SHORE EXCURSIONS

Take a scenic drive through the countryside to the magnificent city of Florence. Pause in the Piazza del Duomo to admire the exterior of the Cathedral (Duomo) of Santa Maria del Fiore, its elaborate Gothic façade is covered in a mix of pink and green marble.

View the statues in the Piazza della Signoria on your way to the Ponte Vecchio, the medieval stone bridge was the first bridge built across the River Arno, and has been well known for its goldsmiths and jewelers since the 16th century. Lunch is included at a local restaurant, and after the meal you'll have free time to explore on your own or to shop, before your tour continues to the historic town of Pisa. Here, you'll make a brief photo stop in Miracle Square for a look at the exterior of that famous Leaning Tower. Built in the 12th century, it began to lean soon afterwards, but has now been stabilised.

Delight in the medieval character of Taormina while strolling its atmospheric streets and admiring landmarks such the Greek theater from the 2nd century. After departing from the pier, you will have a short panoramic tour of Messina. Continuing along the coast to the south, you will approach Taormina, an ancient city that rises almost perpendicularly from the sea. It’s a beautiful setting with an alluring medieval character, as you will discover while navigating its narrow, cobbled streets. As French author Guy de Maupassant wrote of his stay in 1883, “Were a man to pass a single day in Sicily and ask, ‘What must one see?’ I would answer him without hesitation, Taormina.” Among the highlights are the Arabian-influenced Palazzo Corvaja and the ruins of a 2nd-century Greek theater. It sits on a seaside hilltop with a view of Mount Etna that is so inspiring that it can detract from the entertainers that still perform there in the summer. After visiting, you will enjoy free time to wander about the areas that interest you the most. You might take in the views from the fragrant public garden or shop along boutique-lined Corso Umberto. The most popular merchandise includes designer fashions, jewelry and colorful ceramic pine cones, a Sicilian symbol of hospitality.

Snap selfies at the most photogenic spots in and around Naples and Sorrento, many of them iconic attractions that define the cities. To ensure the best possible results, a selfie expert guide will offer tips so you can capture just the right angle, lighting and composition for every shot. Your pictures will be ideal for posting on social media and sharing in other ways.

As you walk and ride through Naples and Sorrento, you will pause at designated selfie stops that include::
• Sorrento viewpoint
• Villa Comunale Park
• Naples pizzeria
• Galleria Umberto I shopping mall
• Francesco da Paola church
• BCastel Nuovo

HIGHLIGHTS

• Take inspiring selfies at the most photogenic attractions in Naples and Sorrento.
• Follow tips from your selfie expert guide to ensure the very best pictures.
• Learn the historical significance of the locales while enjoying their dramatic settings.
• Spend free time in Sorrento’s large leafy park Villa Comunale.
• Enjoy a slice of pizza at a pizzeria in Naples, the town that invented it.
• Gaze upon historical landmarks in Naples, including the 13th-century fortress Castel Nuovo.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Wear casual, weather-appropriate clothing and comfortable walking shoes.
• Bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.
• Be sure your phone or camera is fully charged.

Enjoy an enlightening tour of Naples by visiting Spaccanapoli, the street that divides the city, and by savoring folded pizza, a classic Neapolitan treat.

After departing from the pier, you will begin a panoramic drive around Naples, taking in the views from locales such as Posillipo Hill in one of the city’s most affluent areas. Along the way, you will pass the imposing Castle Nuovo.

While parts of it date to the 13th century, it is still known as the new castle to distinguish it from the famed Egg Castle, which began as a 1st-century Roman villa. Castle Nuovo’s five towers make it one of Naples’ most recognizable landmarks. You will also see the Egg Castle, which holds a commanding position on the sea.

In time, you will reach Spaccanapoli, a long street whose name means “Naples splitter,” a reference to it seeming to divide the city in two. Here, you will visit the Jesuit church Gesú Nuovo and the Church of Santa Chiara, which was founded in 1310 and features an austere Provencal-Gothic style. Much of Santa Chiara had to be rebuilt after World War II.

For an even more authentic glimpse into daily life, you will walk through the narrow streets of Old Town, which UNESCO has declared a Cultural Heritage site. As you will discover, there is no better setting to eat portafoglio or folded pizza, as the dish was invented in Naples. A cup of fresh espresso at a nearby café standing at the counter as Neapolitan does will top off the experience.

Walk through Lungotevere, one of the oldest sections of Rome, and sample a multitude of classic Italian treats. Your culinary immersion will begin at Campo de Fiori, where you will meander a bustling outdoor marketplace with stalls full of colorful produce, aromatic spices and classic Italian condiments. Crudites will be offered, allowing you to see just how tasty raw vegetables can be, especially when dipped in seasoned fresh-pressed olive oil. You will then walk to a bakery for a pizza tasting, on to a chocolate shop to sample confections and then to Sant’ Eustachio, a coffee shop that makes its espresso with water from an ancient aqueduct. The proprietors will explain how they ensure the freshest ingredients and highest quality. A refreshing dessert follows at Giolitti, which may be Rome’s oldest, if not finest, gelato shop. You will then enjoy free time around Navona Square, a wonderfully atmospheric area built over a stadium from the 1st century.

