Coasts 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, you’ll 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.

Get ready to be impressed – this is your gateway to the dazzling riches of Florence and Pisa.

Savona’s located on the shores of the Ligurian Sea, at the very top of Italy’s boot. Yachts and cruise liners bob in the narrow harbour, which juggles traditional architecture with modern waterside apartments. The city itself boasts a bumper crop of historic landmarks, from the 16th-century Priamar Fortress to the stunning Sistine Chapel – a frescoed mausoleum with a famous namesake in Vatican City. Its biggest claim-to-fame, though, is that it was once home to explorer Christopher Columbus. Do your own exploring beyond the city limits, and you can drive to big-hitters like Genoa and Turin in an hour or two, respectively.

There’s no better way to arrive in Calvi than by cruise ship. As you pull into the iconic harbour, you’ll be greeted by its towering citadel. Beneath the soaring peaks of the Monte Cinto, this 15th-century outpost keeps watch over the whole town. Look beyond it, and you’ll discover a stylish holiday playground that’s a magnet for the yacht-owning super-rich. Cue designer boutiques, trendy seafood restaurants, and a four-mile stretch of glistening white sand…….

One of the most romantic ports in the Mediterranean, Marseilles is steeped in history and begs to be explored.

Think Marseilles and the first words that spring to mind are antiquity, seafood, museums, history and travel. The Provencal city that sprawls around a 2,600 year old port features a bustling downtown shopping area, green parks, a medieval-village-style neighbourhood, and wonderful seafood.

Its phenomenal reputation makes other cities positively green with envy, and bohemian Barcelona continues to top the popularity charts. So what makes it such a big hit? Well, where do we start?

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, you’ll 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.