Travel Log: Nice to Malta

Hello again from the sunny Mediterranean Sea. Since our cruising southern Spain post it has been a continuous flow of great ports with stops in Nice, Pisa, Civitavecchia, Naples, Taormina, and Valletta. It seems like every port in this part of the world is chock full of interesting history, great food, and stunning beauty. Cruising the Mediterranean from Nice to Malta via the Italian coastline has been non-stop excitement.

Nice

Our first port of call after leaving Barcelona was Villefranche-sur-Mer, France which serves as a cruise port for the city of Nice. Nice lies along the famed French Riviera. We took a 7 minute train ride from the port town to downtown Nice. Our walk took us along the busy Av. Jean Médecin down towards the ocean. There are gardens, statues, fountains, and picturesque buildings like the Basilique Notre-Dame de l’Assomption. Near the water we discovered Old Nice to have outdoor cafes in abundance. After enjoying lunch at Pain & Cie we headed for the beach. I’m fairly certain the water in Aruba was a similar startling light blue, but something about the scenery made the waters of the French Riviera seem so majestic. It took our breath away. Nice is truly magical and I hope we have an opportunity to return again in the future.

Pisa

The next port on this journey was the Italian city of Livorno which allows visitors the opportunity to explore Florence and Pisa. We had already decided to skip Florence in favor of Pisa and we were happy we did. Pisa was both iconic and charming at the same time. The famous tower stands in front of the cathedral and baptistry, making for a grand spectacle.
They are a true representation of Pisa’s past and continue to define Pisa in the present. Like most places we’ve explored in Europe the town of Pisa was full of shops and cafes along narrow streets. After marveling at the monumental buildings of Pisa we enjoyed a peaceful shady lunch at Pizzeria Trattoria La Buca.

Civitavecchia

Dog and Dragon had been to Civitavecchia in 2023 aboard the Island Princess for our first visit to Rome. On this occasion we decided to skip the train ride to Rome and spend a day exploring the port city of Civitavecchia. The people there are welcoming and the city has its own special charm. Built in the 2nd-century A.D., Civitavecchia is full of ancient walls and remnants of Roman ruins seemingly everywhere. One of the first things you are greeted by from the cruise port are the massive walls of the 16th-century Michelangelo Fort. There is a lengthy picturesque waterfront walkway and plenty of restaurants to choose from. Ristorante Pizzeria Da Baffone served us perfect calamari, a delicious mushroom pasta, and one of the best pizzas we’ve had anywhere.

Naples

Our wintertime vacation in Sorrento in 2023 included exploring parts of Naples. This visit to Naples was a little different as we looked for a relaxing day ashore. We gawked at the enormous walls of Castel Nuovo, took pictures at the Fountain of Neptune, explored the Quartieri Spagnoli district, enjoyed lunch at Pan & Noci, and finished the day with gelato in the impressive Galleria Umberto I.

Taormina

Oosterdam made port at Taormina, Sicily beneath the famous volcano Mt. Etna. Taormina was a tender port, meaning the ship was not alongside a dock. At tender ports the visitors from the ship are taken ashore on smaller boats known as tenders. Dog had been to Sicily in 2023 when the Island Princess stopped in Palermo. Dragon was on day call in Taormina, it was an overcast, rainy day, and Dog wasn’t feeling like taking the tender for a walkabout. We took some photos from deck 10 and treated it like a rest day before our next port of call.

Valletta

The walled city of Valletta is the capital of the island nation of Malta. Created in the 16th century by the Knights of St John the entire city of Valletta is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Even from the ship we could see the massive fortifications and ancient walls literally in every direction we looked. The islands that make up Malta lie south of Sicily and north of Africa, meaning it has been a strategic location throughout history. Historic sites abound including over 300 in the city of Valletta alone. We were captivated by the town’s beauty as we wandered through the old city. Our day included a delicious lunch at Galeas Kitchen where among other things we enjoyed phenomenal calamari and a local prickly pear cocktail called Bajtra Spritz. Complementing the amazing architecture and charm of Valletta are the stunning views over the grand harbor from the heights of the city. We loved our visit to Malta and are adding it to the list of places we plan to return to in the future.

Cruising Onward

Our journey continues in the next few days as we head to some of the Greek islands, Turkey, and finally to mainland Greece. The cruise schedule has continued at a hectic pace as we travel from Nice to Malta with new ports nearly every day. As usual, we continue to provide the most timely updates of our journeys at the Dog and Dragon Adventures Instagram and Facebook pages. We’ll try to bring you another report from new locations in the Mediterranean in the days to come.