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An Excursion For Every Passion: Costa Cruises Tips To Enjoy Mediterranean Destinations To The Max

Want to visit the Uffizi Gallery orsavour Barolo in the Langhe on a cruise? You can with Costa excursions!<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

Genoa,24 September 2015 – Lookingfor the perfect trip to discover all the secrets of Mediterranean destinations?Whether you’re wild about gourmet wine and food tours or a lover of art,adventure or nature, you won’t be able to resist Costa Cruises specialproposals to fully experience the most amazing Mediterranean destinations witheveryone’s passions in mind.

In fact, theItalian cruise company proposes a wide selection of shore excursions, no matterwhat you’re looking for, when the fleet’s ships make calls to Mediterraneandestinations. An opportunity for guests to take full advantage of all thespecial benefits that will make their vacation all the more exclusive:disembarkation priority and privileged entrance to museum and sites; guaranteedquality by qualified operators and multilingual guides; total assistance andsafety; guaranteed price and rescheduling of excursions in case of changes tothe itinerary.

However, themost important privilege is being able to use the time available as efficientlyas possible: the experts at Costa Cruises have come up with shore excursionsthat will allow guests to discover the most interesting attractions on theitinerary, and not only in the cities where ships make calls, but also in thesurrounding areas. A wide variety of unique choices, which only Costa canoffer, to fully satisfy all those visiting destinations for the first time aswell as guests who have already experienced the vacation spot but want to findout even more.

During Costacruises gourmets will be able to choose from among various wine and foodexcursions in each of the Mediterranean destinations, and all with an eye onexperiencing the best local dishes and delicacies. For example, guests canspend an afternoon tasting wine and cheese in Minorca, and thrill to thediscovery of a real gem: Binifadet, a wine cellar founded in 1979, where theycan savour the island’s best wines, cheeses and unique wine marmalade. Instead,to become more familiar with the real tastes of Sicily, there’s nothing betterthan an exclusive excursion to Palazzo Federico, one of the most beautifulhistoric residences of the old town of Palermo, where descendents of the oldnoble family still live today. The hosts will open their doors to guests,helping them to discover the treasures of the palace as they walk throughmagnificent halls and view splendid works of art, while also tastingspecialities of Palermo’s traditional cuisine. Or Costa guests can enjoy a tourof the tapas in Barcelona, the “panisse” in Marseilles, and savour real pizzain Naples or focaccia in Genoa. And another excursion that can’t be missed isthe one to the Langhe, from Savona, where Barolo wine and truffles take centrestage.

Instead,all those with a craving for culture will be spoiled by the number of choices,with visits to the most famous museums, palaces and archaeological sites thatwill be even more enjoyable by skipping long queues. For example, in Florence,which can be visited when ships call on La Spezia, Costa proposes a visit to theUffizi Galley, which hosts masterpieces by Botticelli, Caravaggio, Raffaelloand Leonardo da Vinci, before venturing into the historic centre of the city.Not to mention a tour of Rome, to visit the Vatican Museums, the Imperial Foraand the Sistine Chapel. At Volos, in Greece, guests will enjoy a uniquecultural experience, climbing to the top of the Thessaly hills, the site of acomplex of 24 monasteries built at the top of sandstone cliffs, called “TheMeteora”. Some of the numerous attractions include the archaeological sites ofPompeii, Ercolano, Olympia and Segesta; in Athens, guests can’t miss a visit tothe Acropolis, and the temple of Poseidon, just like it’s a must to visit StMark’s Square in Venice. Other new excursions include the Sassi of Matera, theGaudì palaces in Barcelona, the Postojna Cave, or Erice, the Royal Palace ofCaserta, the Palaces of the Rolli in the historic centre of Genoa and Lucca.

Travellersalways looking for adventure won’t be able to resist the mostbreathtaking excursions. Starting with the one by jeep to the amazing marblequarries of Carrara, on the Apuan Alps, or a catamaran tour on thecrystal-clear waters of Majorca or Croatia, off-road adventures in Malta,Santorini, Mykonos and on the Etna volcano, or a horseback riding excursion inthe Mijas mountain range, near Malaga.

Fornature loversit’s a good idea to arm themselves with camera and comfortable shoes toimmortalize the beautiful panoramas that will unfold before them during all the“green” excursions in the Mediterranean: in Salerno guests can walk for 3 hoursalong the Path of the Gods, an amazing panoramic trail overlooking the AlmafiCoast, which also offers a magnificent view over Conca dei Marini. In Dubrovnikguests can enjoy a kayak adventure in the fascinating Kolorina Bay, getting aclose-up view of the island of Lokrum and Betina beach. Other must-doexcursions include bicycle tours, the perfect idea for bike enthusiasts and forall those who just want to have fun, with the help of Costa guides: guests willbe able to find out all about magnificent cities such as Marseilles, Barcelona,Palma de Mallorca and Genoa, but also to enjoy incredible panoramas, such as onthe eastern Ligurian Riviera along a bike path created on the old coastalrailway line running between the villages of Framura, Bonassola and Levanto.

Sportbuffs,on the other hand, will be thrilled to visit the Ferrari Museum inMaranello, during the stopover in La Spezia, that also includes an excitingride on a simulator, or to go to Camp Nou, the stadium of Barcelona.

All theexcursions proposed by Costa Crociere can be booked before departure, eitherfrom the company website (www.costacruise.com), or during thecruise, and even 24/7 using ships’ onboard interactive totems. Those travellerswho can’t make up their mind can also get suggestions from Costa experts aboutwhat excursion best matches their needs, passions and desires, to give theirvacation that special unique touch.

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