Valletta, Malta's capital, is a small UNESCO World Heritage gem of the Mediterranean. At the city gates, Renzo Piano's modern Parliament opens into history. Inside are St. John's Co-Cathedral, with the tombstones of 374 Knights of Malta and a richly baroque interior, plus the Grandmaster's Palace, Casa Rocca Piccola, and Upper Barrakka Gardens. Valletta blends beauty, history, and wonder at every turn.

Palermo is a vibrant crossroads where the present mingles with the past. Sicily's capital was ruled by Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans, and French, becoming Italian only in 1860. Its compact streets hold Islamic domes, Christian churches, Baroque palaces, and nine UNESCO sites. Its cuisine fuses the bold flavors of its conquerors into unforgettable dishes.

Legend says Hercules laid the nymph Amalfi to rest in the most beautiful place on earth, and the town took her name. Clinging to the mountainside, Amalfi's charm is unmistakable; locals say paradise is already here. Visit the majestic San Andrea Cathedral over Piazza Duomo, the Gothic-Moorish Cloister of Paradise, and the Paper Museum celebrating Amalfi's famed paper. Let the lemon-scented breeze carry you away.

Docking in Civitavecchia puts you just 90 minutes from Rome, a city of legends where history and myth meet. From the Colosseum and Pantheon to the Trevi Fountain and Villa Borghese, every corner tells a story. From St. Peter's Basilica to the Sistine Chapel, Rome's monuments reflect emperors, philosophers, and artists. A city of cinema and la dolce vita, Rome is an experience. Extend it with a stay at Orient Express La Minerva, an elegant retreat in a historic palace.