Just three miles off the coast of southern Italy’s mainland is the port town of Messina on the island of Sicily. This bustling town has a complex history with roots in Greek mythology but, because of an earthquake in the early 1900s, it’s a relatively young city architecturally. Since the majority of the city has been rebuilt or refurbished within the last 100 years, you’ll find the town has an interesting blend of new architecture and old styles. A promon...

Livorno, in the Tuscan region of Italy, is ideally located for exploring some of the most beautiful cities in Italy, including Florence. Florence is most noted as the birthplace of the Renaissance. Highlights include impressive piazzas and an incomparable 15th-century skyline – sure to offer charm and an unforgettable experience to any visitor. As much as we would have like too, we missed going to this part of town, such a long drive. Instead we chose to see ...

Civitavecchia is the gateway to all the magnificence of the ancient city of Rome. Whether it’s the Forum, the Sistine Chapel, the Pantheon or St. Peter’s Basilica that sparks your interest and intellect, Rome is home to a lifetime’s worth of historical, architectural and spiritual sites. Depending on traffic, the drive from Civitavecchia to Rome takes approximately an hour and a half. A trip to Rome is as much about lapping up the dolce vita lifestyle as g...

Composed of 117 islands in the Venetian Lagoon and held together by a series of canals, Venice is like no other city in the world. Established more than 1,000 years ago by seafarers and Roman refugees, this magnificent city continues to be the heart of Italian culture as well as a mecca for hopeless romantics. There’s no city in the world where arriving (or departing) by cruise ship offers such an intimate view, as does Venice. Cruise ships that visit this anc...