Mediterranean Gems - 10 nights, December 2013

A visit to Rome is an unforgettable experience. Explore the legends of the ages: the Vatican and Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel, the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the Catacombs. Stroll down the Via Veneto or sip cappuccino in the Piazza di Spagna. Italy's "Eternal City" is eternally fascinating. Throw a few coins in the Trevi Fountain and you may be back again!

Allow yourself to be awed by one of Tuscany’s Renaissance treasures, Florence. With red tiled roofs, tiny shops and magnificent architecture, this is the romantic capital of Italy. Marvel at the mosaic façade and stained glass of the Duomo, gaze up at the tilting bell tower of Pisa and soak up the sight of the beautiful gold and silver workshops huddled together over the River Arno.

Monte Carlo, two words that are synonymous with luxury and splendour. Lying at the heart of the Riviera, this tiny principality is undoubtedly big on glamour as diamonds, lavish yachts and Ferraris are all part of the lifestyle here. You may be tempted to buy your own after a flutter at Monte Carlo’s most famous landmark – the Grand Casino.

A former spa resort, Aix-en-Provence, provides a soothing atmosphere to stroll around as you are accompanied by the sounds of fountain after gently bubbling fountain. If the cobbled streets, dry stone walls, swaths of lilac lavender and tiny farmhouses of Arles feel familiar, you probably have Van Gogh to thank, he produced an astonishing 200 paintings during his first year here.

Delve into the Picasso Museum or Miró Foundation. Explore the genius of Gaudí too, as you survey the city from Parc Güell, witness the extraordinary Casa Mila and Casa Batlló, and marvel at his unfinished masterpiece, the Sagrada Familia. After all that sight-seeing a shady spot in one of Barcelona’s numerous cafés provides the perfect vantage point for watching the colourful street performers on Las Ramblas.

With a fascinating history dating back 3,000 years the natural harbour of Cartagena is a major naval port due to its unique position on the Mediterranean coast. A stroll amidst Cartagena’s more recent modernista-style architecture- all flamboyant curves, ornate balconies and striking mosaics- may make the ideal prelude to an asiático, the local liqueur coffee.

Grab a cable car to carry you up the ancient Pillar of Hercules for views that will leave you breathless. For the wildlife enthusiast in you there’s a stop to appreciate the diverse birdlife and to meet those famous Barbary Apes, of course! Beneath Gibraltar’s white cliffs grow a profusion of palm, pine, and cypress. No fewer than 600 varieties of flowers grow here, some found nowhere else on Earth.

Portugal’s capital spreads its ancient sites on seven steep hillsides that overlook the Tagus River. Feast your eyes on St. George’s Castle which overlooks the city atop the highest hill, or the countless balconies ablaze with geraniums and wrought iron lamps that light up the medieval Alfama quarter. Wonder up to the Bairro Alto where you may hear the sorrowful fado singers ring out from cafés.

The United Kingdom's premier passenger ship port, Southampton was home to the great transatlantic liners of yesteryear. The port serves as your gateway to Southern England’s magnificent historic sites, national landmarks, charming villages as well as the great metropolis of London. Southampton is the ideal starting or ending point for a memorable voyage.