Port gazetteer
AJACCIO Corsica Napoleon was born here and his name is everywhere. The main shopping street is called Cours Napoleon and the wide tree-lined boulevards, parks and large squares in this newer part of town feature many statues of the great man, notably in the main square (ironically called General de Gaulle). The Old Town boasts Napoleon’s House and the cathedral where he was baptised. The main marketplace is right by the port and here you’ll fi nd lots of local craft goods and endless Napoleonic souvenirs.
AKUREYRI Iceland Akureyi is a charming Icelandic town with a stunning location on the country’s longest fjord – Eyjafjordur. There are several interesting museums and churches but the most amazing feature of Akureyri is its botanical garden. The fact that this glorious display of fl owers and plants thrives is a tribute to the local microclimate which is remarkably mild for somewhere so close to the Arctic Circle. There are a range of tours to appeal to nature-lovers, from whale watching to the spectacular ‘Waterfall of the Gods’ at Godafoss. Along the way, there are also age-old glaciers, beautiful lakes, bubbling sulphur mud-pits, hidden caves and coves, dormant volcanoes and natural lava sculptures.
ALESUND Norway Completely rebuilt after being destroyed by fi re in 1904, Alesund looks quite different to other Norwegian towns along the country’s west coast. Stretching across three islands, Alesund’s architecture is now an eclectic mixture of mock-gothic and neo-classical with more than a dash of Art Nouveau. You can trace the development of the town’s trend setting style at the Art Nouveau Centre, one of several fascinating museums in the town. The Atlantic Sea-Park is also worth a visit as it’s one of the largest aquariums in northern Europe.
ALEXANDRIA Egypt Dating from the 9th century BC, Alexandria was one of the greatest cities of the ancient world and home to one of the Seven Wonders – the Lighthouse. Modern Alexandria also has its treasures. The Corniche, a broad waterfront promenade near the docks, is lined with spectacular 19th century grand hotels and overlooks the sandy beaches. Alexandria’s main souk, just one block inland from the seafront, is worth exploring with its colourful jewellery, intricate brassware, carpet shops and pungent spice stalls.
ALGHERO Sardinia Easily the prettiest and most interesting of the ports along Sardinia’s northern coast, Alghero looks as much Spanish – or rather Catalan – as it does Italian. This all dates back to when the town was taken over by travelling merchants from Barcelona. Local food and language still has strong Catalan elements and the historic Catalan Church of San Francesco, is one of Alghero’s major historic sites. Others include the Magdelena fort overlooking the network of narrow cobbled streets at the heart of the atmospheric Old Town.
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ALICANTE Spain Built around a natural harbour, the main city on Spain’s Costa Blanca, Alicante, is also a top beach resort in its own right. It has a sophisticated Mediterranean feel with its restored Old Town adding to its charm. Dubbed the ‘City of Light’ when founded by the Romans, Alicante is a relaxing place to walk around. Down from the impressive Castillo de Santa Barbara fortress, which offers impressive views across the city, most activity centres in the streets around the Ayuntamiento, a plaza area buzzing with restaurants and tapas bars. Works by artists including Dali, Miro and Picasso are on show at the Museo de Arte Siglo and there is also an archaeological museum.
ALTA Norway Situated in the Land of the Midnight Sun, Alta is home to the world’s fi rst Northern Light observatory, earning Alta the title, ‘The Town of the Northern Lights’, giving a fantastic insight into this spectacular natural phenomenon if luck is on your side. Other sights of interest include the rock carvings at Hjemmeluft – the fi rst of which was discovered just 40 years ago. The site is now UNESCO protected due to its signifi cance and size and comprises carvings and paintings made between 4200BC to 200AD.
AMSTERDAM The Netherlands The beautiful city of Amsterdam, with its fi ne gabled houses, leafy canal walks, unusual boutiques and offbeat pavement cafés, is the last word in laid-back relaxation. Capture its true spirit on a scenic canal ride or by exploring the narrow winding streets, bustling bars and eclectic shops of Joordan, its fascinating old district. The Stedelijk Museum is home to major works by Picasso, Cézanne, Matisse and Monet, and if gardening is your interest, stroll around the daily Bloemenmarkt. This is the city’s only remaining fl oating market and its riotously colourful plant and fl ower-laden boats are a fragrant delight.
