The cradle of Greek culture, Athens welcomes us to its port of Piraeus, watching us from above the wonderful Acropolis.
Piraeus is the port of Athens, the largest in Europe, allowing you to visit the city, a place of dreams. A place of emigration, it has inspired numerous songs. Most ships will be making a stop in Athens before resuming the Mediterranean route or returning to the Atlantic. Take the time to visit the Acropolis and maybe the museum located at its base. Before flying out, enjoy the spectacle of a sunset at Capo Sunio. Try not to visit the city when it’s too hot in summer, much of the population moves out of town.

Not to be missed:

• The mythical Parthenon

• The Ancient Agora

• The Olympic Stadium

One of the Cyclades islands, Santorini is a spectacular jewel of the Aegean. Born out of a volcanic eruption in approximately 1500BC, which formed the two islands of Aspronissi and Terrasia, Santorini is a magnificent mixture of dramatic cliffside villages, glorious black sand beaches and ancient treasures. Steep cliffs plunging into a crystalline sea distinguish the west coast, while the east coast is gentler, featuring a fertile plain and delicate bays, with the Profitis Ilias mountains in the background.

Think of a trip to Greece and you will imagine Mykonos. The port of Mykonos, or perhaps it would be more correct to say of Chora, is located on the west coast of the island.
The Cyclades islands in the Aegean are wonderful and the beaches are no less marvellous, with the pleasant distinction of being among the most festive in the archipelago. After docking at the port of Mykonos, enjoy the numerous natural coves, beaches and cliffs of this beautiful island. You can enjoy the clean, azure sea of Paradise Beach, while in the evening let yourself be carried away by the rhythm of this cosmopolitan and youthful island. The harbour district, the Kastro, is known as the ‘little Venice’. In its alleys, the shops and restaurants alternate with white houses with blue doors and windows. On a trip to Mykonos, take advantage of the stop to go on shore excursions, stroll through the maze of streets and alleys where you can discover the beauty of the architecture and the design of the city. The small white houses with shutters as blue as the sky, the pigeon houses and the numerous small churches of Mykonos will simply enchant you.

The port of Valletta is Malta’s heart. It was here that the Knights of the Order left for the Crusades from here and devoted themselves to caring for the wounded.
In the Mediterranean, the port of Valletta has an important history and a strategic location. Its entrance, located between St Fort and the Sant’Angelo and Ricasoli Forts, transports you instantly into chivalrous past of the island. During your stop in Valletta you will be able to walk the streets with the colourful and decorated facades of the houses. Don’t miss a visit to the magnificent Barrakka Gardens from megalithic times, and the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. Then visit Gozo to admire the scenery of natural sculptures carved by the sea.

The island of Ibiza, or ‘Eivissa’ as the Catalans call it, is a great travel destination for those who want to escape from everyday life and be lulled by the crystal-clear waters of the Balearic Sea.
It is an island of beauty and excess, blessed with spectacular pristine beaches and dense pine forests. Ibiza has long attracted hedonistic personalities, while today it is the extraordinary clubbing scene that attracts tourists from all over the world. Ibiza is in fact the major clubbing capital of the world, where all the best international DJs gather during the summer season. However, you’ll find a much quieter island if you visit between October and May. For those who want to enrich their trip with a little art and culture. The old city, designated a World Heritage Site for its perfect state of preservation, is a fortified citadel of the Renaissance era. The walls reach a dramatic climax at the main entrance of the arch, the imposing Portal de ses Taules. Beyond it is the elegant Plaça de Vila, lined with restaurants and cafés making it a pleasant setting for tapas or a meal. It’s worth climbing the cathedral’s steep, winding streets, if only to enjoy the beautiful views of the harbour. What are you waiting for? Choose Costa and discover our offers for a cruise in the Balearic Islands.

In Spain there is only one place that does holidays, leisure, shopping and culture: Palma de Mallorca, where we stop on our Costa Cruise.
Capital of the Balearic Islands, the port of Palma of Mallorca is the gateway to a city rich in art and history. As in all the islands of the archipelago, even here, tourists on a Balearic Islands cruise will find beautiful beaches, one of them is S’Arenal, but the old town is the true pearl of Palma. Shore excursions to the city can start from the Cathedral of Santa Maria di Palma, better known as La Seu and built on the foundations of the previous Arab mosque by the ultra-Catholic Aragonese people. One of the most interesting details of the cathedral is the canopy above the central altar, the work of Gaudi. A trip to Palma will also allow you to discover another famous personality in the art world: Joan Mirò. Near the artificial lake of Parc de la Mar you can see a beautiful mural he created in ceramic tiles, while in the gardens of the Orto del Re is home to another of his sculptures.

Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain with three million inhabitants, a dominating port in northern Mediterranean with one of the most renowned and important universities in the world. The city is a very rich commercial centre, where industrial operations crucial to the Spanish economy take place.
In fact, Catalans have always considered their region unique compared with the other Spanish regions and we can find its roots in the power exercised by Barcelona for four hundred years at least on Spanish monarchy and on European commercial events.

A pleasant thing to do is simply sit down at one of the cafes overlooking the port of Marseilles and, sipping a Pastis, observe the landscape and the people who inhabit it.
Also called the Porpoise City, Marseille is France’s sunniest town, charming with its gullies where you can swim, its history and culture and restaurants with cosmopolitan cuisine. You cannot leave without having first toured on the “Cours Julien”, the street for shopping. The port of Marseille is perhaps a typical tourist destination, but it deserves to be visited for the ferry that leaves from the Town Hall and the old church, which replaced a Templar building.

Above the port of Savona, the Priamar Fortress greets every departure and arrival of the Costa ships sailing in the Mediterranean. Genoa and its aquarium are nearby.
The port of Savona, which you can explore during your cruise in Italy, is one of the prettiest of the Italian Riviera. The lovely climate, summers that are never to hot, mild winters and the exceptional beauty of the sea near the town makes Savona an excellent base to set out to explore Liguria. Savona is notable for the Priamar Fortress, which has dominated the town since the 16th century, and also for its historic centre where you can visit Savona Cathedral. A stop in Savona can also be an opportunity to visit the nearby city of Genoa and its narrow, picturesque streets, known as “caruggi”.