Your chance to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa,
Mount Vesuvius and Pompeii, Michelangelo's David, the Spanish Flamenco, the Roman Colosseum, the Paintings and Sculpture of the Renaissance, the Swiss Alps, the Casinos of Monaco, and the Beaches of Nice!

Day One:  Barcelona, Spain -- Departs 7:00 pm

Day Two:  Fun Day at Sea Cruising the Mediterranean

Day Three: Naples/Capri, Italy -- 7 am - 7 pm

Day Four: Rome, Italy  -- 7 am - 7 pm

Day Five: Florence/Pisa -- 7 am- 7 pm

Day Six: Nice, France -- 7 am - 7 pm

Day Seven: Marseilles, France -- 7 am - 7 pm

Day Eight: Barcelona, Spain -- Arrive 7:00 am

 Barcelona, Spain

Day One

Our cruise departs on Sunday from Barcelona, Spain at 7:00 pm in the evening.  Why not come a day or two early to explore Barcelona, Spain's  most stylish and dynamic city in even greater depth.

Barcelona is located in the northeastern part of the country, 90 miles south of the French border. People from all around the world enjoy visiting this city for its individuality, cultural interest and physical beauty. When Hans Christian Andersen visited in 1862, he remarked that Barcelona was the "Paris of Spain." You're likely to agree. The city is a major cultural center with a fascinating history. Everywhere are archives, libraries, museums and buildings of interest - plus superb examples of modernist and Art Nouveau décor and the unique architecture of Antoni Guadi.

Antoni Guadi was a unique, universal artist who ahead of his time.  He was able to invent a whole new world of fascinating shapes and colors through his architecture.  His most famous works such as the Sagrada Familia Church, Gull Park, Casa Mila House or “El Capriccio”.

Everyone who stands before one of Gaudí’s works has the same sensation: the structures take on shapes from nature and their beauty is all consuming. Gaudí was one of the great representatives of Modernism and he revolutionized the canons of architecture.

La Sagrada Familia is one of Gaudi's most famous works in Barcelona. It's a giant temple that has been under construction since 1882 (that's not a typing error!) and it's not expected to be completed for between 30 to 80 years (time for completion varies depending on different sources of information.)  Controversy surrounds the building of the Sagrada Familia. Today new construction materials are being used which, some feel, Gaudi himself would not have used.   When you visit the building you will see the contrast in the stone color between the front and back of the building. Also the actual style of construction appears somewhat different between the new and old parts of the building.   Gaudi played an active role in directing the construction of the Sagrada Familia until his death in 1926. He would often request that work be modified and adjusted until it was exactly what he had in mind. However today, because of the nature of the existing designs, his work is partly open to interpretation.  Interpretation of the ordinal designs by present day architects is particularly challenging because the actual construction stones are irregularly shaped.  The building is still under construction so be prepared to see a lot of work continuing when you visit. However this in itself is interesting, especially if you visit the museum inside the building. There you will see the stonemasons at work carving stones to be used in the building.  Regardless of all the controversy surrounding the Sagrada Familia it is a truly magnificent building and an absolute must-see when you visit Barcelona.

Another must-see creation of Gaudi is Park Guell.

Park Gull seems as if it were taken from the pages of a fairytale: strange, eccentric, even dream-like, but undeniably beautiful. A stroll through the park will awaken even the sleepiest imaginations. The peculiar shapes and daring color combinations mixed in with the park’s vegetation create a unique world to which visitors feel irresistibly drawn.  Every corner of the park displays the architect’s passion for nature’s forms: Gaudí wanted human intervention in this forest to blend in with the landscape, to complement it, and he certainly achieved this. Snails, mushrooms, leaves, flowers, tree trunks and elephants appear constantly in the mosaics and in the architectural forms. Even the bell in the chimney of the concierge’s house is shaped like an inverted mushroom.

The original idea for Park Guell was conceived in 1900, when Eusebi Gull purchased land on the mountain of Carmel, at that time on the outskirts of Barcelona to site a development in which he put Gaudí in charge. The idea was to copy the English “garden city” model (thus the word “park”), and build a few homes in idyllic surroundings with wealthy people in mind who wanted to get away from the crowded streets and insalubrious life of the city. Three kilometers of paths were built along with a plaza, stairways, the concierges’ pavilion and a model house to tempt potential residents. After 14 years, and seeing that the development was a commercial failure, it was abandoned and donated to the city council, which then converted it into a public park.

