New to cruise? Here's why the Mediterranean makes for a perfect first sailing

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I accidentally bumped into another visitor as I walked across the square, distracted by the beauty of Florence’s Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore.

The colossal building – better known as the Duomo – towered above the horde of photographers trying to get the best shot. Intricate details lent themselves to the lens, from marble in shades of white, green and red to murals of religious scenes. It was almost too much to take in.

As our tour guide Natalie explained, art is taken seriously in Florence – so seriously that near the top of the cathedral, set above the 12 apostles, white marble sculptures depict Florentine artist Michelangelo alongside the cathedral’s architects, Arnolfo di Cambio and Filippo Brunelleschi.

I was in the Tuscan capital as part of my first cruise, on Sun Princess, the latest ship from Princess Cruises – and Florence proved to be a spectacular stop-off. The cobbled streets were filled with sculptures that loomed over me as I wandered through the city on a shore excursion.

As I entered the Piazza della Signoria, I was startled to find an imposing golden statue of a young woman staring fixedly at her phone, ignoring all the wonders around her. This modern work by British sculptor Thomas J Price, named Time Unfolding, reflects today’s obsession with phones – so I decided to put mine away for a moment. No picture could do Florence justice anyway.