One of the most celebrated former inhabitants of Savona was the navigator Christopher Columbus, who farmed land in the area while chronicling his journeys. 'Columbus's house', a cottage situated in the Savona hills, lay between vegetable crops and fruit trees. It is just one of many residences in Liguria associated with Columbus.
Several cities as well as Savona claim his birth and residency, such as Genoa and Terrarossa di Moconesi. Savona is the most important city on the west coast of Italy, within reach of the seaside resorts of Alassio, Loano and Varazze.
Savona is a city rich in history and enterprise, largely centering on its port. The most important monument in the city in this regard is the Priamar, a castle stronghold near the port and recently restored. This is the site of the city's first developed community, in 205BC, described by Roman historian Titus Livius as 'Savo Oppidum Alpinum' and evidently an ally of Carthage against Rome. The city fell under Roman rule in 200BC and, following the establishment of Vada Sabatia, presently called Vado, its importance rapidly declined. After the fall of the Roman Empire and the invasions of the Barbarians, Savona became an important Byzantine settlement. In 643AD, Savona was destroyed by the Rotarians and the Longobards, while during the 9th and 10th centuries it was the capital of Marca Aleramica. Eventually it became an independent municipality, developing considerable trade with France, Spain and North Africa. After a long period resisting Genoa, it finally relinquished power in 1528 and following the Napoleonic era was annexed by Savoy. Formerly a province of the kingdom of Sardinia, the province of Savona was recognised in 1927.
There are two versions surrounding the origin of the name of Savona's symbolic monument, the Priamar. According to the first, Priamar derives from 'Pietra Sul Mare' (rock on the sea), as the fortress is constructed on a promontory rock facing the Ligurian sea. According to the second version the name derives from 'Petra Mala', a reference to the rock underneath the castle being crumbly. Inside the fortress walls stood a school, two of whose pupils became the popes Julius II and Sixtus IV. It also hosted a ceremony to mark the independence of the municipality, in 1191, after the victory of Ghibelline. In the 19th Century the fortress was used as a prison, where in 1830-1831 Giuseppe Mazzini was jailed. During World War II, the fortress was used as an air-raid shelter and to control Savona's port.

Neapolis: the new city. The origins of the city are very ancient. It is an extraordinary historical and cultural centre, with cuisine and musical traditions successfully exported all over the world. The legend tells that the mermaid Parthenope was lying on the shores of Naples, giving her beauty and fortune to the land. Actually, historical evidence shows that the city was founded in approximately 600 BC by Greek colonisers.
Naples preserved Greek habits until the Romans came, three hundred years later, enriching it with a series of villas and settlements still witnessed by many remains and evidence. The Romans were but the first to conquer Naples. In fact it was dominated in succession by the Barbarians, Byzantinians, Normans, Angevins, Aragons, Austrians, Spanish and Bourbons. Naples obtained its freedom when it was annexed to Italy, immediately after Garibaldi passage in 1860.
Dominated by Mount Vesuvius, whose plume of smoke can be seen from any corner in the city, Naples is undoubtedly charming both for its geographical position and for its historical and architectural masterpieces. The Angevin Stronghold, with the Triumph Arc and the Palatine Chapel and the Royal Palace, the San Carlo Theatre and Piazza Plebiscito, recently restored by the municipality, are the most famous tourist attractions.
Naturally, Pompeii is worth mentioning. Its museum is the most visited in Italy. A sudden eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD destroyed the town, which was covered by a thick layer of ash. The excavations, opened in 1754, revealed thousands objects presently preserved in Naples Archaeological Museum and in Pompeii Museum. Capri, Ischia and Procida, the islands in the Gulf of Naples are similarly very attractive and popular thanks to the cinema, literature and international music successes, besides the famous Posillipo promenade. In particular, Capri is undoubtedly the most visited not just by Italian tourists but by foreign tourists as well for whom a picture with the Faraglioni as a background is an absolute must.
If you stop in Naples you simply have to taste the local cuisine. Pizza of course served according to the tradition on marble tables and pasta of any size and quality and cakes, such as the pastiera, the babà, struffoli (just for Christmas) and the typical Naples torrone.

The Mediterranean island of Malta, situated between the North African coast and Sicily, is a land of history and mystique. The ancient Greeks claimed the island had divine origins and was the province of the Calypso nymph who lived on nearby Gozo. In Homer's Odyssey, Ulysses landed on the island during his epic journey to Ithaca. In the Middle Ages, the Crusaders partially fortified the island during their expeditions to the Holy Land, giving rise to the powerful Maltese Knights of St John. Following the Crusades, Malta enjoyed a period of commercial prosperity generated by the maritime transport of profitable cargoes such as grain, oil, wine and spices. In the 16th Century, Malta's peaceful existence was violently interrupted when the Turks invaded and laid siege to the island, eventually fought off by the heroic knights. The battle prompted the Maltese substantially to improve the island's fortifications and it was now that the fortress of Valletta was built, named after the knight who led the battle. There are also several architectural remains from the period of the Maltese Knights. During the Napoleonic era the island suffered invasion again, this time at the hands of the French, and it was only with the help of the British that they were repelled. This led to an extended period of British colonial domination that lasted until 1964 when the island gained autonomy. Under the British the island became a major naval base and during World War II was subjected to months of blockade and bombing. Today, Malta is a centre of fishing, craftsmanship and tourism, and the busy, walled city of Valletta is its administrative, commercial and political capital.

