PORTS
ROME (CIVITAVECCHIA), ITALY
On Italy's Lazio coast, a 16th-century fortress welcomes cruisers to Civitavecchia, Rome's main port. This stunning Mediterranean village is 50 miles northwest of the capital city. Rome's influence on art, intellect, politics, and religion helped shape the Western world, and much from its storied past still can be seen today. Can't-miss tour destinations include Vatican City's Sistine Chapel, featuring frescoes painted by Michelangelo; the Roman Forum ruins, home to impressive temples from the ancient metropolis; and the Colosseum, built in A.D. 80 as an amphitheater for gladiator battles and war games. As you stroll cobblestone streets with a slice of authentic pizza or a cone of creamy gelato, make sure to pose for a photo at the Spanish Steps and toss a coin into the Trevi Fountain to ensure your return to the Eternal City. Culinary tours venture to vineyards and groves for wine sips and olive oil dips.
Language: Italian
Currency: Euro (EUR)
KUSADASI (EPHESUS), TURKEY
Ephesus was the capital of Asia Minor during the time of the Roman Empire, and now it is one of the world's most impressive and best-restored archaeological sites. Walk the marble-paved streets and see the spectacular ruins of the Temple of Hadrian, the Library of Celsus, the house where the Virgin Mary spent her last days and the amphitheater where St. Paul once preached. Kusadasi is a Turkish resort known for its extensive marina and miles of beaches, but it is famed for the ancient treasures just minutes away: Miletus and its Greco-Roman theater and Temple of Athena, Didyma and its Temple of Apollo, and the most glorious of all, the marble city of Ephesus.
Language: Turkish
Currency: Turkish Iira (TRY)
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MYKONOS, GREECE
Greek mythology contends that Mykonos is the rock that Heracles hurled to defeat the Giants. The island, part of the Cyclades archipelago, is known for its nightlife and slew of white-sand beaches, including Elia and Kalafatis, which are perfect for swimming and sunbathing. Steady breezes provide optimal conditions for activities such as surfing and parasailing. Revisit the 19th century at Lena's House, an annex of the Folklore Museum, and marvel at the Mediterranean views outside Paraportiani Church. Once used to grind wheat and generate energy, the town's famous windmills now make for great photo ops, particularly when shot from Alefkandra. This district, dubbed "Little Venice" because of its colorful houses perched along the sea, is home to trendy bars and art galleries. Boats are available to transport you to the archeological site of Delos, believed to be the birthplace of deities Apollo and Artemis.
Language: Greek
Currency: Euro (EUR)
Santorini embodies all that has made the Greek Islands legendary-splendid beaches, unparalleled architecture, dramatic cliffs, and quaint villages. The archipelago, perched on the edge of an active volcano's caldera, is one of Greece's Aegean gems. Blue-domed churches cap white-washed streets and white-, red- and black-sand shores are lapped by azure waters. Sunsets paint the bluffs in an array of oranges, pinks, and plums-prime camera fodder for that perfect photo. Visitors can stroll cobblestone streets to browse shops and chow down on authentic dolmades and moussaka; tour local vineyards for sips of wine sourced from grapes grown in the rich, volcanic soil; or go on an excursion to the island's highest point, the 1,860-foot Mount Profitis Ilias, for panoramic views and a look at an 18th-century monastery.
SANTORINI, GREECE
Language: Greek
Currency: Euro (EUR)
ATHENS (PIRAEUS), GREECE
Piraeus serves as Athens' primary port. Attractions here include archeological and maritime museums, the hilltop quarter of Kastella, Mikrolimano's seafood restaurants and the remains of the Piraeus Wall. After making the 6-mile journey to Greece's capital city, head to the Acropolis, the 7-acre rock formation that's home to the Propylaea, Erechtheum, Parthenon and Temple of Athena Nike. Nearby, the Acropolis Museum features exhibitions dedicated to these monuments and offers views of the city. Guided excursions may visit the Temple of Olympian Zeus; the Theatre of Dionysus, possibly the world's oldest theater; and the Panathenaic Stadium, site of the first modern Olympics. Occurring every hour on the hour, the changing of the guard ceremony at the Monument of the Unknown Soldier is a spectacle worth seeing. Food tours entice with Athenian delicacies such as olives, feta cheese and baklava.
Language: Greek
Currency: Euro (EUR)
OLYMPIA (KATAOLON), GREECE
Located on Greece's Peloponnese peninsula in the Ionian Sea, Katakolon features shops, art galleries and restaurants serving seafood delicacies. Soak up the sun on Kourouta Beach or take a tour of the surrounding countryside before heading 35 miles east to Olympia to enjoy adventures such as rafting, cycling, kayaking, and kite-surfing. The town also is home to the Archeological Site of Olympia, where the first Olympic Games were staged in 776 B.C. Strolls around the complex offer a look at the remains of the original stadium, gymnasium, and Temple of Zeus, which once housed one of the Seven Wonders of the World: Phidias' approximately 40-foot-tall Statue of Zeus. Close to the ruins, the Museum of the History of the Olympic Games of Antiquity boasts more than 400 exhibits with artifacts that date to the prehistoric period.
Language: Greek
Currency: Euro (EUR)
MESSINA (SICILY), ITALY
Sitting on the western shore of its namesake strait, this port serves as the gateway to Sicily, the isle just off Italy's "boot." Major attractions include Piazza del Duomo's cathedral and adjoining bell tower, which houses the world's largest astronomical clock; a 12th-century church; and a regional museum with works from Caravaggio. Shore excursions embark to Sicilian sites like hillside Taormina's ancient Greek theater or the rumbling Mount Etna. Rich soil makes the area an ideal grape-growing spot, so some tour-goers sip wine in the shadow of Europe's highest volcano. For seaside splendor, take a boat out to Isola Bella, known as the Pearl of the Ionian Sea. Themed excursions for "The Godfather" trilogy lead movie buffs to filming locations, while history aficionados will be enchanted with tales of deserted Tindari.
Language: Italian
Currency: Euro (EUR)
NAPLES (CAPRI/POMPEII), ITALY
Naples is a cultural center filled with classical Greek and Roman style architecture and bursting with extraordinary art, from modern street murals to ancient works. Take a tour through the city itself, where you can enjoy an authentic slice of Neapolitan pizza as you stroll along cobblestone streets or branch out to nearby locales for some can't-miss excursions. Naples is a jumping-off point for outings to Pompeii, a village preserved in ash from the A.D. 79 eruption of Mount Vesuvius-the still-active volcano that serves as a backdrop for Naples-as well as treks to the Amalfi Coast, one of the most breathtaking shorelines in the world. At the entrancing Isle of Capri, a short boat trip across the Gulf of Naples, you can take a chairlift to the islet's highest point for bird's-eye views or tour the famed Blue Grotto natural sea cave.
Language: Italian
Currency: Euro (EUR)