Palermo is grand, gloriously gritty, and a little bit rough around the edges. Its streets are a mixture of wide open boulevards lined with domed churches, palaces and apartment buildings, and narrow, crowded markets filled with noise, octopus tentacles and piles and piles of lemons. In fact you'll swing back and forth between calm and… Continue reading Palermo Cruise Port • The Best Guide to Sicily’s Capital
The Sicilian city of Messina appears to be almost within touching distance of the Italian mainland. Calabria- the region forming the 'toe' of Italy's sophisticated boot- sits just across the water, visible even on a hazy day. But Sicily has a culture separate from the mainland, and spending a day docked in Messina cruise port… Continue reading The Complete Guide to Messina Cruise Port • The Doorway to Sicily
La Spezia is the perfect city to use as a base for exploring the villages, beaches and mountains of magical Cinque Terre. But you're obviously here because you're wondering how to actually get from La Spezia to Cinque Terre? I'm telling you now pals, travelling by road is not an option. *This site uses affiliate… Continue reading How to Get From La Spezia to Cinque Terre
Sicily was everything I wanted it to be and more, even with only a very short time docked in each port. One day I'll be back to explore the island properly, sans-ship, but until then here's my complete crew members guide to docking at Siracusa cruise port. (And in case you're curious, yep- Syracuse, New… Continue reading Siracusa Cruise Port • Sicilian splendour by the sea
I am not a fan of crowds, but I am a fan of Italy. In summertime, crowds are unavoidable, particularly if you stick to the most-visited destinations. Rome, Florence, Venice, Pisa, the Amalfi coast, and of course the five teeny tiny villages that make up Cinque Terre are hugely popular, and alas, hugely overcrowded. So… Continue reading One Day in Vernazza • Photo Diary from September in Cinque Terre
Most people arriving in La Spezia cruise port have the same destination in mind, and I'm telling you now, that is not the city of La Spezia itself. This city on the coast of Liguria is considered the gateway to Cinque Terre, one of Italy's most stunning areas of natural beauty. Whether you want to… Continue reading La Spezia Cruise Port • The Gateway to Cinque Terre
Docking weekly in the Ligurian port of La Spezia meant that we were in perfect proximity to Cinque Terre- Northern Italy's famous coastal area, comprising of five stunning villages connected by a series of hiking paths. I love a good outdoor adventure, but hiking from Riomaggiore to Manarola via the Via Beccara turned out to… Continue reading The Via Beccara from Riomaggiore to Manarola • Hiking the Hard Way in Cinque Terre
Our original plan that day had been to visit Vesuvius. But when we were literally denied entry to the train, it dawned on us that we'd actually been sold the wrong ticket and would therefore never make it. How very awkward. We realised we'd have to rethink our plans slightly. It was time to head… Continue reading Inside the Royal Palace of Naples
A day in Pompeii had me gasping from the minute we arrived. (Gasping in awe at the sheer scale of the ruined city, but also gasping for breath- it was so hot that Vesuvius might as well have been erupting throughout our entire visit.) Summer in Italy is hot hot hot, and that August day… Continue reading A Day in Pompeii • Lava and Ash in Italy’s Land of Fires
It's surprisingly easy to get to Pompeii from Naples, which is the closest big city to this ancient site in Italy's Campania region. Whether you want to make the journey on your own with public transport or as part of a tour, here's all the info you'll need. *This site uses affiliate links, where I… Continue reading How to get to Pompeii from Naples • The complete guide