Be sure to make a visit to the Parc de la Ciutadella.  The Cascada is one of Barcelona's most remarkable sites. Fontseré designed the monumental fountain and artificial lake, located in the grounds of the Parc de la Ciutadella, in 1875. Both the cascade and the lake were intended to camouflage a huge water deposit in the central section of the waterfall, which can be reached by two flanking symmetrical stairways.  Curiously, Gaudí worked on this project as a young architectural student. 

A stroll down Las Ramblas is an absolute must do!  The word Rambla, derived from the Arabic word ‘ramla’, serves as a reminder that in earlier times, the street was a gully that ran parallel to the medieval wall, and carried rainwater down to the sea.  Now, Las Ramblas is Spain’s most famous street, a boulevard lined with trees, which is almost 2km long and is dotted with hotels, cafes, restaurants, and news stands. It stretches from Placa de Catalunya, a main square full of shops, restaurants, and banks, located at the centre of the city, down to the monument of Columbus on the waterfront.

 The avenue is broken up into five sections, each with its own name and characteristics. The first one is La Rambla de Canaletes, which was named after the fountain Font de les Canaletes. Legend says that whomever drinks from this fountain will forever keep returning to Barcelona.

The next area is named after the Estudi General (university) and is called La Rambla dels Estudis. But some also call it La Rambla dels Ocells (avenue of the birds), because of its many places selling birds and small animals.

Next is La Rambla de les Flors, where you can buy all kinds of flowers. This is also where you find the century-old Boqueria Market. Inside this market you can find the freshest produce, meat, fish, and dried fruits.

At the seafront is La Rambla de Mar where you can find the beach, an aquarium, restaurants, movie theatres and popular nightclubs.

The Euro, the currency of the European Union is the official currency in our ports. Many stores and restaurants accept major credit cards, which usually offer a good exchange rate.  When shopping remember there is a value-added tax to most purchases.

Depending upon the size of our group, we will have our SSQQ Welcome Aboard Cocktail party this evening. Meet your fellow SSQQ Cruise passengers and enjoy unlimited cocktails and dance to your favorite tunes as we sail along the Western Mediterranean coastline.

Naples

Naples

Naples and the Isle of Capri

Day Three

We arrive at Naples at 7:00 am on Tuesday. 

Naples is not only picturesque, it's also one of the world's greatest cultural centers, filled with extraordinary works of art and architecture in the classical Greek and Roman styles. It is the third most-populated city in Italy and the biggest city in Southern Italy. Its name comes from the Greek Neapolis meaning new city. Its close proximity to many interesting sites, such as Pompeii and the Bay of Naples, makes it a good base for exploring the area. Naples is a lively and vibrant city, full of wonderful historical and artistic treasures and narrow, and winding streets with small shops.

Naples is in the region of Campania in Southern Italy, about 2-hours south of Rome. It sits on the coast on the northern edge of the Bay of Naples, one of the most beautiful bays in Italy. Its harbor is the most important port in Southern Italy.

Pizza, one of Italy's most famous foods, originated in Naples and pizza is taken very seriously here. You'll find lots of great pizza places but be sure you look for one with a wood-burning oven! Spaghetti also became popular in Naples and today the best is with clams or mussels. Seafood is abundant and very good in Naples, too.

Top attractions in Naples include the National Archaelogical Museum, Duomo, Spaccanapoli district, shopping, the harbor, castles, and other museums and of course a visit to Pompeii.

The National Archaeological Museum of Naples, Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli, has one of the world's best collections of Greek and Roman antiquities, including mosaics, sculptures, gems, glass and silver, and a collection of Roman erotica from Pompeii. Many of the objects come from excavations at Pompeii, Herculaneum, and nearby archaeological sites.  The Naples archaeological museum is one of Italy's top archeology museums and a Naples must-see site. Highlights include:

Mosaics - Covering the period from two centuries BC until the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD, most of the mosaics are parts of floors or walls from Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Stabiae. many have figures from Greek paintings. The most well-known are the mosaics from the House of the Faun in Pompeii.

Secret Cabinet - This room was created in the early 1800's to house the museum's many sexual items. It was closed for many years but reopened in 2000. Visitors must be at least 11 years old.

Frescoes - Most of the frescoes come from walls in Pompeii. Covering a period of about two centuries, the frescoes are excellent examples of Roman painting. They cover a variety of themes, including mythological, landscapes, and scenes of daily life.

