Rome is one of the world's most thrilling cities, with unmatched history around every corner. Its streets mix ancient ruins with lively cafés, piazzas, and restaurants serving pasta and pizza. Highlights include the Roman Forum, Colosseum, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Vatican City, and the Spanish Steps. Best explored on foot, gelato or espresso in hand, Rome offers a powerful blend of grandeur, beauty, and everyday life.

Salerno, at the north end of the Gulf of Salerno, has an old town above ancient Salernum and Europe's oldest medical school (11th c.-1812). Main sights: the Romanesque cathedral (1085; remodeled) with Paestum columns, sarcophagi, 1099 bronze doors, and the tombs of Gregory VII and St. Matthew; plus a hilltop Lombard castle with wide views. The seafront has a modern promenade, and Corso Giuseppe Garibaldi is the main street. It's a base for Paestum, Pompeii, Amalfi, and Ravello.

Giardini Naxos, on a sweeping Sicilian bay, is a scenic base for sun, sea, and history. It was Sicily's first Greek settlement, with nearby Taormina's hillside town, Roman and Greek ruins, and the famous Greek theatre overlooking the sea and Mount Etna. Etna, one of Europe's most active volcanoes, rises over vineyards, lava fields, cacti, and citrus groves. Enjoy the beach, the views, and a glass of local wine.

Valletta, on Malta's Sciberras Peninsula, is a compact Baroque capital ringed by massive defensive walls. Built by the Knights of St John, it holds grand palaces, churches, and the flower-filled Upper Barrakka Gardens, where noon cannon fire echoes across the harbor. St John's Cathedral hides a lavish gold interior and a Caravaggio. Nearby are Mdina's car-free medieval streets, the Hypogeum and Tarxien, and Fort St Elmo. Malta gained independence in 1964 but still shows strong British ties.

Discover the most extraordinary island in the Aegean, Santorini! Set sail on our Cruise ship to discover the dazzling white towns of this distiguishly gorgeous city.

On Crete's east coast, Aghios Nikolaos blends legend and luxury. Pastel houses ring the pretty harbour and Lake Voulismeni, a legendary "bottomless" lake said to have been a bathing spot for Athena and Artemis. Enjoy waterfront cafes, views over the town and sea, and nearby beaches like Voulisma's clear water and sandy shore, or Almyros' cool freshwater meeting turquoise sea. Also visit the 13th-century Panagias Keras Church and local farms for fresh olive oil.

Rhodes blends sun-soaked beaches, rich history, and vibrant culture at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Part of the Dodecanese in the Aegean, it offers dazzling coastline, pine-covered hills, and the UNESCO-listed Old Town, where medieval walls, Ottoman minarets, and cobbled streets echo its layered past. Visit Lindos' ancient Acropolis, the Palace of the Grand Masters, and enjoy Greek cuisine, lively courtyards, and turquoise coves perfect for both relaxation and water sports.

Mykonos is a dazzling Greek island known for lively nightlife, superb food and wine, turquoise seas, whitewashed buildings, and iconic windmills. Explore Mykonos Town's narrow streets, artisan studios, bars, beaches, coves, and Little Venice sunsets. Rich in culture, legend, and enduring glamour, it remains a sought-after escape.

Athens is a majestic, ancient city where elegance meets grit: highways wrap around ruins, museums and galleries stand beside street art, and its legacy spans philosophy, drama and democracy. See the Acropolis and Parthenon, the Acropolis Museum, Mount Lycabettus views, and the Old Olympic Stadium. Beyond the center, beaches and temples line the coast. Slow down for Greek coffee and souvlaki.