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you can find throughout Italy, your
taste buds will enjoy the holiday as
much as you. e specialty restaurants
aboard Orion easily maintain the
standard of cuisine you'll experience,
with both Manfredi's and e Chef 's
Table outstanding.
It might also surprise and delight
you to know that eating out in Venice
or Rome doesn't cost as much as
you would think. I spent a glorious
night at Napoletano's, right opposite
the Pantheon, chowing down on
authentic Italian food while listening
to Puccini's best arias fill the night
air. e bill for four people came to
€113 (approx. $180), which given the
location and the quality of the food
was outstanding.
Wine is another essential
ingredient of Mediterranean life
(some Italians still have a two-hour
siesta in the middle of the day!) and
while berthed in Crotone, I joined an
excursion to the Ceraudo Winery. is
family-run business became the first
in the region to grow, bottle and sell
organic wines and olive oil.
A bumpy tractor tour of the
vineyard and a sticky beak around the
winery was just the precursor to the
all-important part of the visit – the
tasting! I'm pleased to report that their
wines are every bit as good as their
hospitality…but then what else would
you expect from a region that does
indulgent pleasure better than anyone?
e 930-passenger Orion is the
fifth ocean vessel launched by Viking
and the eight-day 'Italian Sojourn'
tour encompasses Venice and Croatia,
calling at Bari, Sicily and Naples
before ending in Rome. She will
initially sail in the Mediterranean
before heading east to sail in Asia
and Alaska, arriving in Australia in
December.
An 8-day Italian Sojourn cruise
starts from $4,395pp, departing in April
2020. vikingcruises.com.au
Local Cuisine
Skradin, Croatia
Venice, Italy
