Greek Islands, Malta & Sicily Cruise on Nieuw Statendam from Athens (Piraeus)

Athens (Piraeus)

Athens, the capital city of Greece is an active cosmopolitan mix of different cultures and people, passionate about their art and history. The climate is one of the best in Europe, with mild winters and very hot summers, ideal for tourism. It is located just a few miles from the port of Piraeus, the central commercial port of the capital, and the shores of southern Attica. The main attractions of Athens are The Ancient Agora, Anafiotika, The Acropolis, Mount Lycabettus, Thiseion Cinema, Gazi, Monastiraki Flea Market, Pireaus seaside, Pireaus open air market, Kastella Hill, Veakio open air theatre and Piraeus Archaeological.

Valletta (Malta)

Valletta is the capital of Malta, situated in the east central portion of Malta. It is the second southernmost capital of Europe. The City was officially recognised as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1980. The city is essentially Baroque in character, with elements of Mannerist, Neo Classical and Modern architecture in selected areas. Building dated The city consists of buildings from the 16th century onwards, built during the rule of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, also known as Knights Hospitaller. The official name given by the Order of Saint John was Humilissima Civitas Valletta The Most Humble City of Valletta. The bastions, curtains along with the beauty of its Baroque palaces, gardens and churches, led the ruling houses of Europe to give the city its nickname Superbissima, Most Proud.

La Goulette (Tunis)

La Goulette is the port of Tunis, the capital of Tunisia. La Goulette is linked to Tunis by the TGM railway. As you disembark the port it will bring you closer to a totally different and fascinating culture. Tunisia is one of the favorite most exotic destinations you can visit. There are several festivals each year, of which the largest is the Carthage International Festival which takes place in July and August with international attraction. Tourist attractions are: Camel ride, Cathedral of St Vincent de Paul, Dar Ben Abdallah, MuseumBab el Bahr French Gate, The Great Mosque, Old City Medina, Bardo Museum & Souks.

Palermo (Sicily)

Palermo the capital of Sicily and the Province of Palermo and is situated in the northwest of the island of Sicily, right by the Gulf of Palermo in the Tyrrhenian Sea. Palermo is one of the most beautiful places and has a noteworthy architectural heritage and is known for many of its Norman buildings, including churches, museums, palaces and gastronomy, playing an important role throughout much of its existence, it is over 2,700 years old. It is a city rich in history, culture, art, music and food. The city is also going through careful redevelopment, preparing to become one of the major cities of the Euro Mediterranean area. There are many tourist attractions such as Palermos Arabic quarter, Orto botanico Botanical Gardens and Real Tenuta della Favorita Park. In Vucciria market visitors will experience the unique, strongly Sicilian atmosphere as well as taste the typical local produce. Things to See & Do are: Vucciria market, Palazzo dei Normanni, Quattro Canti, Norman churches, palaces, museums and Capuchin Catacombs.

Messina (Sicily)

Messina is the capital of the Italian province of Messina. It is situated near the Northeast corner of Sicily and is the 3rd largest city on the island of Sicily. The campanile holds the largest astronomical clock in the world and if full of animated mechanical statues that put on quite the show at noon. The city has been a Roman Catholic Archdiocese and Archimandrite seat since 1548 and is home to a locally important international fair. Things to see and do: Archeological Museum of Reggio di Calabria, Torre Faro observation tower over Messina Strait, Lungomare promenade at Reggio, The Fountain of Orion, The Four Fountains and The Senatory Fountain.

Mykonos

Probably the most famous of the Greek Islands, Queen of the Cyclades, and the most cosmopolitan. Mykonos, owes its fame to the beauty of its capital, its white houses narrow passages, and their numerous high quality beaches. Tourism is a major industry, and Mykonos is particularly renowned for its cosmopolitan nightlife; many international celebrities visit the island every summer and and its proximity to the island of Delos, rich in archaeological treasures.

