The Iron Gates: They sound so formidable, but these days you can lighten up. Passing through them can become a party. The name of the treacherous gorge on the lower Danube stems from the daunting challenge they posed to would-be invaders in eastern Europe. The swift current and sheer cliffs of the narrow passage at the border between Serbia and Romania are tough enough to navigate. Add angry, armed defenders on the cliffs and it¹s a shutout.

Reaching the Gates marks the beginning of the second half of our lower Danube journey from Budapest to the Black Sea and it¹s a momentous day on our cruise on AmaWaterways¹ new AmaSonata.
Drawing Back the Iron Curtain
Everyone heads outside as the ship passes Golubac Fortress, the entrance to the Iron Gates gorge. Perched on a cliff, its fortifications look a lot like the Great Wall of China. On another nearby cliff is an Orthodox monastery complete with onion domes­ and hopefully an elevator to reach it.