Activities
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Cooking Lessons
Tuscany is known for its Italian culinary flair and is
home to many schools and holiday destinations offering Italian
cookery lessons and courses. Visitors are invited to learn the
delicious art of preparing and cooking homemade pasta, pizza, olive
oil and Pecorino cheese; these delicacies are beautifully
accompanied by Tuscan breads and wines. Many of the culinary
institutes provide accommodation in exquisite villas, as well as
planned excursions to vineyards and olive groves. The most popular
places for cookery lessons in Tuscany are in the city of Florence
or in the Lucca and Grosseto areas, both of which also offer
historic sightseeing and various cultural experiences such as a
15th century Franciscan monastery, traditional music, local theatre
and art exhibitions. Lessons vary from introductory classes, which
teach a basic knowledge of Italian food and wine, to advanced
courses taught by top Italian chefs. The duration of the courses
are also optional, offering anything from 3 days to a full week of
lessons. This could be an opportunity to learn and taste Tuscan
recipes that have been enjoyed through the ages, drenched in
tradition and flavour.
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Cruise
Italian cruise operators offer both Eastern and
Western Mediterranean tours, taking in essential tourist
destinations with attractions such as the Leaning Tower of Pisa,
Rome's Colosseum, Pantheon and Forum, or the canals of Venice.
There are also cruises which offer wine tasting excursions in
Tuscany, trips to Mount Vesuvius or Pompeii, and passage to islands
like Capri, Portofino and Sicily. With a 'floating resort' to ferry
passengers to all these beautiful sites, avoiding irritations like
traffic or dull bus rides, there is a no more relaxing way to
discover Italy.There are various cruises available, some including
on-board facilities such as swimming pools, mini-golf course,
ice-skating rinks and rock climbing walls, as well as scuba diving
and snorkelling opportunities. The vessels used for cruises range
from gigantic cruise liners to sailing yachts and riverboats. Aside
from the Mediterranean voyages, there are also Italian Riviera
trips offered and various river cruises (such as the Po River
cruise in Northern Italy).Most vessels call in at the ports of
Rome, Genoa, Naples and Venice, while some also dock at Capri,
Sardinia, Savona and Livorno. While a cruise in Italy is
recommended at any time of year, the most popular months are from
May through to September. The off-peak winter season (November to
April) is also pleasant, featuring discounted cruise rates, mild
weather and fewer crowds at the tourist attractions. A cruise of
Italy and the luxurious beauty it holds is a fantastic vacation
experience!
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Naples Cruise
A top cruise destination included in almost every
Mediterranean cruise itinerary visiting Italy, Naples is a popular
cruise destination and offers cruise passengers a wonderful port
and city to explore.The port of Naples, Stazione Maritima, is
centrally located with two cafes located in the terminal and is
just a short walk into town. The city of Naples is easily navigated
on foot and cruise passengers should take a day to explore the
sights, sounds and tastes of Naples, famous for thin crust
pizzas. A must is a trip to the ancient city of Pompeii as
well as Herculaneum, which were both destroyed by Mt. Vesuvius in
79AD. The shopping is simply fantastic and with the retails hub
just a short 10-minute walk from the Stazione Maritima, it's worth
scratching round some of the designer boutiques in Via dei Mille,
Via Calabritto and other streets in this part of the city.Take a
trip to Sorrento, the capital of the Amalfi Coast, for the day
either by shore excursion or hired driver. Some ships even call at
Sorrento but this is mostly unpredictable due to the frequent windy
conditions. Other interesting and elegant villages to see include
Positano and Ravello.Passengers wishing to stay in Naples for a few
extra days after their cruise will have no problem finding
accommodation.
