Northern Italy Under Sail: Genoa, Pisa & the Amalfi Coast Aboard Sea Cloud II

Gather on deck for a play-by-play description of the crew in the rigging and the action of setting square sails, staysails and jibs as the ship shows her full glory. Relax with a book on deck, and enjoy delicious meals and complimentary drinks. After lunch, begin your exploration of La Superba (Genoa’s nickname meaning “The Proud One”). See its old city center, designated a UNESCO World Heritage site, the old port (Porto Antico) and the Arco della Vittoria, a monument to fallen solders of WWI. You can’t miss the dramatic Cathedral of San Lorenzo, built originally as a Romanesque Basilica in the 1100s, remodeled in the Gothic style in 1307, and topped with a Renaissance dome in 1557. Inside, the large 15th-century Cappella San Giovanni Battista is the earliest example of Renaissance architecture in Genoa, built to hold what are believed to be the remains of St. John the Baptist.

Explore Plaza Ferrari and pay a visit to Palazzo Ducale, or Doge’s Palace. Doges were chief magistrates during medieval times and the Renaissance, found particularly in Venice and Genoa. Originally constructed in 1298, the palace is now the cultural center of Genoa. Here you’ll enjoy a tasting of some local delights such as gelato, Genoa’s famous pesto, extra virgin olive oil, and—of course—wine. Return to the ship for the captain’s welcome evening and an overnight docked in Genoa.

Take a drive along the stunning Italian coast to the town of Camogli—once one of the Mediterranean’s most powerful naval ports. Nicknamed City of a Thousand White Ships and inhabited since pre-historic times, today Camogli is one of the Italian Riviera’s most picture-perfect villages. Take in its stunning panoramas, a charming harbor, narrow lanes lined with towering pastel-colored buildings, lovely cathedral, and ruined castle. Hear about 12th-century Castle Dragone’s fascinating history and visit the Camogli Maritime Museum to learn about the city’s maritime prowess and traditions. The basilica Santa Maria Sunta is the town’s largest church, elegantly decorated with art and gold left by many of the town’s seamen after they died. During your visit, enjoy a taste of Camogli’s specialty: focaccia al formaggio, a staple street food in the region. Return to the ship to enjoy onboard presentations and relaxation time as she sails south along the picturesque coast of Italy.

The leaning tower—a UNESCO World Heritage site—has long been the best-known attraction in the town of Pisa due to its uncanny stature as a result of the sandy base on which it was built. However, the tower is just a single component of a city with many notable architectural and historical achievements. Nowhere else in Italy are a city’s key buildings aligned with such precision and/or is there so beautiful a contrast of stonework and surrounding meadow. The Campo dei Miracoli (Field of Miracles), Duomo, Baptistery and Camposanto complete an unrivalled quartet of medieval masterpieces. These—along with more than a dozen churches and palazzos—belong to Pisa’s Golden Age, from the 11th to the 13th century, when the city, then still a port, was one of the leading maritime powers of the Mediterranean.

After time in Pisa, head to Pietrasanta, which grew to importance during the 15th century, mainly due to its connection with marble. Michelangelo was the first sculptor to recognize the beauty of the local stone. Today, artists and sculptors from all over the world are drawn to the city, known as “Little Athens” due to its marble studios. These studios mingle with small, elegant shops in the long alleyways lined with ochre-washed buildings with wooden shutters that radiate from Piazza del Duomo. Pietrasanta is the foremost place in the world for marble work, and you’ll visit local artists and shops to see this time-honored artisanry in action.

Portoferraio is the main town on Elba Island, and its complex history is matched only by the labyrinth of small alleys and monuments to the passing ages found in its city center. The town was founded by the Romans (with the name of Fabricia) on a pre-existing Tuscan settlement. After the fall of Rome, it was destroyed by buccaneers and rebuilt in the 7th century under the name of Ferraia. In 1442 the Saracens destroyed it, and in the 16th century, the Grand Duke of Tuscany, Cosimo I of the Medici family, ordered the construction of imposing fortifications. The town was named Cosmopoli after him. Napoleon, after his forced abdication following the Treaty of Fontainebleau, was exiled to Elba Island, a time during which he enacted several reforms to improve the quality of life for its residents. Finally, under the reign of the Lorena family, the name Ferraia was reestablished and then changed into the present name of Portoferraio. Pay a visit to Villa dei Mulini (literally “Villa of the Mills”), Napoleon’s primary residence on the island. After visiting the town, you will stop in a wine bar along the promenade to taste typical Elban dishes paired with local wines.

A day at sea presents another opportunity to witness the ship’s sails aloft. Enjoy the ship plying the surf and sip on complimentary drinks as you catch up on reading, sort your photos and learn from expedition staff presentations.

The ship anchors off Amalfi this morning. This storied town, part of the UNESCO World Heritage site that comprises the entire Amalfi Coast, is known for pastel-hued houses that cling to steep-sided mountains. Stroll the waterfront, with its marina and shops; visit the ornate cathedral, with bronze doors dating from 1066; and wander the winding streets and alleyways to make your own discoveries. After exploring Amalfi, enjoy the captain’s farewell evening as the ship makes her way to Naples.

Arrive in Naples this morning. After breakfast, disembark and transfer to the airport for your flight home.