10 Nights Europe, Mediterranean

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.

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.

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.

This beautiful coastal town is idyllically situated on a harbour, and is thus one of the world's favoured yachting locales. A little parish church of San Giorgio, built on the site of a sanctuary that Roman soldiers dedicated to the Persian god Mithras, offers an unparalleled panoramic view of the port and the bay.

The northern Italian port city of La Spezia, on the border of Liguria and Tuscany, offers an ideal gateway to two of the countrys most famous cities: Pisa and Florence. Just one hour by car or train will bring you to Pisa, where you can check out the white-stone arches of the citys famous leaning tower and its sister-structure, the Pisa Cathedral

This delightful fishing village port is a gateway to Nice, Cannes, the Grand Corniche, Èze and Monte Carlo, Monaco?the best of the wealthy playground known as the French Riviera. It is set like a jewel amidst the sheltering promontory of Cap Ferrat.

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.