HIGHLIGHTS:
• Taste an array of classic Italian treats in one of the Rome’s oldest sections.
• Expect to sample crudites, pizza, chocolate confections, coffee and gelato.
• Spend free time exploring atmospheric Navona Square.

Capture the moment by taking the perfect selfie photo in Rome! Instantly share your experience with family & friends on your favorite social media site as many of the stops will include wi-fi in real time. Professional photographers & selfie experts will teach you how to take the best selfie photo including composition, posing, lighting etc. Capture the spirit of this incredible destination.

Your tour will start with a scenic drive from the ship to Rome. Your walking tour will have designated selfie stops at: • Colosseum
• Imperial Forum
• Campidoglio
• Borghese Gardens
• Pinicio Terrace
• Spanish Steps
• Trevi Fountain
• Navona Square
• St. Peter’s Square

To make this experience even more fun you will be provided with a selfie stick to help catch the perfect picture. In addition, you will enjoy some free time at Navona Square and end your picture-perfect day with a gelato near St. Peter’s Square.

Capture the moment by taking the perfect selfie photo in Venice! Instantly share your experience with family & friends on your favorite social media site as many of the stops will include wi-fi in real time. Professional photographers & selfie experts will teach you how to take the best selfie photo including composition, posing, lighting etc. Capture the spirit of this incredible destination.

HIGHLIGHTS

Your tour will start with a private boat transfer along Giudecca Canal. Your tour will have designated selfie stops at

• San Giorgio Bell Tower
• St Mark Basin
• St Mark Square
• Bridge of Sighs
• Rialto Bridge
• Fondaco dei Tedeschi

To make this experience even more fun you will be provided with a selfie stick to help catch the perfect picture. End your picture-perfect day with a beverage from the Fondaco bar.

You'll see the Eternal City on an orientation drive passing iconic structures which includes the Colosseum of ancient Rome where gladiators fought. In Vatican City admire the beauty of St. Peter's Square, and view some of the treasures of the world's largest church, St. Peter's Basilica during your brief visit. The Vatican Museum is home to masterpieces spanning the centuries, marvel at the Sistine Chapel, topped by Michelangelo's magnificent ceiling. Lunch is included.

Become familiar with the workings of a dairy farm that runs on solar energy and follows practices that reduce stress on the animals. The farm is adjacent to the Sant’Alberto Solar Park, one of the largest photovoltaic plants in Italy, which supplies the renewable energy in a manner that doesn’t disturb the grazing sheep. The name Buon Pastore, which translates to “good shepherd,” is fitting as the dairy is passionate about treating the animals and pastures with great respect. The automatic system that milks the sheep is designed to be as gentle and agreeable as possible. The extracted milk is then made into a variety of cheeses, a process that you will watch through a large glass wall. The farm also keeps bees, which produce the honey for the tasting that follows the tour. You will also be offered Buon Pastore cheeses that have been aged in a stone-lined cave, fresh-baked flatbread, and local wines.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Wander about an eco-friendly dairy farm that runs on solar energy.
• Recognize how the sheep and pastureland are treated with great respect.
• Watch the cheese-making process step by step.
• Sample a selection of cheeses, honey, flatbread, and wines made on the farm or locally.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Enjoy free time in medieval Taormina and then see the aftermath of Mount Etna’s eruptions by stopping at a hardened lava flow and sampling wines grown in volcanic soil. While exploring Taormina, you might visit the Arabian-influenced Palazzo Corvaja or the ruins of the 2nd-century Greek theatre. It sits on a seaside hilltop with an inspiring view of Mount Etna. Or you may prefer to shop for designer fashions and exquisite jewelry along boutique-lined Corso Umberto. Not far from town, you will pause at now-hardened river of lava from a 1992 eruption of Mount Etna. While lava can be devastating, on the positive side, it contains nutrients that enrich the soil and lend a distinct flavor to the grapes grown in it. During a wine tasting at a country estate, you will sample several Etna-certified Sicilian wines that may include a classic red made from local Nerello Mascalese grapes. As an accompaniment, local specialties will be served.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Spend free time exploring atmospheric Taormina and perhaps browsing its designer boutiques.
• Pause for photos of a now-hardened river of lava that came dangerously close to several villages.
• Sample distinctive wines produced from grapes grown in volcanic soil from Mt. Etna.

Your city drive takes you through the main squares and sites of Messina. Stop at Cristo Re Church’s viewpoint. Continue your sightseeing along the north coast, with views of Ganzirri Lakes, Messina Strait and Capo Peloro.

Before returning to your ship, you’ll stop at Cathedral Square with its astronomical clock tower and have a chance to visit the cathedral and the treasure rooms. Here you can see Golden Manta, of Our Lady of the Letter, among other other historical and artistic works.

If you want to explore these fascinating places on your own, we are pleased to provide a motorcoach transfer to Florence and Pisa, complete with an English speaking escort. You'll visit Pisa first, to avoid the heavy traffic entering Florence in the morning. Arriving in Pisa, your escort will walk you to the famous Miracle Square to enjoy some free time to take pictures of the Leaning Tower. Continue to Florence, where in the early afternoon, you'll be dropped off at a central location in Florence and have approximately 3 1/2 hours to explore the city at your leisure.