Shipping ports, until the dawn of last century, had been used
predominately for trading goods, fishing, migrating, world commerce and
warfare etc. However, people have learned to take the sheer fun out of
this shipping business by spending vacation onboard, cruising to the
most favourite destinations around the world. The maritime history
deciphers the anachronism of the beautiful ancient ports which stand the
test of time and persist as the topographic points of interest. In this
article we present you the world’s top 15 oldest and most beautiful
shipping ports and finest destinations.
1. Dubrovnik, Croatia
Arguably the most prominent tourist destination on the Adriatic Sea
coast, Dubrovnik is one of the World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. Supported
by maritime trade, since the middle ages, it has been the only eastern
Adriatic city-state to rival Venice. The beautiful shipping port is
located about 2.5 km northwest from the Old Town of Dubrovnik, which
along with the port of Gruz is considered to be the busiest cruise ports
in Europe.
Featured attractions are the architectural heritage of the city which
includes renaissance-era monuments like the Sponza Palace, the
gothic-renaissance structure Rectors Palace, The St. Saviour Church,
Franciscan Monastery and the most beloved St. Blaise’s church.
2. Venice, Italy
Unprecedentedly one of the most popular Mediterranean major shipping
ports in maritime history, Venice is the city of gothic style
architecture with Byzantine and Arab influences and artworks. The
cityscape, artistic cultural heritage and luxury establishments furnish
it as one of the most popular tourist destinations.
St Mark’s Basilica, the Grand Canal, Piazza San Marco, Lido di
Venezia, Ca’ Pesaro and the Ca’ Rezzonico are only to name a few of the
places of interests.
3. Lisbon, Portugal
The capital alpha city of Portugal, Lisbon is one of the preeminent
marine ports for its rich culture in arts, education, media,
entertainment, international trade, finance, commerce and tourism.
UNESCO enlists two World Heritage Sites here, one of which is the
turreted Belém Tower built in the 17th-century at the mouth of the Tagus
River and the another one is Jerónimos Monastery, built in the 1500s.
4. Istanbul, Turkey
Historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople, Istanbul is the
largest city and the cultural, economic, and financial centre in
Turkey. Considered as one of the major shipping ports since the Sea of
Marmara, the Golden Horn, the Black sea and the Bosphorus surround the
city on all sides. One of the oldest ports in maritime history Istanbul
hosts a unique cultural and architectural heritage portrayed by the
6th-century Hagia Sophia and the 17th-century Blue Mosque, for example.
A short trip from the port to the old city would allow tourists to
pay a visit to the museums, palaces, churches, mosques, and bazaars
where grand quality carpets, leather goods, jewellery, and antique
reproductions are easily available at cheap expenses.
5. Beijing (Tianjin), China
Another historic cruise ship port is in Beijing, the economic,
political, educational, and cultural hub of China, located in the
northern part of the country not far from the sea. It is about half an
hour train ride from the actual port at Tianjin.
Renowned for its opulent palaces, temples, huge stone walls and
gates, Beijing is ostentatious for showcasing the Forbidden City which
hosts the enormous palace museums, imperial gardens, parks and scenic
areas etc. UNESCO has the Temple of Heaven (Tiantan) enlisted in its
World Heritage Site.
6. Athens (Piraeus), Greece
A half-hour drive from the port of Piraeus would take you to one of
oldest and most beautiful cruise ship port in the maritime history,
Athens which is about seven miles away from the sea. The 3,400 years old
city is the heart of cultural, political, economic, financial and
industrial life in Greece. Ancient monuments sometimes with Roman and
Byzantine influences and artwork and architectures like the colonnaded
Temple of Athena, fluted columns of the Parthenon and the Nike and
Hadrian’s Arch etc epitomizes the cultural heritage.
The Acropolis of Athens and the medieval Daphni Monastery are the two World Heritage Sites enlisted by UNESCO.
