An ideal bridge between Europe and Africa, Palermo, with its impressive monuments, is a fusion of Romanesque, Arab and Byzantine art. The cuisine offers many delicious and sophisticated dishes, using simple and fresh ingredients.

In the south of Sardinia, in the Golfo degli Angeli, stands Cagliari, a beautiful city of Carthaginian origin which provides some evocative glimpses of its Roman, Spanish and Savoy past. Despite being closer to Tunisia than Rome, Cagliari is the most Italian of Sardinias cities, where a multitude of vespas and mopeds whizz down the tree-lined boulevards and crowded places hidden under the harbour arcades. Like many Italian cities, Cagliari is steeped in history and wherever you are, youll find traces of its rich past: ancient Roman ruins, museums full of prehistoric artefacts, centuries-old churches and elegant palaces. What are you waiting for to explore the city with Costa Cruises? Check out our departures for a Mediterranean cruise now.

The port of Valletta is Maltas heart. It was here that the Knights of the Order left for the Crusades from here and devoted themselves to caring for the wounded. In the Mediterranean, the port of Valletta has an important history and a strategic location. Its entrance, located between St Fort and the Sant’Angelo and Ricasoli Forts, transports you instantly into chivalrous past of the island. During your stop in Valletta you will be able to walk the streets with the colourful and decorated facades of the houses. Don’t miss a visit to the magnificent Barrakka Gardens from megalithic times, and the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. Then visit Gozo to admire the scenery of natural sculptures carved by the sea.

Costa Cruises stops in Catania on the Mediterranean cruise. This Sicilian city, proud of its ancient history, is a port that should not be missed. The stop in Catania will offer you both cultural visits, which are some of the most beautiful in Italy, and shore excursions full of wonderful surprises. Dynamic and full of energy, it will surprises with the richness of its old town and the unique sight of the lava layers on the slopes of Mount Etna. Catania, like Sicily, is rich in monuments, ancient traditions and sumptuous food, which it shares generously with the rest of the world. The port of Catania is located about 300 metres from the historic city centre. We suggest that you visit the Piazza del Duomo, symbol of the city. If you cross Via Crociferi, one of the city’s most famous streets, you come to Palazzo Biscari, one of the most impressive and majestic buildings in the whole of Sicily. Finally, you can see Mount Etna looking north, with its famous lava flows.