The port of Civitavecchia is the gateway to The Eternal City, where all roads lead. Mad traffic careens past monuments of the great civilizations of the past. You will want to see it all: the soaring inspiration of St. Peter's, the Vatican and the Sistine Chapel; the flow of life along the Spanish Steps, the Coliseum, the Via Veneto and Trevi Fountain. Be sure to leave time for la dolce vita in one of the piazzas.

One of the most spectacular bays in the world lies in the shadow of Mt. Vesuvius. Visit the San Carlo Opera House and the cathedral of San Janarious, or tour the ancient ruins in the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum.

From Livorno (Leghorn), your path leads through the rolling green hills of Tuscany to Florence, the flower of the Renaissance. The creative explosion happened right here, with masterworks by Michelangelo, Brunelleschi and Botticelli now landmarks of daily life. Ufizzi, Academmia, il Duomo: the art treasures of a golden age are commonplace to blessed Florentines.

Marseille is France's second largest city, but it often goes unnoticed and unvisited by travelers... They are missing out on one of France's most diverse cities, both in terms of people and activities... Today, Marseille faces the same problems as any growing city. Crime is an issue, as is racial tension between the native French population and the arriving North African immigrants. Twenty-five percent of the population in Marseille is of North African descent, and that number is growing. But the city has come to embrace its newfound diversity, and is eager to put its best foot forward to attract a piece of the ever-growing tourism industry.

Barcelona is the cultural heartland of Spain, yet its first language is Catalan, the native tongue of the proudly independent Catalonia region. Stroll down the shady, tree-lined Ramblas between street musicians and elegant bistros. Then perhaps visit the venerable Gothic cathedral, Picasso Museum or enjoy the architectural genius of Antonio Gaudi's Church of the Holy Family.

The major island in the chain known as the Balearics, Mallorca is Spain's sunny outpost in the Mediterranean. The town of Palma boasts a shady plaza near the Gothic Cathedral. Visit the Roman ruins and the Drach Caves nearby, or journey to the enchanting village of Valledemosa. Leave time to shop for lovely majolica faux pearls and hand-made lace.

...full of flea markets that are a shopper's paradise... great beaches, a zigzagging coastline, cliffs, and secluded bays. The nights on Ibiza are temperate in terms of degrees, but sizzling as far as the nightlife is concerned... Ibiza draws crowds of both conservative tourists and outrageously wild partiers.

...The weather almost never becomes too hot or uncomfortable, and the sights and smells of the land are marvelous...It is also Spain's main naval base...The landscaped squares of Cartagena are so magnificent that you can spend hours just sitting and looking...The buildings and religious structures of the city add to its wonderful culture, and a walking tour of Cartagena is great fun.

The Plaza de Merced, cathedrals, and museums of Malaga make it a remarkable site for studying the history and culture of Spain.The coastline that borders the city is magnificent, and it creates a wonderful backdrop to the ancient land.

Founded by Phoenicians in 1100 B.C., Cádiz may be the oldest continuously occupied city in the West. The Cathedral's gold dome dates from 1722, when New World treasures flowed here. But is also the gateway to the Moorish marvels of Seville: the Alcazar and Giralda Tower, the fountains and palaces of Maria Luisa Park, and the great Cathedral, whose altar is decorated with 4,000 pounds of gold from the Americas!

Lisbon is many cities, from the cobbled alleys of the Alfama district to the broad Parisian style avenues at its heart. View it all from the heights of St. George's Castle. Belem's Monument to the Discoveries recalls the seafaring past, while nearby Sintra's storybook palaces, and the seaside resort of Caiscais, have different tales to tell.