PORT SAID, EGYPT
Did you know that the Statue of Liberty was originally meant to stand in Port Said? Even without that iconic silhouette, there’s plenty to behold here, like the procession of ships waiting to enter the Suez Canal, eye-catching 19th century colonial architecture and the National Museum, whose illuminating exhibits include prehistoric artefacts, pharaonic mummies and Islamic manuscripts.
PROVENCE (FROMMARSEILLES), FRANCE
Itself worthy of vibrant exploration, Marseille may also serve as your gateway into dreamy landscapes of dry stone walls, tiny farmhouses and swathes of lilac lavender. At its heart, the former spa resort of Aix-en-Provence still bubbles with fountains, while in the remarkable Atelier Cezanne, art aficionados can encounter the everyday objects which famously filled his canvases.
RHODES, GREECE
Where – or indeed whether – the gigantic bronze Colossus of Rhodes ever stood is something to contemplate here; though you may prefer to survey the Crusader legacy in medieval Rhodes Old Town along the Avenue of the Knights and in the superb Palace of the Grand Masters. Or simply venture inland to chance upon whitewashed villages nestled in the foothills.
ROME (FROMCIVITAVECCHIA), ITALY
Watch the Roman world go by as you sip espresso in Piazza Navona or look up to the Spanish Steps, where beautiful 18th century folk would once gather in the hope of finding immortality as artist models. See shafts of sunlight pierce the opening in the roof of the Pantheon, admire Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel ceiling, then cast a coin into the Trevi Fountain to ensure your return.
SAMOS, GREECE
This heavenly isle, 3km from Turkey, is the fabled birthplace of Zeus’s sister, Hera. Her sanctuary counted among the seven ancient wonders – four times the Parthenon’s size – and its remains still command considerable awe. Pythagoras was born here too; even he would struggle to put a number on the array of orchids and wild birds, including spring-time flamingoes, that daub Samos’s countryside.
SANTAMARGHERITA, ITALY
From this charming palm-fringed resort, ascend to the scenic 17th-century Villa Durazzo, whose ornate interiors boast frescoes, stuccoes, chandeliers and period furniture, while the surrounding parkland affords sublime views over town and sea. Alternatively, follow the wonderfully named Dolphin Coast as far as the atmospheric Cervara Abbey.
SANTORINI, GREECE
You can scarcely make a more magical entrance anywhere. Gliding into the vast water-filled crater, Santorini arcs like a crescent moon around you, as whitewashed villages cling photogenically to its vertical cliffs. The scene is often more dramatic at dusk when, perhaps forever recalling the island’s volcanic past, the sun glows fiery orange and ardent red.
SPLIT, CROATIA
While Croatia’s second city brims with art galleries and museums, there really is only one main attraction in the culture stakes here: the Palace of Diocletian. This vast third century complex, built as the emperor’s Dalmatian Coast retreat in later life, houses an arched entrance court, temples, mausoleums and statues – even Egyptian Sphinxes – that captivate visitors to this day.
TUNIS/CARTHAGE (FROM LAGOULETTE), TUNISIA
Barter for bargains around the souks of the old medina in Tunis, as pottery, Berber jewellery, leather goods and carpets vie for your attention. Or glimpse into the traditional workshops, where craftsmen practice skills handed down through the generations, such as metal beating or ornate stitchwork. Above this timeless bustle, the Mosque of the Olive Tree’s grand minaret rises ornately skyward.
VALENCIA, SPAIN
Visit the cathedral here, a glorious mish-mash of styles resembling an ancient amphitheatre. Should you brave the 200 steps to the summit of its octagonal tower, you’ll be rewarded with a scene of orange rooftops and blue-domed churches. And don’t miss the astounding City of Arts and Culture, whose curved gleaming metal structures reflect in the still pools all around.
VALLETTA, MALTA
The imposing sand-hued fortifications loom out of blue waters to tell of a past defined by two great acts defiance, the 1565 Ottoman Siege and Malta’s remarkable role in World War II. The George Cross awarded to the island is on display at the National War Museum, while from Upper Barrakka Gardens, witness the firing of the noon cannon as you take in breathtaking harbour views.
VENICE, ITALY
Napoleon supposedly dubbed it the ‘finest drawing room in all Europe’. Certainly there are few grander spaces than St Mark’s Square, with its renowned basilica, soaring bell tower and lavish Doge’s Palace. To you, it may be your first enchanting call within a lacework of canals so richly embellished with details like the pointed Rialto Bridge and poignant Bridge of Sighs.
VOLOS, GREECE
Summer retreat of ancient gods, Mt Pelion now provides a beautiful backdrop for Volos, with its waterfront promenade, lively bars and Archaeological Museum. Crystal waters wash beautiful sandy beaches, while the best way to admire the villages that cling to wooded slopes is aboard the Pelion steam train, crossing bridges and olive groves to reveal magical views.
YALTA, UKRAINE
Fairy-tale Swallow’s Nest Castle and the Crimean Mountains create a spectacular welcome to this elegant imperial resort. Stop by Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, with its gleaming gilded domes, or the White Palace of Livadia, where western leaders re-drew Europe’s map after World War II. Best of all, just wander the winding streets and broad promenade, appreciative of the mild climate.
ZAKINTHOS, GREECE
Nature bestowed considerable gifts onto this stunning island. Wild flowers blanket inland meadows and golden swathes of coastline lure human visitors into the warm waters – where monk seals often frolic – and entice loggerhead turtles ashore to lay their eggs. And none surpasses Shipwreck Beach for sheer beauty, as its perfect horseshoe bay cradles an abandoned hull on its white sand.
For Queen Elizabeth itineraries see pages 34-73 • For Queen Victoria itineraries see pages 78-121 • For Queen Mary 2 itineraries see pages 126-169
Spanish Steps, Rome
Santorini, Greece
Venice, Italy
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