Temple of Isis- A special exhibit holds wall painting removed from the temple of Isis in Pompeii as well as artifacts from the temple.

Pompeii Model - Made in the 19th century, the model of Pompeii is very detailed and helps the visitor visualize what it looked like before the eruption.

Sculptures - The museum has a huge collection of Greek and Roman sculptures, many of them Greek and Roman.

Coins and Metals - Six rooms containing more than 200,000 coins and medals from Ancient Greece, Rome, medieval times, and the Bourbon era.

While you’re in the area, you’ll want to visit Pompeii, one of the most famous excavation sites in the world.  A thriving city 1900 years ago, it was devastated by the eruption of Mount Vesusvius in 79 A.D. when 30 feet of volcanic ash and pumice stone cover it.  The ruined city of Pompeii, now dug out from the layers of dried lava that once swept through it, brings to light the life of 19 centuries ago and has sparked the imagination of the world.

Numerous myths have surrounded Pompeii, one of which is that a completely intact city was rediscovered. Actually, the Pompeians (that is, those who escaped) returned to their city when the ashes had cooled and removed some of the most precious treasures from the resort. But they left plenty behind to be uncovered at a later date and carted off to museums throughout Europe and America.

After a long medieval sleep, Pompeii was again brought to life in the late 16th century, quite by accident, by architect Domenico Fontana. However, it was in the mid-18th century that large-scale excavations were launched. Somebody once remarked that Pompeii's second tragedy was its rediscovery, that it really should have been left to slumber for another century or two, when it might have been better excavated and maintained.

Pompeii is the most important classical archeological site in Europe. Its wealth of monumental buildings is unmatched, as is its collection of mosaics and wall-paintings. But its architecture and art didn’t exist in a void; they were the framework for a thriving commercial town where 20,000 people lived, traded, ate, drank, worshipped and frequented brothels.

Be sure to look for The Duomo.  It is a 13th century Gothic cathedral dedicated to Naple's patron saint, San Gennaro. A huge festival is held when a vial of his blood is taken out of its storage place in hopes that it will liquefy. On one side of the duomo is the 4th century Basilica Santa Restituta (the oldest church in Naples) with columns believed to be from the Temple of Apollo, good ceiling frescoes, and archaeological remains from the Greeks to the middle ages. The 5th century baptistery has good 14th century Byzantine-style mosaics.

Spaccanapoli is one of the main streets crossing Naples and is the heart of the historic center. Teeming with people, the street holds many interesting churches, shops, and other buildings. The Spaccanapoli district is a string of narrow, winding streets and is mainly a pedestrian zone so its a fun place to wander around. Via San Biagio dei Librai, in Spaccanopoli, has some of the best antiquarian book dealers in Italy, terracotta religous and nativity figurines, and a doll hospital. Via San Gregorio Armeno is famous for its nativity workshops.

READ MARLA'S SPECIAL STORY ON THE ISLE OF CAPRI

Rome, Italy

Castle Saint Angelo

The Roman Coliseum

Rome, Italy

Day Four

Whether it's the Forum, the Sistine Chapel, the Pantheon or St. Peter's Basilica that sparks your interest and intellect, Rome is home to a lifetime's worth of historical, architectural and spiritual sites. Depending on traffic, the drive from Civitavecchia to Rome takes approximately an hour and a half.

Experience the history of Rome as you wander around the Colosseum, one of the most important monuments of ancient Rome and the Roman forum.   A masterpiece of classical architecture, the Colosseum is an enormous amphitheater where gladiators, Christians and wild beasts once battled to the death in front of 55,000 spectators.  Upon completion, spectacular 100-day celebrations were organized as part of the opening ceremony in 72 AD. Its name is believed to come from Nero's enormous statue of Colossus that stood close by. The admission charges are about EUR10.
 
