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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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Description:
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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Description:
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.
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