France & Italy Cruise: Marseille, Nice, & Florence

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.

Nice, Queen of the Riviera, is filled with a treasure trove of archaeological and fine art museums, the famous flower market, and a warren of meandering lanes edged by tall houses and small, alluring shops.

Nice, Queen of the Riviera, is filled with a treasure trove of archaeological and fine art museums, the famous flower market, and a warren of meandering lanes edged by tall houses and small, alluring shops.

La Spezia is sometimes thought of as nothing but a large, industrialized naval port en route to the Cinque Terre and Portovenere, but it does possess some charm, and it gives you a look at a less tourist-focused part of the Riviera. Its palm-lined promenade, fertile citrus parks, renovated Liberty-style palazzos, and colorful balcony-lined streets make parts of La Spezia surprisingly beautiful. Monday through Saturday mornings, you can stroll through the fresh fish, produce, and local-cheese stalls at the outdoor market on Piazza Cavour, and on Friday take part in the busy flea market on Via Garibaldi. There's also Porto Mirabello, a newly built tourist port with a pool club, shops, and several restaurants that overlook the fleet of super-yachts.

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.

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.