ANDALSNES Norway Andalsnes nestles where the towering Romsdal Alps meet the northern end of sparkling Romsdalfjord. A small, friendly town, Andalsnes is close to the famous Trollstigen road which leads through stunning scenery and across the stone bridge over the cascading Stigfossen waterfall to the Trollvegen (Troll Wall) which – at nearly 1,200 metres – is the highest vertical drop in northern Europe. Another way to see the Troll Wall and even more dramatic Alpine scenery, is to take the Rauma Railway train.
ANTIGUA With over 365 beaches, there is a slice of white sand heaven for every day of the year on the idyllic Caribbean holiday island of Antigua, which played host to Admiral Horatio Nelson’s fl eet in the late 1700s. Nelson’s Dockyard now bustles with crew and passengers from yachts and ships sailing these waters for pleasure rather than for King and Country. The main port, St. John’s, is also the capital and a vibrant hub for shopping as well as being within easy range of some of the island’s best beaches.
AQABA (for Petra) Jordan Situated at the top of the Gulf of Aqaba, the Jordanian town of Aqaba boasts some excellent sandy beaches and, offshore, one of the world’s best preserved coral reefs. But the main attraction of this area is the magnifi cent fortress city of Petra, buried by sand for more than 2,000 years until it was discovered in the 19th century and excavated in the 1950s. Originally built by Bedouin, the rose red city of Petra is a genuine wonder of the world. Make your dramatic entrance by walking through the Siq (gorge) up to the imposing Treasury with its exquisite façade. Further on are temples, tombs and a huge theatre.
ATHENS (from Piraeus) Greece From Piraeus, the Acropolis – ‘High City’ – has always been a favourite attraction. With its 2,500-year-old Parthenon, temple to Poseidon and Athena, Odeon of Herodus Atticus and Theatre of Dionysus, it quite literally stands out as an oasis of calm in the frenetic Greek capital. As part of the major revamp the city had for the 2004 Olympics, 400 modern buildings were cleared from the ancient meeting place next to the Acropolis, the Agora, which was then restored and linked by walkways to the Acropolis, Hadrian’s Arch, the Academy of Plato and the Monastery of Daphne. Below the Acropolis is the Plaka, the oldest neighbourhood in Athens, and a lively place to visit.
BAR HARBOR United States of America One of the most popular New England ports, Bar Harbor has something of the look of Old England about it with visions of Cornwall evoked by the rugged coastal walk below its craggy, granite cliffs. It’s also in the middle of the Acadia National Park – an intoxicating mix of lakes, forests and mountains. Look out for towering Cadillac Mountain and Thunder Hole where the ocean thunders against the cliffs.
BARBADOS Watching the Atlantic surf crash down on the rugged east coast of this richly diverse island and, for a moment, you may feel you could be on the Cornish coast. Over on the sheltered west coast, the glorious beaches are pure Caribbean. And there are more beaches and a lot more bars, cafés, restaurants and clubs creating a vibrant 24/7 lifestyle on the south coast, too. In the capital, Bridgetown, there are intriguing signs of its British colonial past while, across the island, you are really spoilt for choice. You can enjoy every watersport under the sun; stunning nature walks and bike rides.
BARCELONA Spain The Catalonian capital of Barcelona provides a vivid mix of ancient and modern, but is probably best known for the bizarre architecture of Antonio Gaudi, in particular the iconic Sagrada Familia, Europe’s most extraordinary – and still unfi nished – cathedral. Barcelona’s Old Port area is a thriving area of cafés and restaurants. From there, it is an easy stroll up the famous Las Ramblas to the Old Town. This street is thronged with entertainers, stalls and bars and is most lively at night and weekends. Not to be missed is the La Boqueria food market with its extraordinary displays of fi sh, meat, fruit and vegetables.
PORT GAZETTEER
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