Marmaris (Turkey)

Marmaris, the same as Antalya, is a touristic destination in Turkey, one of the most important. It is a city located on the coast of the Aegean Sea, in the province of Mugla, on the southwest onf the country. It has a natural port on the Aegean Sea, in addition to the beaches, the climate and the amenities, make it on a very demanded destination. A great nautic center, the property development, and the proximity to the greek island of Rhodes are some of the many atractives we can find.

Kusadasi (Turkey)

With a mix of modern beach resorts alongside traditional bazaars, Kusadasi is a popular tourist destination on the Aegean coast in the Aydin Province of Turkey. Aside from its golden sandy beaches and warm clear waters, Kusadasi boasts a variety of attractions most famous of which is Ephesus, the Mediterranean’s best-preserved classical city. Marble pillars of the Library of Celsus support intricate friezes and sculptures, while the enormous theatre delivers superb views over the city. Visitors can also discover Kusadasi on horseback, swim with the horses at Pamucak Beach or take time to visit array of stalls and shops that comprise the local bazaar.

Rhodes

Rhodes is an island in Greece, located in the eastern Aegean Sea. It is located northeast of Crete, southeast of Athens and just off the Anatolian coast of Turkey. Historically, Rhodes was famous worldwide for the Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The medieval Old Town of the City of Rhodes has been declared a World Heritage Site. Today, it is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe. From there you can access Lindos and its famous Acropolis which can be accessed on foot or by donkey.

Kos (Greece)

Located in the Aegean Sea, the Greek island of Kos has long since been one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe. This multicultural island paradise offers visitors immaculate golden beaches, vibrant nightlife and wealth of activities and attractions. By day, the Hot Springs and Solfatara fields, the basilica of St. Stephens church, Asklepeion the ancient Temple of Medicine and Neratzia Venetian Castle of the Knights of St. John are popular with visitors. By night Kardamena, on the south-east coast, is home to a wide range of bars and nightclubs and entertainment.

Santorini

Santorini is an island in the southern Aegean Sea, about 200 km (120 mi) southeast from Greece´s mainland The island remains the home of a small, but flourishing, wine industry, based on the indigenous grape variety, Assyrtiko, with auxiliary cultivations of two other Aegean varietals, Athiri and Aidani. Wine Industry The vines are extremely old and resistant to phylloxera (attributed by local winemakers to the well-drained volcanic soil and its chemistry), so the vines needed no replacement during the great phylloxera epidemic of the late 19th century. In their adaptation to their habitat, such vines are planted far apart, as their principal source of moisture is dew, and they often are trained in the shape of low-spiralling baskets, with the grapes hanging inside to protect them from the winds. Architecture The traditional architecture of Santorini is similar to that of the other Cyclades, with low-lying cubical houses, made of local stone and whitewashed or limewashed with various volcanic ashes used as colours. The unique characteristic is the common utilisation of the hypóskapha: extensions of houses dug sideways or downwards into the surrounding pumice

Souda Bay (Chania, Crete)

Relaxation is easy in Souda Bay, a horseshoe of pristine sand and sparkling sea, sheltered by hills. But its military background means peace hasn’t always been so forthcoming. There’s reminders of World War action at the cemetery; and across the bay the fortressed Island of Souda was once a battleground between the Greeks and the Ottomans. Roger Moore’s high speed boat chase in For Your Eyes Only was filmed here. West of Souda is the charming old Venetian town Chania. Cobbled streets lined with colourful Venetian townhouses zigzag downward toward the harbour, which has a touch of Florence or Venice about it. Browse a mix of museums, churches and crafts en route, then walk the harbour wall to the oldest lighthouse in the world. End your day with a raki in a waterside café.

Athens (Piraeus)

Athens, the capital city of Greece is an active cosmopolitan mix of different cultures and people, passionate about their art and history. The climate is one of the best in Europe, with mild winters and very hot summers, ideal for tourism. It is located just a few miles from the port of Piraeus, the central commercial port of the capital, and the shores of southern Attica. The main attractions of Athens are The Ancient Agora, Anafiotika, The Acropolis, Mount Lycabettus, Thiseion Cinema, Gazi, Monastiraki Flea Market, Pireaus seaside, Pireaus open air market, Kastella Hill, Veakio open air theatre and Piraeus Archaeological.