Corfu is the northernmost of the Ionian Islands, located in the heart of the Mediterranean. The Greek place name Kerkira was renamed Corfu by the Venetians, who paraphrased the word "Korifi" which was used to indicate the towers of St. Mark's fortress.
Corfu is covered in lush vegetation, thriving in a climate that is tempered by the wind without being too dry. Its coastline is very long, seemingly never-ending: over 200 kilometres. The terrain is quite varied, at times sandy and at others rocky and broken up by Mediterranean bush, olive, cypress and citrus trees.
Corfu has suffered a long and bloody history. Corfu embarked on a long period of being colonised by others from 700 B.C. onwards, first by the Corinthians, then the Illyrians and the Athenians. Corfu suffered attacks from pirates while under Byzantine rule forcing the relocation of the city northward. This did little to halt the invasions of the Vandals and Visigoths, who repeatedly massacred the populations and razed their villages to the ground. The Venetians gave Corfu back its status as an important centre of trade and with it a very wealthy market. Venetian rule lasted for more than 400 years, during which time the island was governed by a system of aristocratic rule. The Venetians began the cultivation of olives and to this day, Corfu is one of the main olive oil producing centres in the region. Once the Venetian reign had come to an end, it was the Turks' turn, then the French and the English, and on 21st May 1864 it was annexed to the Kingdom of Greece.
During the Second World War, Corfu was again bombarded and suffered heavy damage. Most of its buildings were destroyed, such as the public theatre and the Ionian Academy. Just a few outstanding buildings remain, scattered along the coastline and in the main town and jealously guarded by the local population.
Kerkira is the capital, and accommodates around 60,000 of the 110,000 people who live on the island. The city has a splendid city centre with numerous Venetian fortresses and the English Royal Palace. The rest of the island is made up of small settlements, roads that stretch out high above the sea and splendid views of small bays and magnificent cliffs.

A charming port by the Dalmatian coast, set in front of a picturesque hillside, Dubrovnik is one of the most attractive destinations on the Adriatic Riviera. It has been extensively restored since suffering during the Balkan hostilities of the 1990s and, some would say, is more beautiful now than ever. The city's style and architecture is strongly rooted in its historical Venetian and, to a lesser extent, Turkish influence. This part of the Dalmatian coast played a vital role in the success of the Venetian Republic.
The most attractive section of Dubrovnik is the old city, Stari Grad, lined with cobbled streets, fountains, museums and churches. Its Venetian heritage is apparent in the family names of many of the residents. The main division between the two sections of the old city is called 'stradun', a word of Venetian origin.
The largely intact city wall, some of which was built 700 years ago, is one of the finest examples of its kind in the world. The importance of religion in the city's past and present culture is reflected in a number of impressive Franciscan and Dominican convents and churches.

Venice is considered the city of art, romance and prestige. The extraordinary architecture was built on an archipelago of small islands separated by a network of canals crossed by approximately 400 bridges, once wooden and then replaced by stone.
The Grand Canal is the main city artery. It is crossed by three bridges and has the shape of an upside down "S" dividing the city in two parts and in their turn divided into six "sestieri" (districts): Cannaregio, San Marco and Castello on the left side; Santa Croce, San Polo and Dorsoduro on the right side of the canal. Water transport undoubtedly prevails over land travel, with gondolas, ships, ferries, and yachts serving as taxis to transport people and goods. There are few main roads and several small "calli" (narrow streets) developed along canals, "campi" (squares adjacent to churches), bell towers and "fondamenta" (streets along the canals) where motor vehicles are not allowed. Refugees from Spina Adria and Aquileia after the invasion of the Huns in the 5th century AD founded Venice.
The Doge under the protection of the Byzantine Empire governed it by "maritime tribunes" and later. In the 9th century the city became a very important commercial port, connecting the eastern and western markets through the Adriatic Sea. Its commercial power soon resulted in military power. Within a few years, Venice dominated all the east Adriatic coast, reaching the East, colonising the territories and conquering important markets, competing with Genoa and with the other Maritime Republics to assert its power.
The Turks chased the Venetians from many eastern colonies. The repercussions of the French Revolution affected this perfect aristocratic government where commerce and military power supported each other. In 1797 Venice was weak and after the Campoformio treaty, it was subject to Austria and subsequently annexed by Italy. The Grand Canal, offers a quick view of the most beautiful palaces in Venice: the Academia, the Cà d'Oro, the Casino, the palace of the Biennial, the University, the Chiesa della Salute and the popular Rialto bridge, up to Piazza San Marco where the canal opens into a wide area.
The square is the heart of Venice and its symbol. It is an architectural jewel and one of the most beautiful squares in Italy; a miracle built in trachyte and Istrian stone. In the past, religious and civil ceremonies took place in this square and also the famous Carnival. At its end there is the Basilica and the Clock Tower. The coffee bars and restaurants surrounding it are pleasant meeting places. Glass blowing is particularly interesting and takes place in the Island of Murano with several workshops expert in blown glass and artistic crystal manufacture. The manufacture of the so-called "murrine" is particularly difficult and beautiful.
These are art decorations where coloured glass is blown and cut inside glass globes with expertise and extraordinary precision. The manufacture of lace is also extraordinary. Several workshops continue to manufacture Venetian mirrors, made with ancient techniques, with silver plates on glass, enriched by glass frames with elegant shapes.

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