There’s only one Amalfi Coast... experience it on Tauck’s included shore excursions, from a walking tour of the town of Amalfi to a visit to 13th-century Villa Rufolo in Ravello
royals wintered here. Board Le Ponant for the start of your 7-night cruise along the Mediterranean Sea. The ship is so welcoming, you’ll feel like you’re on your own yacht! Meals BD
4. WINE TASTING ON ELBA
Your first port of call is the secluded harbor of Portoferraio, Elba, settled by the Greeks in the 10th century BC, and home to an exiled Napoleon Bonaparte. Visit the home he shared with his sister in 1814, the Palazzina dei Mulini. Enjoy free time in Porto Azzurro, where sights include a fortress built in 1603 and the Old Quarter, bustling with hints of the past; and stop for a taste of the grape at a family-owned Elba winery – a special Tauck experience adds to the fun. Meals BLD
5. SMALL SHIPS ONLY IN BONIFACIO Corsica’s fjord-like harbor of Bonifacio is only accessible to small ships – your majestic entrance aboard Le Ponant atop sapphire blue waters is truly a special moment so be sure to have your camera handy! On shore, hop aboard Le Petit Train for a ride to the town’s walled fortress area; explore a maze of medieval lanes, stroll along the bluff above the harbor, and see the former barracks of the French Foreign Legion. Your ship charts a course for the island of Ponza this afternoon. Meals BLD
6. PONZA & CRUISING THE MEDITERRANEAN Ponza is fringed with dramatic coves and cliffs lined with yellow and pink houses. Fishing boats set out from the 18th-century harbor and vineyards cover the hillsides for a quintessential snapshot of daily life here. Spend the morning at leisure exploring the island village, before setting sail for the Amalfi Coast. Cast anchor in the Gulf of Salerno late tonight. Meals BLD
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7. TRAVEL THE AMALFI COAST TO RAVELLO Wake up to spectacular views of the incomparable Amalfi Coast, revered for its natural beauty since before the Middle Ages. Tender to shore for a memorable drive along the magical seascapes and an up-close look at the shoreline villages that call the Mediterranean home. Stop in Amalfi, the “queen of the Costiera,” for a guided walking tour and a visit to the Duomo, dating back to the 9th century. Then it’s off to Villa Rufolo in cliff-top Ravello built in the late 13th century for a prominent local family – the views from the terrace are immortalized in the inspired music of German composer, Richard Wagner. Dine on regional specialties at a restaurant overlooking the sea, followed by free time to explore Ravello on your own. Meals BLD
8. LIPARI & THE FIERY LAVA OF STROMBOLI The largest of the Aeolian Islands, Lipari’s history as a strategic port dates all the way back to Neolithic times, thousands of years before its centuries under Greek and later Roman rule. Vestiges of these ancient times still reign on its rugged terrain, alongside medieval fortresses and other evidence of centuries of struggle for the island’s control. Drop anchor off Lipari and take a Zodiac ashore for guided exploration of local sights and an optional visit to the archaeological museum. Weather permitting, a swim off the stern of your yacht and a nighttime sail by volcanic Stromboli showcase a few of the pleasurable moments of small ship cruising. Meals BLD
9. CRUISE TO SICILY & EXPLORE TAORMINA Go ashore at Giardini-Naxos for a memorable visit to Taormina, clinging to the cliffs above the Ionian Sea. Best known as a popular seaside resort, the island also entices with mesmerizing views of Mount Etna, the highest volcano in Europe, and archaeological wonders chronicling its development from the
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