ON THE COVER The Best Of Mini Cruising
Explore some famed, some lesser known corners of the Mediterranean with as little as one night at sea!
Amini cruise gives you more for your money than a land-based holiday as you usually visit two or three countries without the need for tiresome packing and unpacking.
Popular destinations for shorter cruises include ports on the Mediterranean, where calls may include Italian, Spanish and French cities.
An interesting port of call on most cruise lines’ itineraries is intriguing, eclectic Genoa, heart of the Italian Riviera. Once the arch-rival of Venice, this one time Maritime Republic and more recently European City of Culture is the birthplace of Christopher Columbus and is where pesto originated – the reason for inventing this blend of basil, pine nuts and Pecorino Sardo was to prevent scurvy.
Genoa’s magnificent medieval old town, littered with Renaissance palaces, rivals any in Europe. The old Ducal palace is now a complex housing bookshops, cafés and shops while a swathe of museums engages those interested in all things cultural. The state-of-the-art Biosphere, a giant glass ball housing a humid miniecosystem with tropical plants, butterflies and birds, is an interesting addition. See the surrounding countryside by hopping on the narrow gauge railway which chugs up to the village of Casella.
Stylish Barcelona, capital of Catalunya and one of the great ports of Europe, is brimful of designer restaurants, Basque-style tapas bars, galleries and shops. It offers an energetic nightlife to boot. Gaudi’s work has greatly influenced the face of the city and his gigantic Basilica La Sagrada Familia is Spain’s most visited monument. Book an allocated time slot online, or you may have to queue for hours.
Barcelona, confident metropolis by the sea,
combines modernity with tradition, a fusion of historic sites with bang up to date architecture, city beaches where locals go to see and be seen, Sunday markets, exhibitions and free concerts. The Encants Vells flea market is popular with locals and tourists – go early to bag the best bargains. This is the city of Picasso’s youth, Flamenco – and chocolate emporiums!
Portofino and Tossa de Mar are other scenic ports of call. On a mini cruise, before you know it, it’s another day, another place…