Rome offers endless choices: enjoy street performers at the Spanish Steps, wine and people-watching in colorful Trastevere, or the city's rich history and architecture. St. Peter's Basilica is a full-day visit, with the Sistine Chapel and panoramic views from the dome. Don't miss the Trevi Fountain, the Colosseum, and Aventine Hill, which overlooks the Imperial Palaces ruins and the Circus Maximus.

Perched on a coastal promontory in southern Tuscany, Piombino blends ancient history with seaside charm. Just beyond the town, the Archeological Park of Baratti and Populina reveals the ruins of a once-thriving Etruscan city. In town, a stroll through the medieval gateway leads to Piazza Bovio, offering sweeping views of the Tuscan Archipelago. Piombino is also the gateway to Elba, where visitors can sunbathe on pristine beaches or explore Napoleon's island retreat.

Livorno in Tuscany is a gateway to Florence and Pisa. From the 13th to 16th centuries, Renaissance freedom inspired Dante, Donatello, Michelangelo, Giotto, Botticelli, da Vinci, and Machiavelli. In Florence, see the Galleria dell'Accademia and Michelangelo's David, plus the Uffizi, Italy's famed art gallery. Visit Pisa's Campo dei Miracoli, Siena's medieval charm, and Lucca, where you can bike through the Tuscan countryside.

Picturesquely set in a narrow cove, this tiny port is famed for its beautiful setting, mild climate, and lush vegetation. Crowded around a small harbor, it is among the most beautiful Mediterranean ports and a longtime haunt of the wealthy, artists, and actors. Don't miss Chiesa di San Giorgio and Castello Brown with its garden and harbor views.

Tiny but packed with fun, Monte Carlo blends history, beauty, entertainment, and leisure. Monaco's wealthiest district, it's known as the international capital of luxury, with celebrity sightings, casinos, and nightlife. Yet its old-world charm remains in art and architecture: palaces, cathedrals, and museums in a historic old town. Don't miss the daily changing of the guard and the public areas of the Palais du Prince, home to the royal family and once to Grace Kelly.

Explore bustling Toulon with naval ships, yachts, and colorful fishing boats. Ride the cable car to Mount Faron for sweeping views of Toulon and its turquoise harbor. Learn its maritime history at the Musée de la Marine and the Allied landing at the Musée Mémorial du Débarquement. Wander Old Town's markets, fountains, cathedral, cafés, and boutiques. Shop for designer fashions, jewelry, perfumes, and Provençal gifts like herbs de Provence, lavender, olive oil, and ceramics.

Spend a glorious day in the Provençal countryside; see magnificent Carcassonne with its towers, turrets, half-timbered houses and superb nave of the 11th century Basilica de Saint-Nazaire, beautiful hilltop Les Baux or Arles, where Van Gogh found so much inspiration. Or explore fortified Aigues Mortes in the heart of the Petite Camargue surrounded by ponds, marshes and saltpans.

Experience Costa Brava and understand why Salvador Dalí and others have long been inspired by its beaches and coves. Spend a day in the warm sand of La Fosca or learning about the history of this fishing village in Museu de la Pesca or simply taking in the Mediterranean air while walking down the promenade. Just an hour north of the city, you can visit the extraordinary Dalí Theatre-Museum in Figueres. The museum holds works done from his adolescence to the last years of his life.

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.