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Delicious food made with fresh
local produce, homegrown wines,
superb weather and centuries
of culture make this region of
Europe one of the world's great
all-round destinations.
And there's nowhere better
to start your Mediterranean
exploration than Venice or Rome,
two of the most vibrant and
exhilarating cities on the planet.
It took me all of seven minutes
to fall in love with Venice. Having
briefly wandered around St.
Mark's Square (do this early in
the morning to avoid the crowds)
I then discovered an intricate
labyrinth of tiny streets, canals and
bridges that offered a myriad of
discoveries at every turn.
You are simply spoilt for
choice with shops selling jewellery,
clothing, handbags, mementos and
objet d'art. Or just grab a coffee and
some yummy, cream-filled cannoli
and simply watch the world go by –
usually on a gondola.
Rome is an entirely different
Italian job. In peak season it is
crowded, chaotic and really, really
hot – and I loved every minute of
it. ere is just so much history
here that you don't know where to
look first. From the overpowering
splendour of the Colosseum to
the ethereal beauty of the Trevi
Fountain, Rome is a priceless jewel
in the Mediterranean crown, an
intoxicating mixture of past and
present.
And if ancient history is your
thing, one of the optional shore
excursions available out of Naples is
"Pompeii: City of Beauty & Ruin."
It was here in 79AD that Pompeii
was buried under volcanic debris
following the eruption of Mount
Vesuvius and amazingly,
30 per cent of the city is yet to be
uncovered.
lce vita
