6th centuries found in its cathedrals, palaces and public buildings; The old world city of Trieste, located on the Adriatic Sea, is a mixture of Latin, Slavic and Germanic cultures. This cruise sails south along the Croatian coast, visiting Dubrovnik and then stopping at Brindisi, a patchwork of medieval streets and churches with precious interiors. Located just 35 miles down the coast from Naples, Salerno has a collection of magnificent parks, natural wonders and unforgettable viewpoints to soak up the wonder of the Tyrrhenian Sea along the magnificent Italian coastline.
how to: Celebrity Cruises (0344 492043; Famouscruises.com), 2,000 guests sailing from Ravenna and calling in Trieste, Zader, Split, Dubrovnik, Kotor, Brindisi, Salerno 10-night ‘Best of Italy and Croatia’ on Celebrity Constellation ‘ tour and CivitaVecchia. Prices start from £884 per person from 4 August 2024.