Costa Cruises and the Ligurian Regional Administration have announced a brand new initiative designed to promote tourism in Savona, Italy. Beginning in late June, cruise guests arriving on Costa's ships will be able to go on a walking tour specially designed as a journey of discovery of the town and its typical products.
"This initiative stems from our partnership with the Ligurian Regional Administration and is intended to be another major contribution towards further development of the town's vocation for tourism," said Neil Palomba, president of Costa Cruises. "Some one million of our cruisers come here every year, from countries around Europe and internationally and now they will have the chance to discover the best of Savona, with its treasures that are little known even in the rest of Liguria and which we want to help convey to the world. We were the first to believe in Savona as a cruise destination back in 1996; over the years it has become our main port of call in the Mediterranean and its reputation as tourist resort is growing all the time."
"The Regional Administration continues to be actively engaged in the promotion of Savona and environs," said Giovanni Toti, governor of Liguria. "We believe that this area can and must become a center of Mediterranean tourism. With a partner like Costa Cruises, I am sure that we will achieve great things and finally foster that part of our heritage that is hidden or, even worse, forgotten. This administration is convinced that tourism is an industry with great investment potential. We are laying the groundwork for development of the system as a whole and we are doing so intelligently, the aim being to capitalize on our rich history and splendid array of attractions."
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"I was very impressed by Costa Cruises' willingness to meet the needs of local stakeholders," said Ilaria Cavo, the Ligurian Regional Administration's Councilor for Culture and Communication. "The fact that cultural attractions like these, which are maintained only thanks to the efforts of volunteers, will now be visited by thousands of tourists on walking tours is a wonderful opportunity for their promotion. It will also be a booster for the local economy and is reward for the efforts made in this area to date. I will be announcing the news to Savona personally. Culture will be one of the main means of re-energizing the tourism industry in Liguria."
The new Savona walking tours begin from Palacrociere cruise terminal and include visits of the Baroque Cappella Sistina, the Priamar Fortress and the landmark Torre del Brandale. Like on any other Costa shore tour, cruisers will be accompanied by professional guides who speak the languages of everybody on the excursion and who will explain the history of these monuments and their wonderful art, architecture and culture.
The tours will also feature stops in some of the old-world shops in Savona's picturesque old center with tasting of typical local products, such as focaccia, farinata (a kind of chickpea pancake), chinotto and amaretti, plus a visit of ceramic workshops. Guests will then have time at leisure before returning on foot to the Palacrociere. The walking tour lasts around 3.5 hours.
Between the end of June 2016 and the end of 2017, Costa's ships will be porting in Savona about 300 times and the walking tour of discovery of the town will be available for guests on every one. In particular, the flagship Costa Diadema will be at the Palacrociere every Saturday on seven-day Western Mediterranean cruises.
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