Shore excursions program for below cruises

On leaving the port, an enjoyable 45-minute drive first takes you to the town of Betanzos for a walking tour through the meticulously preserved medieval town centre. The old district’s lovely fountains, splendid palaces and magnificent churches, such as the 14^th-century Igrexa de San Francisco and the 16^th-century Igrexa de Santiago, are sights for which you may want to bring a camera. After some free time to explore on your own, you will return to La Coruña for a panoramic city tour of the city’s many wonderful attractions. A short photo stop will also be made at Hercules Tower, a famous Roman lighthouse that is said to be the oldest of its kind in the world that is still in operation. Your tour is brought to a close with your return to the port and your ship.

The busy Galician port and city of La Coruña is situated on a promontory at the entrance of an estuary on the Atlantic Ocean, affording the visitor gorgeous views of the bay and the ocean. This tour gives you a chance to explore this lovely Spanish town and take in its main sights of historical interest, such as the typical 18^th-century buildings with glazed window balconies that were designed as a solution to the weather. After passing Mendez Nuñoz Gardens, a photo stop will be made at Hercules Tower, an old lighthouse that has been in continuous operation since Roman times, before reaching the centre of the town for a walking tour. You will have some free time to see the sights on your own, some of which could include the city’s gorgeously preserved historical quarter, before returning to your ship.

Leave the vessel and spend a day out with us to one of Liguria’s natural paradises, the renowned UNESCO World Heritage Site of the “Cinque Terre”, characterized by small villages and a harsh and wild coastline. On this enjoyable itinerary you will have the opportunity to visit some of the five villages – anciently called “terre” – set like jewels on a coastline rich in terraces and vineyards. A coach ride will take you to Manarola, located on a promontory; the village may be the oldest of the “Cinque terre” and is located in a gorge on the sea. Manarola will be the starting point of an itinerary that will immerse you into the nature and the beauty of a territory whose inhabitants are strictly jealous of their ancient traditions. Board a local boat and sail to Vernazza; keep your camera ready to catch snapshots of one of Italy’s most beautiful villages as you approach the small harbour; the boat sailing will also afford you to admire the coastline with its luxuriant Mediterranean vegetation. Enjoy a little free time in Vernazza before continuing to your next destination: Monterosso, the biggest village of the territory. You will have time to explore the historical centre with the many churches, included the Church of San Giovanni Battista, dating to 1307, or to look for a nice restaurant to have lunch. Your return to La Spezia may be by train or by bus.