Treasures of the Mediterranean

Beaches or bargains, the sea or sights. Palma has it all, together with enough sunshine and souvenirs to keep anyone happy. If you like beaches, cafes or simply lazing around in the sunshine, youll love Palma, together with the nearby resorts of Palma Nova and Magaluf. Before you relax, though, make sure you visit Palma City itself to see the Moorish palace, the designer stores and the quaint shops and cobbled streets of the old city, behind the Gothic Cathedral. And for souvenirs, make a bee-line for Inca, the largest street market on the island which opens every Thursday.

Often called the Gateway to the Emerald Coast, the NorthEastern port of Olbia is tucked into a bay in the Tyrrhenian Sea and is one of Europes most fashionable resort areas.

This is the most spectacular natural setting in Italy. With its beautiful bay overlooked by Mount Vesuvius, a sunny climate and lots to see, Naples is unmissable. A stroll through the narrow streets and hustle and bustle of the local markets that sell literally everything is an experience in itself in Naples. Thats before you discover the memorable sights like the majolica-tiled cloister of the Church of Santa Chiara, the local craftsmen of San Gregorio Armeno who make the famous Neapolitan crèche figures, or the Galleria Umberto where designer shops sit amidst glorious architecture. Dont forget to take the chairlift up to Mount Vesuvius itself or the tour to Pompeii and the ancient ruins of Herculaneum. And why not take the short boat ride to the picturesque and exclusive island of Capri?

History doesnt come much better than the Eternal City. Neither does the opportunity to find exclusive designer shops. Discover the old and the new city in Rome. Whatever youre looking for in Rome, youll find it. For a touch of the past, try the magnificent 50,000 seater Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Forum Romanum and the Spanish Steps. Thats not forgetting the Vatican itself, with St Peters Cathedral and the unrivalled Vatican Museum. Or the Trevi Fountain where you can throw a coin in the water for good luck. But not all Roman roads are lined with antiquities. Some boast the exclusive shops of Fendi, Valentino and Gucci, while others are lined with bustling cafes from the fancy to the casually friendly.

Sitting amidst a varied landscape of mountains and beaches, the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte on the west coast of Corsica is a wonderful destination to explore. The breathtaking sight when you sail into Ajaccio, with the crystal blue waters contrasting with the green of the beautiful countryside, is just the introduction to Ajaccio. Boasting Corsican architecture as well as a famous military leader, the town features a fascinating blend of French and Italian influences.

Hundreds of years old, yet now a thriving and modern Spanish port, Palamos gives you a glimpse into the local culture – and the perfect opportunity to relax. On the east coast of Spain, north of Barcelona, Palamos was founded around a natural harbour in 1277. The legacy of fishing continues today and the days catch is still auctioned on the busy quayside in the late afternoon, giving you the chance to see traditional fishing the Spanish way. Thats if you can spare the time from relaxing on the superb beach or taking a tour to Figueres, the famous city where Dali was born and lived until his death in 1989.

Beaches or bargains, the sea or sights. Palma has it all, together with enough sunshine and souvenirs to keep anyone happy. If you like beaches, cafes or simply lazing around in the sunshine, youll love Palma, together with the nearby resorts of Palma Nova and Magaluf. Before you relax, though, make sure you visit Palma City itself to see the Moorish palace, the designer stores and the quaint shops and cobbled streets of the old city, behind the Gothic Cathedral. And for souvenirs, make a bee-line for Inca, the largest street market on the island which opens every Thursday.