Local Knowledge

  • The Italian rock island of Capri has enchanted many, including Caesar Augustus, who first came to the island in AD 29, and centuries of artists. Today, visitors climb aboard small rowing boats and must lie on their backs to enter and see the intensely blue waters of Capri’s famous sea cave, the Grotta Azzurra.
  • Legend has it that the famous mathematician Archimedes used a system of mirrors and lenses to concentrate the sun’s rays onto the sails of attacking ships to defeat the Roman fleet during the siege of Syracuse. Today, the Piazza Archimede is the heart and soul of the coastal Sicilian city where he lived.
  • Once a political rival to Venice, the Croatian port city of Dubrovnik still has a medieval charm. The message engraved on the doors of the Lovrijenac fortress translates to “Freedom is not to be sold for all the riches in the world,” capturing the spirit of the city.
  • While it is well known for its casinos and 1Grand Prix racing, the Principality of Monaco also has a longstanding devotion to environmental protection that carries over to its sustainable tourism practices such as bikeways. More than 50 “electrically assisted” bicycles are available free of charge.
  • The stone castle that overlooks the romantic town of Antibes along the French Riviera is now the Picasso Museum. Antibes’ protective walls and panoramic views typically attract some of the world’s most impressive yachts.