Rising up from the river, the city of Newcastle upon Tyne was once a Roman village. Its Latin name was Pons Aelius and over the years became an important commercial centre for wool and coal mining.


The river is the cornerstone of economic life and the shipyards, which have grown on the banks of the river, have seen the birth and the restoration of majestic ships from all over the world. A journey on an MSC Cruise ship will give you the opportunity to discover the Newcastle of today, a city in the Georgian style which is continually evolving and has a fervent cultural scene and sparkling night life.
You can discover some of Newcastle upon Tyne's most famous attractions, starting with the 20 metre high Angel of the North, designed by Antony Gormley, or the underground Victoria Tunnel a wagon-way which was once used to transport coal and later used as an air raid shelter during the Second World War. Pilgrim Street and Grey Street are two of the roads famous for their pubs, cafés and restaurants.
A trip around this area will give you the opportunity to see the city's "movida" up close and to visit the many fashionable shops. The river is the main protagonist of the city as are its imposing bridges which are to be travelled across and admired, like High Bridge, but above all the majestic Tyne Bridge, a real symbol of the city. Not to be missed are the castle ruins and St. Nicholas' Cathedral, built in 1091, destroyed in 1216 and rebuilt in 1359. The Music Centre, can be found in Gateshead which was once a run-down area but has now been redeveloped and has a new sparkling lease of life. You must have a glass of beer, a true English icon, the most famous in the area is Newcastle Brown Ale.
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