Early Summer Mediterranean Style

All roads lead to Rome. The stunningly beautiful city on the Tiber is around 70 kilometers (44 miles) from the port of Civitavecchia. The highlights of the "Eternal City" are not limited to the seven hills of antiquity. The historic center and the Vatican State in Rome are both UNESCO World Heritage Sites. In the city of Vespas and "la dolce vita", painters, sculptors and architects have left behind innumerable works of art over three millennia. Ancient sites, Renaissance palaces, Baroque squares and fountains create a splendid backdrop for enjoying life in between the daily routine and eternity.

Northern Sardinia is home to the Italian seaside town of Porto Cervo. It is a frazione of the Sassari province's Arzachena comune. Porto Cervo, the hub of the Costa Smeralda, was established by Prince Karim Aga Khan and numerous other investors. 

Bonifacio is a town on the southern tip of the French island of Corsica. It’s known for its lively marina and medieval clifftop citadel. The 13th-century Bastion de l’Etendard houses a small museum with exhibits on the town’s history. L’Escalier du Roi d’Aragon is 187 ancient steps carved into the cliff face. To the southeast, the uninhabited Lavezzi Islands, a nature reserve, has granite boulders and sandy beaches.

Although Elba is only a small Tuscan island, be surprised by how diverse it is. Imposing cliffs, white sandy beaches, avenues of cypresses, vineyards and olive groves, traditional villages and elegant beach resorts make the place of Napoleon's exile somewhere you would in fact like to be banished for longer. The beautiful old town of Portoferraio with its narrow streets of steps and medieval fortress is set high up on a rocky headland. In the enchanting town of Porto Azzurro, the palm-lined promenades, charming piazzas, and small beach are at the center of the town's activities.

Italy's Tuscany region's seaside city of Viareggio is well-known for its Carnival. The Carnival Museum, which features miniature versions of the city's allegorical floats, is located in the La Cittadella complex. A musical instrument museum and an archaeology museum are both part of the Villa Paolina Civic Museums. Villa Puccini, a museum about the composer housed in his old lakeside home, located to the southeast in the community of Torre del Lago.

On Italy's northwest Ligurian coast is a settlement called Porto Venere. It is famous for the Porto Venere Regional Natural Park, a protected area featuring hiking routes and dive possibilities. A beach and cave-filled island called Palmaria is included in the park. A rocky headland supports the Gothic-style Church of St. Peter. A massive clifftop fortification with views of the Gulf of Poets is nearby by the name of Castello Doria, which dates back centuries.

Portofino has a prominent position on a peninsula on the Italian Riviera and, since the 1950s, has developed into an elegant marina. The "dolce vita" seems to have been born here. You can unwind in classy bars and cafés in front of beautifully restored facades, browse for treasures in the backstreets, and observe the comings and goings on the port's promenade. At first glance, Portofino is a picturesque fishing village. However, you soon notice that it is also a sophisticated retreat for exclusive megayachts, as well as a great hideaway for anyone who knows how to enjoy the charming and stylish traditional atmosphere.

The capital of northwest Italy's Liguria region. It's known for its central role in maritime trade over many centuries. In the old town stands the Romanesque Cathedral of San Lorenzo, with its black-and-white-striped facade and frescoed interior. Narrow lanes open onto monumental squares like Piazza de Ferrari, the site of an iconic bronze fountain and Teatro Carlo Felice opera house.