The Forum was designed to be the centre of social, political and economic life in the city. The innumerable remains include the well-conserved triumphal arch of Emperor Septimius Severus, with reliefs depicting his victories and the base of the Temple of Saturn with its eight columns and their splendid Ionic capitals. The 'Rostrum' is the famous platform from which Mark Antony gave his oration in Shakespeare's play after Julius Caesar's assassination. The platform became the setting for many important events in Rome's history. It was named the 'rostrum' after the bows of the ships that form the decorative motif. The Temple of Vesta was the home of the Vestal Virgins, charged with keeping the sacred flame alight. The circular foundations still remain, near to a garden in which traces of the House of the Vestal Virgins can still be seen. The Basilica of Constantine and Massentius was used as the court, and the three remaining barrel-vaulted naves give an idea of its gigantic structure. The Arch of Titus celebrates victories in Judea, and in the reliefs you can see the spoils of war, including an altar and a seven-armed chandelier. Admission is free; guide tours in English cost EUR3.20

Visit the Vatican Museum, where you can walk through the many rooms that house the largest art collection in the world.  The Vatican is among the most important historical sites in the world. The seat of the Holy Roman Catholic Church, The Vatican is also the home of the Pope. As the smallest state in the world, the Vatican has figured in key events throughout history. Occupying about one half kilometer of Rome, The Vatican is further significant because of its fabulous architecture, religious, and artistic treasures. It was Pope Julius II della Rovere in the 16th century who commissioned Michelangelo to paint the history of creation on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Among countless other notable events in the history of this important city are the convening of the College of Cardinals, at the death of a reigning Pontiff, for the purposes of electing a new Pope. No visit to Rome is complete without an excursion to The Vatican, a place so steeped in history and tradition that you will never forget it.

Travel through the magnificent St. Peter’s Basilica, the largest church in the world. . Construction began in 1452 on the site where St. Peter was buried and took over 100 years to build.  It rests on 800 pillars and is littered with 44 altars.   During the next 200 years, such famous masters as Bramante, Michelangelo, Raphael and Bernini worked on its design and created an unparalleled masterpiece.  View Michelangelo's "Pieta" and the 85-foot-high Bernini Pulpit.   Admire one of the many masterpieces created by Michelangelo, the famous statue of Moses. This majestic bearded figure is depicted holding the tablets of the Ten Commandments.  

If this is your first visit to Rome time, you must take in the Sistine Chapel.  It is considered a masterpiece of Renaissance art.   Dominating the chapel is Michelangelo’s ceiling paining of the “Creation of the World.”.  The Sistine Chapel receives 50 million monthly visitors.  The Chapel was built somewhere between 1477 and 1481 by Pope Sixtus IV.  From 1480 to 1483, famous artists of Renaissance, such as Botticelli, Perugino, and Ghirlandaio, decorated the walls. After twenty years, Julius II commissioned Michelangelo to decorate the ceiling in 1508. Today, after the restoration, tourists can visit the chapel and see Michelangelo's “Last Judgment.”  You will invariably find the Sistine Chapel crowded with hundreds of tourists, so be prepared. The best way to see it is to go to the Vatican Museums early, so that you're among the first in line when they open. Silence should be observed and photography is not prohibited.

The Pantheon was commissioned by Marcus Agrippa, restored by Domitian, and subsequently rebuilt by Hadrian (who added the dome) before being turned into a church in the early 7th century by Pope Boniface IV. The building's sole source of light is the opening at the dome's apex (the oculus); according to popular legend, this formed the base for the bronze pinecone that is now in the Vatican's 'Pigna' courtyard, where it is used as a fountain. Many famous Italians are buried in the Pantheon, including Renaissance painter Raphael and King Vittorio Emanuele I.

No visit to Rome can be complete without a stop at the Fontana di Trevi.  Tradition has it that throwing a coin over your left shoulder into the fountain guarantees a swift return to the world's most beautiful city. Anita Ekberg's dip in it was immortalized in Fellini's 'La Dolce Vita', and Italian actor Toto even sold it to an American, passing himself off as its owner. Earlier it was the setting for the award-winning "Three Coins in the Fountain" motion picture, ensuring its popularity worldwide. Designed by Nicola Salvi for Pope Clemente XII, it was completed in the second half of the 1700s. The statues in the centre represent Neptune supported by Tritons on either side while rococo-style Poli Palace provides the perfect backdrop.

Marla's Note: We had the pleasure of visiting Rome in 2008.  Rome was our absolute favorite stop of the entire trip.  Please read Rick's write-up about our adventures:  Rome 2008

Trastavere at Night

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trevi Fountain

Victor Emanuel Monument

Roman Coliseum, One the new Wonders of the World

Castle Saint Angelo

View from the Basilica

Villa Borghese Grounds

St Peter's Basilica

Nice

Monaco

Nice, France and Monaco