One of Europe's most visually stunning cities, Barcelona balances the medieval intimacy of its Gothic Quarter with the grace and distinction of the wide boulevards in the Moderniste Eixample. It was the home of architect Antoni Gaudí, whose Sagrada Familia Cathedral, Park Güell and Casa Milà are the most profound statements of Modernisme. View the splendid works at the Picasso Museum and the Miro Foundation, or discover Barcelona's passionate ambiance at a flamenco show.

Málaga, on Spain's Costa del Sol, is the region's capital and a popular holiday base. It is Picasso's birthplace, and his works are displayed in the Museo Picasso in the Palacio de Buenavista. Visitors can also sample sweet Málaga dessert wines from nearby hillside vineyards. The city is a pleasant place to explore and a common starting point for trips to Granada and the Alhambra in the Sierra Nevada foothills.

Casablanca is Morocco's largest city and industrial center. Its renaissance came with the French protectorate under its first resident general, Lyautey. It was largely his ideas on public works and the layout of the new city which gave Casablanca its wide boulevards, public parks and fountains, and imposing Moresque civic buildings.

Agadir, on North Africa's Atlantic coast beneath the Atlas Mountains, was rebuilt after the 1961 earthquake destroyed most historic Portuguese, Arab, and French colonial buildings. Today it's an upscale resort with beaches, golf, tennis, horseback riding, colorful souks, Moroccan and international dining, and trips to Berber villages, the Souss Valley, and the High Atlas.

Discover exotic Arrecife, a relaxed white city set against volcanic landscape on a turquoise bay. Visit Timanfaya National Park, El Charco de San Gines with its colorful fishing boats, the Museum of Modern Art in Castle San Jose, and the Archaeological Museum in Castle San Gabriel. Shop Calle Leon y Castilla for linens, carvings, Guanches pottery, perfume, and liquor, then enjoy tapas and wine by the sea.

Tenerife's privileged setting allows you to enjoy beautiful beaches such as las Teresitas; admire the enchanting Orchid Gardens, founded in 1774 as a historic English garden, or visit the Teide National Park, the symbol of the island.

Discover Santa Cruz de La Palma: colorful buildings, 18th-century mansions, wrought-iron balconies with bougainvillea, dramatic volcanic mountains, green valleys, and a turquoise sea. Explore the star-shaped 17th-century Castillo de Santa Catarina, visit Moorish-influenced Iglesia de El Salvador for its stained glass, stroll O'Daly Street's boutiques and artisan shops, and enjoy fine Canary Island wine in a jewel-like setting.

Madeira is described as the "Island of Eternal Spring." Entirely volcanic in origin, the soil combines with the mild climate to produce an abundance of green as well as multicolored vegetation. The rugged landscape, scenic fishing villages, magnificent vistas and ideal climate bring the island fame as a year-round resort. Before leaving this panoramic Atlantic isle, be sure to sample a glass of the famous Madeira wine.

Lisbon, said to have been founded by Ulysses as Olisipo, is one of Europe's most fascinating cities. A devastating 1755 earthquake destroyed much of it, and the Baixa was rebuilt in neo-classical style, now the city's heart. Overlooking the Tagus, the "City of Explorers" offers districts like Alfama, with Moorish lanes, and Bairro Alto, where you can hear Fado. Nearby are the palaces of Queluz and Sintra.