Norwegian Cruise Line has drawn up its list of the Top 10 landmarks to visit when sailing around the East Adriatic Coast this summer.
The Top 10 list includes both famous landmarks as well as new destinations such as the Greek island of Santorini, Dubrovnik in Croatia and the Montenegrin coastal town Kotor.
1. City Walls & Forts — Dubrovnik, Croatia
Dubrovnik’s iconic Old Town is surrounded by a series of defensive stone walls that have protected the citizens of the maritime city-state, situated in southern Croatia. Today, visitors can walk the entire wall — approximately 2 kilometres in length — offering magnificent views of the Adriatic Sea and the small alleys, churches and squares within the Old Town.
2. Acropolis (UNESCO World Heritage Centre) — Athens, Greece
The Acropolis, and the Parthenon in particular, is the most characteristic monument of the ancient Greek civilisation. It is the symbol of democracy and the Greek civilisation.
3. Old Town (UNESCO World Heritage Site) — Corfu, Greece
The Old Town of Corfu, on the Island of Corfu off the western coasts of Albania and Greece, is located in a strategic position at the entrance of the Adriatic Sea, and has its roots in the 8th century BC. Highlights of the Old Town include the Old Fortress, the New Fortress, the café-lined Town Hall Square and the Asian Art Museum.
4. Imerovigli — Santorini, Greece
Imerovigli is mostly famous for its beautiful sunset that it is called “balcony to the Aegean”. Its houses are built amphitheatrically around the caldera of the former active volcano and it is crossed by narrow, paved paths.
5. Diocletian’s Palace — Split, Croatia
Diocletian’s Palace is an ancient palace built by the Roman emperor Diocletian at the turn of the fourth century AD that today forms about half the old town and city centre of Split, in Croatia.
6. Sea Gate — Kotor, Montenegro (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
The main entrance to the town was constructed in 1555 when the town was under Venetian rule (1420—1797). Visitors should look out for the winged lion of St Mark, Venice’s symbol, which is displayed prominently on the walls here and in several other spots around the town. Also worth taking is the steep path up to the Fortress of San Giovanni, which rewards with spectacular views of the UNESCO World Heritage Old Town below and Europe’s southernmost fjord.
7. Iraklio Wine Country — Heraklion, Crete, Greece
Around 70% of wine produced in Crete comes from the Iraklio Wine Country, which starts just south of Knossos. Almost two dozen wineries are embedded in a harmonious landscape of shapely hills, sun-baked slopes and lush valleys.
8.Kourion — Limassol, Cyprus
Kourion, also known as Curium, is an impressive archaeological site near Limassol in Cyprus containing mostly Ancient Roman and Byzantine ruins.
9. Palace of Grand Master of Knights — Rhodes, Greece
On the highest point in the old town, at the top of the Street of the Knights, the Palace of the Grand Masters is a stronghold defended by a triple circuit of walls. Built on the site of an older Byzantine citadel, it was constructed by the Knights of St. John, a Catholic military order, who ruled the island from 1309 to 1522.
10. St. George Cathedral — Piran, Slovenia
Built in the Venetian Renaissance architectural style and dedicated to Saint George, the cathedral was the life work of the stonemason Bonfante Torre from Venice. Piran can be visited during calls to Koper as part of Norwegian Spirit’s 14-night Grand Mediterranean from Barcelona itinerary.
Christian Böll, Managing Director EMEA at Norwegian Cruise Line, said:
– These new summer destinations add another string to our bow when it comes to offering our guests top notch European experiences, and show just why we have been awarded with the prestigious World Travel Award as Europe’s Leading Cruise Line for 8 consecutive years. There are so many hidden gems within Europe so even holiday makers who have cruised there before can continue to explore and experience something new with these itinerary updates.”
Itineraries include:
- A 12-night Grand Mediterranean cruise from Barcelona on board Norwegian Spirit departing various dates between May 7, 2016 and October 24, 2016. Travelling: Barcelona, Spain – Toulon (Provence), France – Livorno (Florence/Pisa), Italy – Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy — Naples (Pompeii), Italy – Mykonos, Greece – Piraeus (Athens), Greece – Kotor, Montenegro – Dubrovnik, Croatia – Venice, Italy (overnight in port). An Inside Stateroom is priced from € 1.089 per person based on two people sharing.
- A 7-night Adriatic & Greece cruise from Venice on board Norwegian Jade departing various dates between May 14, 2016 and September 24, 2016. Travelling: Venice, Italy — Dubrovnik, Croatia — Piraeus (Athens), Greece – Santorini, Greece – Split, Croatia – Venice, Italy. An Inside Stateroom is priced from € 949 per person based on two people sharing.
- An 11-night Eastern Mediterranean & the Holy Land cruise from Venice on board Norwegian Spirit departing April 12, 2017. Travelling: Venice, Italy — Heraklion, Crete, Greece — Haifa, Israel (overnight in port) — Limassol, Cyprus — Rhodes, Greece — Kotor, Montenegro — Split, Croatia — Venice, Italy. An Inside Stateroom is priced from € 1.119 per person.
