Rome is more than ancient architecture: it offers hidden gems, fashion, street art, Vespa rides to the Appian Way, and coins tossed into fountains. Visit the Vatican's Sistine Chapel and private quarters by appointment, plus the Colosseum, Caravaggio churches, the Spanish Steps, and the Pantheon. Make pasta, hunt truffles, enjoy gelato and coffee, or unwind in a 3,000-year-old pool. In Rome, old and new blend so you can indulge in it all.

Naples, between Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, is rich in history and Italian culture. See Baroque churches, Renaissance palazzi, and Neoclassical opera houses; ride the funicular to Castel Sant'Elmo for views over the Bay of Naples, Sorrento Peninsula, and Amalfi Coast. Explore the city's underground tunnels, and visit nearby Pompeii, Herculaneum, or Capri.

Sicily blends olive-strewn landscapes, Greek temples, Byzantine mosaics, and ricotta-rich farm-to-table food. Wander Palermo's ficus-lined streets and the Florio family story, sip wine near Mount Etna and Taormina's Teatro Greco, and explore UNESCO sites, Villa Tasca, Monreale and Cefalù's medieval mosaics, plus ruins and secluded temples. From Baroque south-coast towns and chocolate to Michelin dining, Trapani beaches, and fishermen outside hip bars, its contrasts define the island.

Tunis, gateway to North Africa, greets seafarers with whitewashed buildings and a rich old medina of mosaics, carved wooden doors, tiled courtyards, souks, white-domed mosques, and striking madrassas with black-and-white arches. French influence shapes the Ville Nouvelle, with broad eucalyptus-lined boulevards and St. Vincent de Paul Cathedral. Nearby are Carthage's Phoenician ruins and mosaics, plus the pretty oceanfront town of Sidi Bou Said.

Get lost in Algiers' UNESCO-listed Casbah, with maze-like alleys, hidden courtyards, artisan studios, and Ketchaoua Mosque's striking architecture. In Jardin d'Essai du Hamma, shaded gardens and poetic paths lead your gaze to Maqam Echahid, honoring those who died in Algeria's War of Independence. Explore prehistory at the Bardo National Museum, then end with a sunset walk along the Promenade des Sablettes.

Discover Cartagena, a hidden Spanish gem rich in history and culture, with gourmet cuisine to match. Join cookery classes, wine tastings and coffee workshops, or take the thrilling elevator to Castillo de la Concepción. Step back to Roman times at the theatre and sanctuary, see relics and mosaics in museums, explore shipwrecks and Mediterranean history, admire street art, sample the local Asiático, and see Roman ruins, Byzantine walls, Belle Époque architecture, marble streets and war memorials.

Alicante blends blue-domed cathedrals, cobbled lanes and leafy plazas, and opens onto Costa Blanca beaches, mountains and medieval villages. Stroll El Barrio for tapas and turrón, climb to Santa Cruz's whitewashed houses on Mount Benacantil, and visit the 1,000-year-old Castel de la Santa Bàrbara for sweeping Mediterranean views and the palm-fringed Explanada de España.

Once a major Roman capital, Tarragona is now a UNESCO World Heritage city rich in antiquities. Highlights include a waterfront 2nd-century amphitheatre and a well-preserved Roman circus, plus Roman ruins tucked among narrow cobblestone streets and café-lined squares. Just outside the walls, see the two-tier Ferreres Aqueduct, built under Augustus. If visiting in October, catch the city's castells competition, where teams build human towers up to ten tiers high.

Barcelona blends vibrant energy with Catalan tradition: explore the Gothic Quarter and Gaudí's architecture, enjoy tapas and cava in plazas and cafés, relax at the beach, shop along Passeig de Gràcia, and end the night in bohemian bars on La Rambla. A stylish city full of character.

At the crossroads of Europe and Africa, Tangier keeps its bohemian, artistic feel. Watch the scene from Petit Socco, then wander the Kasbah and Grand Socco through color-saturated streets of tiles and painted shutters. Must-visits: Librairie des Colonnes, Café Hafa for sunset mint tea over the Strait of Gibraltar, and El Morocco Club for rooftop drinks or the city's only piano bar.

The Hassan II Mosque rises like a lighthouse over Casablanca's port, with a 690-ft minaret. Africa's largest mosque is one of only two in Morocco open to non-Muslims, showcasing mosaics, marble columns and 50 Murano glass chandeliers. Casablanca blends tradition and modernity: the Habous Quartier's French colonial Art Deco, whitewashed Moorish houses, alleys, souks and olive markets meet cosmopolitan nightlife, restaurants and Parisian-style cafés.

The Hassan II Mosque rises like a lighthouse over Casablanca's port, with a 690-ft minaret. Africa's largest mosque is one of only two in Morocco open to non-Muslims, showcasing mosaics, marble columns and 50 Murano glass chandeliers. Casablanca blends tradition and modernity: the Habous Quartier's French colonial Art Deco, whitewashed Moorish houses, alleys, souks and olive markets meet cosmopolitan nightlife, restaurants and Parisian-style cafés.

Agadir, the "Miami of Morocco," blends sun, sea, and striking architecture. After the 1960 earthquake, Le Corbusier-inspired boulevards shaped the rebuilt city. Stroll the Marina for fresh fish, walk the beachfront promenade, relax in the Valley of the Birds, browse Souk El Had's 6,000 stalls, and climb the Kasbah of Agadir Oufella for history and views.

Artist César Manrique put Arrecife on the map. See his eclectic works in underground caverns, murals, and his former home in Tahíche, or visit contemporary gallery MIAC and Jason deCaires Taylor's underwater sculptures. Explore Timanfaya's spectral volcanic landscape by 4x4, and catch year-round waves at Playa de Famara, where beginners and pros alike can surf.

Set against volcanic hills and Atlantic light, San Sebastián de La Gomera is a place of quiet beauty and historic significance. From this harbour, Christopher Columbus once sailed for the New World, and echoes of that legacy remain in its churches and whitewashed streets. Beyond the town lie lush valleys, dramatic cliffs, and the laurel forests of Garajonay National Park. Here, history and nature meet in a landscape shaped by time, wind, and ocean.

Santa Cruz, on La Isla Bonita's less-traveled northwest Canary outcrop, was once a major Spanish imperial port. Explore its history in museums like the cloistered Insular Museo of Natural History, spot Caribbean echoes in the sugarcane stacks at the covered market, and wander narrow streets of hanging wooden balconies and colorful houses to grand colonial mansions and Plaza Espana, the city's bustling heart.

Funchal's ancient streets tumble down the hills. Ride the cable car to Monte Palace's exotic gardens, where peacocks roam above the Atlantic. Descend in a wicker sleigh guided by Carreriros in white and straw hats, a tradition since the mid-1800s. Sip amber Madeira overlooking Praça do Município, then explore lush cloud forests, hiking trails, and black-sand beaches below jungle-covered cliffs.

Funchal's ancient streets tumble down the hills. Ride the cable car to Monte Palace's exotic gardens, where peacocks roam above the Atlantic. Descend in a wicker sleigh guided by Carreriros in white and straw hats, a tradition since the mid-1800s. Sip amber Madeira overlooking Praça do Município, then explore lush cloud forests, hiking trails, and black-sand beaches below jungle-covered cliffs.

Enjoy Lisbon's rich buzz and strong architectural, cultural, and historical ties. Wander cobbled streets, colourful buildings, the river Sado, and nature. Visit Fatima, hill villages, learn Portuguese cooking, and hear Lisbon blues. Escape to Cascais for quiet beaches. Soak up the light and enjoy petiscos and fado.