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.

Discover Florence, Tuscany's capital of culture and home of Michelangelo. Explore Renaissance masterpieces at the Uffizi, visit the terracotta-tiled Duomo, and wander the serene Boboli Gardens. At sunset, cross the Ponte Vecchio and savor a refined Tuscan red while reflecting on the Medici legacy.

Cannes pairs yacht-studded Riviera glamour with palm trees, a swish marina, casinos, boutiques, cinematic heritage, and supermodels. Wander Le Suquet's narrow medieval streets, shop La Croisette, dine in Michelin-starred restaurants, and relax in beach clubs with glittering sea views. For quiet, ferry to Saint-Honorat's leafy island and 500-year-old monastery. Nearby, Monaco and St Tropez beckon. Cannes is seaside glamour at its most French.

Ajaccio, Corsica's capital, is a 16th-century citadel on the island's west coast, its name possibly from Ajax or adjaccium ("place to rest"). Napoleon's birthplace, it's worth exploring the old town for Maison Bonaparte, the Baroque cathedral where he was baptised, lively markets for local wine, olive oil, chestnuts and cheese, and the white sands of the Bay of Ajaccio, with views to the Genoese tower at Parata and the Sanguinaire islands.

Discover Menorca, a small UNESCO-listed island known for its cheese, wine and gin. Its laidback, lemon-scented charm blends Georgian architecture, Spain's oldest opera house, history, art and a monastery museum. By turquoise shores, visit the Royal Naval hospital, shop for famed shoes, hike butterfly-lined coastal paths and enjoy tapas in harbour tavernas. Celebrated yet discreet, it's a stylish place to go and not be seen.

Enjoy the epitome of Spanish charm. Slowly discover Andalusian riches to reveal Picasso's birthplace, the Alhambra in Granada, Mezquita in Cordoba and the Ronda valley. Explore ancient heritage sites, dance the flamenco, dare to hike the Caminito del Rey trail and delve into white villages sprinkled amongst mango groves and avocado orchards. Sip cocktails by day and sangria by night. And as you watch the sun slip down, reflect upon this gateway of delights.

Enjoy the epitome of Spanish charm. Slowly discover Andalusian riches to reveal Picasso's birthplace, the Alhambra in Granada, Mezquita in Cordoba and the Ronda valley. Explore ancient heritage sites, dance the flamenco, dare to hike the Caminito del Rey trail and delve into white villages sprinkled amongst mango groves and avocado orchards. Sip cocktails by day and sangria by night. And as you watch the sun slip down, reflect upon this gateway of delights.

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.

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.

Set between Cinque Terre, Pisa, Florence, and Portovenere, La Spezia is a perfect base to explore Liguria. Enjoy local cuisine in cosy trattorias, discover its naval history, visit UNESCO gems like Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore, see Pisa's Leaning Tower and Piazza dei Miracoli, or take a boat to Portovenere and Doria Castle.

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.

Explore Sicily's rich mix of history, cuisine and nature: historic cities, Roman sites, Greek temples and vineyards; Mount Etna's lava lands; Valle dei Templi, Selinunte and the mosaics of Casale; Etna Rosso tasting; a nature reserve and Sciacca's Baroque old town. Finish with olive-oil-drenched pasta in this honey-hued region.

Discover Valletta, Malta's tiny capital and master of restoration, behind honey-hued fortifications. Step back through hand-carved shelters, subterranean tombs and stone-age temples; uncover war secrets beneath limestone streets; skim Grand Harbour in a dghajsa; and explore museums of art and the "Fat Lady." Beyond history, enjoy lively bars, Michelin-starred Maltese cuisine, and diving on wrecks.

Start early to have Mykonos to yourself. Wander narrow streets of Cycladic whitewashed cubes, boutiques, churches and windmills. Mix with glitterati at beach events, saltwater pools, vineyards and bars. In the afternoon, visit sacred Delos for ruins, temples, squares and shrines. Dine in Chora on local dishes, filo, Greek salad, halloumi and sea urchin with freddo, then watch sunset over the ocean and end the night at legendary bars and clubs.

A tiny island with a big reputation. Visit discreet Patmos, a secluded paradise for discerning travelers: sun-kissed beaches, clear coves, warm hospitality, and classic Greek beauty-mountain views and white houses dotting the hills. Known as the Land of Legends, it's said St John wrote Revelation here. Quiet yet powerful, Patmos was once called "Letois," linked to Artemis, daughter of Leto, and believed to exist through her divine intervention.

Sail into Santorini when others leave. Romantic and exuberant, explore one of the world's most enchanting islands: whitewashed cliffside houses, paved paths, sugar-white and black beaches, terracotta cliffs, blue-domed churches, an active volcano, and the caldera between Oia and Fira. Cruise sapphire seas, taste local wine and fresh seafood, shop boutiques, then end with a moonlit hilltop dinner and the world-famous sunset.

Athens doesn't live in the past. Glamorous and forward-looking, it blends galleries, gelaterias, bijoux boutiques, and museums with the wonders of the Acropolis and Parthenon. Wander lively streets and markets, dance at bouzoukia, sing in tavernas, then head to the harbour for dimly lit bars and cold beer. With salty air and fishing boats setting out at dawn, Athens feels both ancient and progressive.