7. Stockholm, Sweden
Another old, beautiful and popular major shipping port is the
Stockholm which is the centre of media, culture, politics and economy in
Sweden. The Stockholm marine port has nine berths and a mooring buoy
which can accommodate up to ten cruise ships all at a time.
Ancient churches, historic merchant houses, open-air Vasa man-of-war museum among others are the places of interest.
8. Kusadasi, Turkey
Located on Turkey’s Aegean coast, Kusadasi caters to the tourists and
the cruise ship passengers heading to Ephesus. Luxury cruise liners
such as the Grand Princess, among other cruise ships, dock here.
The most interesting places to attract visitors are the Kaleiçi Camii
mosque, the Öküz Mehmet Pasha caravanserai, Guvercin Ada peninsula,
Kirazli Village, Yılancı Burnu peninsula, a Venetian – Byzantine castle
Kadıkalesi, Dilek Peninsula National Park and aqua parks with wave
pools, white water slides etc.
9. Quebec City, Canada
Settled within the Capitale-Nationale region and perched on a cliff
overlooking the St. Lawrence River, Québec City is one of the oldest
marine ports in North America. In fact in 2010, the cruise terminal in
Pointe-à-Carcy was awarded the “Best Destination Experience
Independent”.
UNESCO declared the fortification walls in Vieux-Québec (Old Quebec) a World Heritage site in 1985.
10. St. Petersburg, Russia
Situated at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Neva River on the
Baltic Sea, St. Petersburg is the most Western city of Russia and hosts a
UNESCO World Heritage Site with the historic centre and related groups
of monuments. The passenger port at Morskoy Vokzal, a 20-minute drive
from the downtown area of the city, is one of the preeminent cruise ship
ports in the maritime history that has been serving International
cruise liners for years.
The imperial Russia’s palaces, the Hermitage Museum, cathedrals,
libraries, theatres, galleries and exhibition halls, and other cultural
establishments attracts huge number of tourists all around the year.
11. Alexandria, Egypt
Extending along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, Alexandria is
Egypt’s largest ship port serving international trading and commerce
since the dawn of maritime history.
Besides the pyramids at Giza and the sphinx, this marine port is a
popular destination for tourists visiting the ancient monuments, such as
the Pompey’s Pillar – a Roman triumphal column, Kom al-Shoqafa
catacombs, Kom al-Dikka theatres, el-Alamein war site and military
museums.
12. Haifa, Israel
Constructed on the slopes of Mount Carmel, Haifa is the largest ship
port in northern Israel’s Mediterranean coastline. The biggest
attraction for the tourists is the Bahá’í World Centre featuring a
golden-domed Shrine of the Báb. The surrounding Bahai gardens were
included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site list in 2008.
The Mount Carmel national park, the Israel National Museum of
Science, Technology, and Space, The Haifa Museum of Art constitute the
historical and archaeological sites of importance.
13. Bizerta, Tunisia
The oldest and most European city in Tunisia, Bitzerta dates back to
the Phoenicians and has one of the most beautiful marine ports in the
Mediterranean.
The ruins of Carthage set against an azure sea, the Dougga and the
Bardo Museum, hill-topped villages like Sidi Bou Said, are the most
picturesque destinations and sites of antiquity.
14. Miami, Florida
This is not literally one of the oldest shipping ports but is one of
the largest and most beautiful cruise ports which has been serving and
accommodating the top of the leagues cruise ships, sailed between the
Bahamas and the Caribbean.
It is the major plaza for media, entertainment, arts, finance,
commerce and international trades. The Port of Miami is also known as
the “Cruise Capital of the World” for more than two decades.
15. Nassau, Bahamas
The capital and commercial centre of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas,
Nassau is largest city hosting one of the most significant historic
shipping ports in terms of association with popular culture. Its
proximity to the USA East coast mainland is one responsible factor for
its popularity as a cruise destination.
Moreover, films like Pirates of the Caribbean, James Bond films
Thunderball, Never Say Never Again and Casino Royale have imposed an
impression of swashbuckling adventure with modern-day Pirate-themed
attractions.
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