Located in the Aegean Sea, just 18km from the coast of Turkey, the Greek island of Rhodes is the largest of the Dodecanese Islands. Most of the island’s population lives in the town of Rhodes which is where most ferries and cruise ships arrive.
In recent times the number of cruise ships docking in Mytilini, the capital of Lesvos (Lesbos) in the Aegean Sea, has fallen significantly as the island has found itself at the forefront of Europe’s refugee crisis. Lying just 3.6km across the Mytilini Strait from Turkey, this Greek Island of less than 90,000 inhabitants saw the arrival of more than half a million refugees from such war-torn countries as Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq. Whilst many never survived the sea crossing others continued their journey north in the hope of a better life in Germany, Sweden or the UK.
The Greek island of Kos is best known as the birthplace of Hippocrates, the father of western medicine. It was here that the ancient physician learned his trade and wrote the Hippocratic Oath which is still sworn by newly qualified doctors to this day. The main excursion for cruise ship passengers arriving in Kos Town is to the nearby Asklepion Temple where Hippocrates studied and taught as well as founding its renowned Medical School.
Located off the west coast of Greece the Ionian Islands consist of seven main islands of which Corfu, Zante and Kefalonia are the best known. Kefalonia (or Cephalonia) featured in the 2001 film entitled ‘Captain Corelli’s Mandolin’ starring Nicolas Cage and Penelope Cruz. It tells the story of the thousands of Italian soldiers who were executed on the island by Nazi forces after the armistice was signed between Italy and the Allies in September 1943. The film also portrays the 1953 earthquake which destroyed most of the island and led to the emigration of much of its remaining population. The 25,000 people who stayed behind rebuilt much of what we see today.
There’s nothing more quintessentially English than a game of cricket on the village green during the summer months. What a surprise it is to run into such an event when visiting the Greek Island of Corfu! The sport was introduced to the island during almost 50 years of British rule which began in 1815 following the Napoleonic Wars and is still played on five cricket grounds around the island. The most impressive of these is located in Spianada Square in the heart of the Old Town of Corfu city providing quite a novelty for English visitors.
As you disembark at various ports of call on your Greek island cruise you will often be mesmerised by the sheer beauty of what you encounter. Unfortunately, Heraklion is not such a place! This busy commercial centre of more than 140,000 people is the 4th largest city in Greece and the capital of Crete. Located on the island’s north coast it is best known for its airport which attracts millions of holidaymakers every year and for its proximity to the ancient Minoan city of Knossos. In spite of its modernity there’s plenty here to allow cruise ship passengers to enjoy during their day in port.
The city of Athens is the capital of Greece and one of the world’s oldest cities with evidence of there having been human settlement there as far back as 3000BC. As a powerful city-state, we can thank Athens not only for the birth of democracy but also for the crucial part it played in critical advancements in the arts and sciences. In spite of the city’s enormous influence as the site from which Western civilization emerged, it is probably best known for its founding of the Olympic Games. The Ancient Olympics were first held in Olympia in 776BC in honour of the God Zeus and took place every four years. What we now refer to as the Modern Olympics were first held in Athens in 1896.
The historic city of Chania lies on the north-west coast of Crete some 140km west of the island’s capital, Heraklion. Cruise ships arrive at the nearby port of Souda. The city is best known for its charming Old Town which stands inside ancient Venetian walls and for its charming waterfront which is one of the most picturesque destinations in the whole southern Mediterranean region.
Located right in the very north of the Adriatic Sea, Rijeka is Croatia’s largest port and 3rd largest city. Its position and deep-water harbour has made it a much sought after destination amongst the powers of that region throughout history and to this day it is shipbuilding and sea transport which are the key elements of the local economy.
In the very north of Croatia’s Adriatic coast is a heart-shaped piece of land known as the the Istrian Peninsula. It has a land border with Slovenia to the north and a sea border with Italy to the west. The region is home to the beautiful coastal towns of Pula, Rovinj Porec and Umag whilst the forested interior, dotted with hilltop villages, has led to the travel brochures referring to it as ‘the New Tuscany’.
Located some 150km north-west of Split on the coast of Croatia, Zadar is proving a welcome surprise to many cruise ship passengers who have little prior knowledge of this historic destination. Although the city was founded as far back as the year 4BC it gained prominence as an important Roman settlement from the year 59BC when it was developed into a typical Roman city, the remains of which can still be seen today. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire the city was ruled by many civilisations and nations including the Franks, Byzantines, Venetians, Austrians and Italians.
Located 230km north-west of Dubrovnik on the Dalmatian coast of Croatia, Split is a popular port of call for cruise ships visiting the Adriatic Sea. The city’s origins have been traced back to the 4th century BC when it served as a Greek colony although it didn’t become a major settlement until around 650 AD when it became an important Roman centre.
The beautiful Dalmatian coast was a focus for world news in the early 1990s as modern-day Croatia fought for independence from the former Republic of Yugoslavia. One particularly memorable sight on our TV screens was the sight of Serbian gunboats shelling the historic Old Town of Dubrovnik. On a human level this barbaric attack on a UNESCO World Heritage Site caused the death of both civilians and military personnel Structurally it was responsible for the destruction of almost 900 historic buildings and caused damage to almost 12,000 others.
