Monte Carlo to Barcelona

Monaco is an ancient principality steeped in rich and colorful history. Its proud monarchy is presided over by Prince Albert, who assumed the throne after his famed father Prince Rainier died in 2005.
Today when gazing on its modern skyline, it is hard to imagine that Monaco endured a turbulent past. Once a Greek settlement conquered by the Romans, it was bought from the Genoese in 1309 by the Grimaldis, who still rule as the world’s oldest monarchy. Monaco covers less than one square mile and is known primarily for its Grand Casino.

Monaco is an ancient principality steeped in rich and colorful history. Its proud monarchy is presided over by Prince Albert, who assumed the throne after his famed father Prince Rainier died in 2005.
Today when gazing on its modern skyline, it is hard to imagine that Monaco endured a turbulent past. Once a Greek settlement conquered by the Romans, it was bought from the Genoese in 1309 by the Grimaldis, who still rule as the world’s oldest monarchy. Monaco covers less than one square mile and is known primarily for its Grand Casino.

One of nature’s miracles, the Côte d’Azur was blessed with superb natural beauty. It lies between the coastal mountains and the sea, where the Maritime Alps tumble down to the Mediterranean preventing cold northern winds from reaching the coast. This sun-drenched slope stretches some 60 miles westward from the border of the fairy-tale Kingdom of Monaco. As Crystal Serenity approaches the shore, you will be treated to a spectacular panorama of irregular peaks and scenic villages clustered on narrow ledges. Majestic cities like Nice, Monte Carlo and St-Tropez host pleasure boats, yachts and all the other trappings of the glamorous French Riviera

While the pretty village of Cassis and vineyards of Provence are just a stone’s throw from this seaside metropolis, you will want to linger in Toulon, capital of Var and a major naval center. Discover the narrow streets, lovely squares and elegant fountains in the Old Town. In the Upper Town, you may feel a touch of Paris—its design was overseen by Baron Haussmann, the same visionary who transformed the famous district of parks and wide boulevards in the City of Lights.

Palma de Mallorca, rich in monuments of many ages, was founded by the Romans more than 2,000 years ago. A magnificent rose-colored Gothic cathedral dominates the palm-fringed waterfront of its urban center. Mallorca, known as the “Island of Tranquility,” is the largest and most developed of the Balearic group. Steep mountains, serene valleys and wide plains form its varied landscape. Visit the island’s quaint villages and the monastery where George Sand and Frederic Chopin spent a winter.

Flower power was once as prevalent on this “White Isle” as are today’s glitzy nightclubs, for Ibiza was a hub of hippie culture in the 1960s. But dig deeper and you’ll find a heritage more suitable for an island gem in the Mediterranean. Ibiza Town’s UNESCO-listed Dalt Vita chronicles much of this history, with monuments and architectural vestiges of nearly 1,000 years.

Barcelona’s seaside beauty, sprawling beaches, eclectic architecture, world-class tapas and Tempranillo are all reasons to fall in love with the city of Gaudí. Indeed, the treasures here are many and diverse, captivating travelers and experts alike. In fact, nine important sites in the city, seven designed by the famed architect himself, have earned the acclaim of UNESCO.

Barcelona’s seaside beauty, sprawling beaches, eclectic architecture, world-class tapas and Tempranillo are all reasons to fall in love with the city of Gaudí. Indeed, the treasures here are many and diverse, captivating travelers and experts alike. In fact, nine important sites in the city, seven designed by the famed architect himself, have earned the acclaim of UNESCO.