Bari, Piraeus/Athens, Santorini, Katakolon (Ancient Olympia), Ancona, Venice

Bari, the capital of Apulia and an important touristic destination and commercial harbor, lies on a fertile coastal plain facing the Adriatic Sea. A cultural crossroads since ancient times, it is a city where two souls meet: the old town, surrounded by an imposing wall and crossed with winding narrow streets (Barrivecchia) and the modern city, built at the beginning of the 19th Century. In the old city you’ll come across architectural masterpieces created over the centuries by Romans, Byzantines, Normans and Swabians.You can marvel the majestic Castello Svevo (Swabian Castle), the imposing Saint Nicholas's Basilica, the Cathedral and the famous Teatro Petruzzelli, considered the temple of opera in Bari. Bari is an ideal starting point for excursions to Alberobello, a small town in Puglia in southern Italy, famous for its trulli: white, cone-roofed houses, a unique UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Piraeus port is the gateway to Athens center. Don't miss the Parthenon, the temple to Athena which looms over Athens from its perch atop the Acropolis, an eternal icon of art and civilization. Completed in 438 B.C., the temple still astounds as the flowering of Greek art and architecture. When you come down off the hill, don't miss a visit to the Ancient Agora, Syntagma Square, the Acropolis Museum and the city's historic centre, around Plaka. Ideally, sit and relax at a cafe on the foot of the hill, sample some Greek souvlaki or a frappe, take a glance back up the hill from time to time and give the goddess her due.

Santorini is essentially what remains of an enormous volcanic explosion dated back 3,600 years (between 1627- 1600 BC) and which created the current geological caldera: a giant central lagoon, more or less rectangular, measuring about 12 by 7 km. The effect is still explosive: 300-m-high steep cliffs on three sides rise from sea level, cubic white houses surrounded by pink bougainvilleas glow in the Aegean sun. The wild beauty, the fascinating Caldera, the gold sunset, of the Number 1 destination in Greece will steal your heart away! 

Katakolon Port occupies the north-west part of the Peloponnese. To the west it is washed by the Ionian Sea. It is the current harbor of the regions capital city Pyrgos and serves as the gateway to the site of ancient Olympia, one of the most important archaeological sites in the world and birthplace of the Olympic Games. Visitors can see the remains of the original Olympic stadium, the Bouleuterion and the Temple of Zeus, enjoy free time in modern Olympiato shop or visit the Museum of the Olympic Games. 

Ancona, capital of the Marches Region, lies on the promontory of Monte Conero, directly facing the sea. Split into two parts - the historic center on Monte Guasco and the modern part on the coast - Ancona is a fascinating city. Among its principal monuments are the Cathedral of San Ciriaco, which dominates the city from the heights of Guasco Hill, the National Archaeological Museum of The Marches, the 11th-Century Church of Santa Maria della Piazza, Trajan's Arch, Mole Vanvitelliana, a military construction designed by Luigi Vanvitelli in the 18th Century and the Roman Amphitheatre (1st Century AD). The centre is pedestrianized, with plenty of shopping areas, elegant cafes, parks, piazzas and impressive buildings.

When it comes to Venice, pictures speak louder than words. Approaching the floating city, which is concocted from spires and cupolas, you discover a majestic place, undoubtedly the most romantic city in the world. Stroll along the cobblestone alleys that reveal the wonderful architectural gems, enjoy a hot mix of espresso, step out into the palatial arcades and St. Mark's Square or choose a romantic gondola ride. The lagoon, consisting more or less of 118 islands connected with bridges and canals, will steal your heart away. Time provided, you can visit nearby islands Burano, the coloured island of lace and Murano, famous for its fancy glasswares.