Western Mediterranean with Italy

Overview

A 7-night voyage aboard Sun Princess, departing Barcelona on 20 Aug 2028 and arriving in Civitavecchia, Rome, calling at 7 destinations along the way.

1. 1

   Day 1 ·BarcelonaEmbark

   20 Aug 2028

   Depart 17:00

   The 1992 Summer Olympics revealed to the world what Europeans and seasoned travelers already knew - Barcelona is one of the world's greatest treasures. Vibrant and earthy, commercial and cultural, this city of two million residents is the capital of Spain's autonomous region of Catalonia. Stroll along the wide, tree-lined promenades of Las Ramblas and marvel at the spires of Gaudi's Basilica La Sagrada Familia. Or visit the former Olympic Ring on the hill of Montjuic - also home to world-class parks, fountains and museums. Barcelona, which nurtured such artistic giants as Picasso, Dali, Miro and Casals, is definitely a traveler's paradise.
2. 2

   Day 2 ·Mallorca (Palma)

   21 Aug 2028

   Arrive 07:00Depart 15:00

   Palma is the capital city of the island of Mallorca, which is one of Spain's Balearic Islands. The city is tucked into the protected Bay of Palma, creating an impressive view from the Mediterranean Sea with its imposing Gothic Cathedral towering above the old town and remnants of medieval walls that testify to its ancient history. Mallorca has a varied history, from the Roman occupation in the 2nd century to Moorish control from the 9th to the 13th century. Later reconquered by the Spanish kings, it rose to wealth and power due to its strategic position along the seagoing trade routes between Africa and Europe.
   
   Today, Palma is the largest city, and also the main tourist area, with beaches on either side of the city that overflow with resort hotels. If you venture beyond these environs, the island's natural beauty abounds, and life continues in a predictably underdeveloped atmosphere of simplicity. This aspect has long been an attraction for writers, painters and musicians that find inspiration here.
   
   Two main languages are spoken on Mallorca - Castilian Spanish and the Balearic dialects of Catalan - hence the different versions of names and spellings throughout the Balearic Islands.
3. 3

   Day 3 ·Marseille (Provence)

   22 Aug 2028

   Arrive 08:00Depart 18:00

   The largest port on the Mediterranean, Marseille is France's second largest city and a virtual melting pot of peoples and cultures. It is also a place of striking contrasts, from the fishing boats and pleasure craft of the picturesque Vieux Port to the modern Canebiere. Dominating the harbor is the infamous Chateau d'If, the rocky prison from which Alexandre Dumas' Count of Monte Cristo escaped. Marseille is also your gateway to Provence. Explore the countryside around Arles and Avignon, immortalized in the canvases of Van Gogh, Cezanne, Matisse and Picasso.
4. 4

   Day 4 ·Genoa

   23 Aug 2028

   Arrive 08:00Depart 20:00

   Genoa is the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria. Many regard Genoa as having the largest historic city center in Europe as a result of having been, for centuries, a powerful commercial center seaport and city-state. It was the birthplace of Christopher Columbus and its maritime roots have fostered a dialect that has, absorbed elements of Neapolitan, Calabrese and Portuguese over the centuries.
   
   Genoa's harbor is a bustling swarm of activity, which makes it a great launching point for the sprawling metropolis of Milan.
5. 5

   Day 5 ·Corsica (Ajaccio), France

   24 Aug 2028

   Arrive 08:00Depart 18:00
6. 6

   Day 6 ·La Spezia

   25 Aug 2028

   Arrive 07:00
7. 7

   Day 7 ·La Spezia

   26 Aug 2028

   Depart 17:00
8. 8

   Day 8 ·Rome (Civitavecchia)Disembark

   27 Aug 2028

   Arrive 06:00

   Your gateway to the Eternal City, Civitavecchia has served as Rome's seaport since the 13th century. The port has a long and venerable history. The emperor Trajan built a pleasure villa near the modern city, while Bernini and Michelangelo designed the harbor fortifications.
   
   Yet the Eternal City eternally beckons. The ancient capital of the Western World and the center of Christianity for nearly 2,000 years, Rome provides an inexhaustible feast. Visit the ruins of the Forum, view the splendors of the Sistine Chapel, or climb the Spanish Steps, once the heart of Rome's Bohemian Quarter.
   
   Rome has been a magnet luring the world's greatest artists, architects, and philosophers since the days of the Caesars.

Your ship: Sun Princess