10 Nights Europe, Mediterranean

The "Eternal City", with its 2,700 years of ancient history, is simply incomparable. Its formidable legacy is rooted in a plethora of masterpieces, including The Sistine Chapel, the Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain, The Roman Forum, the Pantheon, the Spanish Steps, St. Peter's Basilica and Piazza Novana.

One of the world's greatest cultural centres is stretched around the Bay of Naples and lies at the foot of Mount Vesuvius in one of the most outstanding scenic settings in the Mediterranean. It hosts extraordinary works of art and architecture in classical Greek and Roman styles.

This Sicilian port city is noted for the Duomo, an elegant reconstruction of the medieval cathedral built by Roger II, and the detached campanile, which contains the largest astronomical clock in the world. Ruins salvaged from past natural disasters are housed in the Museo Regionale.

In 1530 Malta was given to the Knights Hospitallers, who built a Christian stronghold and the capital, Valletta, behind whose fortifications youll find Renaissance splendors that seem to be untouched by time.

Trapani is a city in western Sicily with a crescent-shaped coastline. At the western tip, offering views as far as the Aegadian Islands, is the 17th-century Torre di Ligny watchtower. It houses the Museo di Preistoria e del Mare, with archeological artifacts. North of the harbor, the Chiesa del Purgatorio church holds wooden sculptures that are paraded around the city during Easter's Processione dei Misteri.

La Goulette, known in Arabic as Halq al-Wadi, is the port of Tunis, the capital of Tunisia.

Cagliari, the capital of the Italian island of Sardinia, is situated high upon hills that offer a panoramic view of the Golfo degli Angeli ? the Gulf of Angels. Walk along Poetto beach, with its soft sand and clear water, or visit the urban park of Molentargius with its flamingos, wetlands and magnificent birds. Cruise to Sardinia, Italy to peruse the local architectural sites: See Bastione di Saint Remy with its breathtaking terrace and Torre dellElefante, a medieval tower with a 360-degree view of the city. And dont forget to take a meditative stroll through the lavish interior of the 13th-century Cagliari Cathedral.

This ancient Spanish port is a peaceful, strikingly lovely city off-the-beaten-track. Fortified walls built during the reign of Philip II surround the old quarter of the city, and sheltered cliffs overlook the shimmering Mediterranean Sea.

One of Spain's liveliest cities is known for its oranges, paella (a rice dish with chicken or seafood), and the fallas festival in March. More than just sun and sea, it features great museums and remains of Phoenicians, Greeks, Iberians and Romans.

The capital of Catalonia boasts the bustle of the world's busiest seaport, the medieval romance of its Gothic Quarter, and a feast of Catalan Art Nouveau buildings - including the great creations of Antonio Gaudí. The "Great Enchantress" remains one of the most exhilarating cities in Europe, decorated with the grandeur of Picasso, Miró and Dalí.