Best of the Mediterranean Cruise: Monte Carlo, Rome & Sorrento

Dynamic Barcelona is all about architecture, from the magnificent medieval buildings of the Gothic Quarter to the Modernist movement typified by the work of Antoni Gaudi including the amazing Sagrada Familia.

At the same time bustling and picturesque—filled with colorful markets, fabulous wine and food and sights like le Vieux Port—Marseille is one of Europe’s oldest cities and the largest port in the Mediterranean.

The tiny principality of Monaco, a sovereign state of just under one square mile, has an outsized resume, boasting some of the planet's most expensive real estate, and the world's most prestigious casino.

As the birthplace of the Renaissance, Florence and its historic center is bursting with elegant squares, imposing palaces, magnificent churches, incredible art galleries and museums with an abundance of riches.

Whether it’s tossing a coin in a fabled fountain or being awestruck by the magnificence of St. Peter’s Basilica and Michelangelo’s masterpieces, Rome seems to live up to its sobriquet, the Eternal City.

A warming sun and gentle sea breezes have been attracting visitors to Sorrento for two millennia, and its reputation as a playground of the ancient rich and famous have resulted in lavish villas and palaces.

Mountainous and rugged, Sicily’s highest point is the tip of that infamous and still active Mt. Etna, and as a result Catania is richly layered, having been buried under lava seven times in recorded history.

One of Europe’s best-preserved cities of medieval or Renaissance vintage, Kotor’s walls were constructed right into the slopes of the mountain behind it, making it an amazing sight on approach from the sea.

Koper is the gateway to an array of intercontinental adventures. Only 30 minutes away from Koper, Trek through the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Skocjan Caves, which features the largest underground canyon in the world. Or stay local and enjoy the charms of Koper itself, with historic sites like the 12th century St. Mary’s of the Assumption Cathedral, the Praetorian Palace.