Costa Deliziosa: TRS - TRS - TRS06A01

The Italian port city of Bari is located on the coast of the archaeologically rich Apulia region. This ancient city offers an extraordinary blend of old and new – historic churches, castles, and squares stand close to modern galleries, shops, and museums. The surrounding area is home to numerous natural wonders, including caves protected by UNESCO. If you want to combine the sea, culture, and gastronomy, Bari is the ideal destination for you.

Must-see attractions include the Basilica of Saint Nicholas, which houses the saint’s relics; the Old Town (Bari Vecchia), full of narrow streets, traditional houses, and small squares; the Norman-Swabian Castle; and the Lungomare – a beautiful seaside promenade.

Bari is also an excellent starting point for excursions to nearby towns such as Alberobello – a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its white houses with characteristic conical roofs – or Matera, the magical canyon city protected by UNESCO, known for its “Sassi” district, a network of caves carved into the rock.

The city’s gastronomy reflects a fusion of the sea and southern Italy – simple yet full of flavor and tradition. One of the most famous dishes is orecchiette – small ear-shaped pasta often served with broccoli, garlic, and anchovies or in a rich tomato sauce. In the streets of the old town, you will often see local women making it by hand in front of their homes. Another must-try is focaccia barese, a golden-baked bread topped with olive oil, tomatoes, and olives, crispy on the outside and soft inside. Seafood lovers will delight in fresh squid, shellfish, and raw shrimp, usually served simply with a few drops of lemon and olive oil. To finish the meal, enjoy a glass of local Primitivo or Negroamaro, powerful red wines from the sunny vineyards of Apulia.

     Corfu is the northernmost of the Ionian Islands, located in the heart of the Mediterranean. The Greek place name Kerkira was renamed Corfu by the Venetians, who paraphrased the word "Korifi" which was used to indicate the towers of St. Mark's fortress.
     Corfu is covered in lush vegetation, thriving in a climate that is tempered by the wind without being too dry. Its coastline is very long, seemingly never-ending: over 200 kilometres. The terrain is quite varied, at times sandy and at others rocky and broken up by Mediterranean bush, olive, cypress and citrus trees.
     Corfu has suffered a long and bloody history. Corfu embarked on a long period of being colonised by others from 700 B.C. onwards, first by the Corinthians, then the Illyrians and the Athenians. Corfu suffered attacks from pirates while under Byzantine rule forcing the relocation of the city northward. This did little to halt the invasions of the Vandals and Visigoths, who repeatedly massacred the populations and razed their villages to the ground. The Venetians gave Corfu back its status as an important centre of trade and with it a very wealthy market. Venetian rule lasted for more than 400 years, during which time the island was governed by a system of aristocratic rule. The Venetians began the cultivation of olives and to this day, Corfu is one of the main olive oil producing centres in the region. Once the Venetian reign had come to an end, it was the Turks' turn, then the French and the English, and on 21st May 1864 it was annexed to the Kingdom of Greece.
     During the Second World War, Corfu was again bombarded and suffered heavy damage. Most of its buildings were destroyed, such as the public theatre and the Ionian Academy. Just a few outstanding buildings remain, scattered along the coastline and in the main town and jealously guarded by the local population.
     Kerkira is the capital, and accommodates around 60,000 of the 110,000 people who live on the island. The city has a splendid city centre with numerous Venetian fortresses and the English Royal Palace. The rest of the island is made up of small settlements, roads that stretch out high above the sea and splendid views of small bays and magnificent cliffs.

Valletta, the capital of the island of Malta and a UNESCO-protected port, is one of the must-see stops on a Mediterranean cruise. With over 300 monuments rising within just over half a square kilometer, along with its beaches, coastal venues, and restaurants, Valletta is a city truly worth visiting.

Visitors are captivated by the famous Maltese balconies that adorn the facades of houses in the old town, the multitude of churches that locals claim are as many as the days of the year, and the St. John’s Co-Cathedral, one of Malta’s greatest tourist attractions. On the other hand, the National Museum of Archaeology preserves prehistoric artifacts found on the island. Near the Grand Harbour, you can explore the underground passages of Auberge de Castille and the beautiful Baracca Gardens overlooking the harbor.

To experience the life of Malta’s old nobility, visit Casa Rocca Piccola. This 16th-century palace is furnished with period pieces and includes a bomb shelter built for protection during World War II.

Today, Malta is a center of fishing, craftsmanship, and tourism, with the bustling, walled city of Valletta serving as its administrative, commercial, and political capital.

Welcome to the beautiful city of Trieste! Located on the Adriatic coast, it is one of Italy’s most important port cities, rich in history and unique in culture. Over the centuries, it was under the rule of the Roman Empire, the Venetian Republic, the Habsburg Monarchy, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire — all of which left a strong mark on the city’s architecture and identity.

The city boasts a vibrant artistic and cultural scene — from the Revoltella Museum, to the Teatro Romano, a 1st-century Roman amphitheatre, and a literary heritage shaped by authors such as Italo Svevo and James Joyce.

Among the must-see landmarks are Piazza Unità d’Italia, one of the largest sea-facing squares in the world, the Miramare Castle, and the charming Canal Grande.

Trieste’s gastronomy reflects a blend of Italian, Austrian, and Slovenian influences. Don’t miss local specialties such as jota (a hearty soup of beans and sauerkraut), scampi alla busara (langoustines in a tomato and wine sauce), and, of course, authentic Italian coffee served in buffet style.

Trieste is a city where culture, history, hospitality, and fine cuisine come together — an ideal destination for curious travelers and lovers of the Mediterranean lifestyle.