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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.

The birthplace of paella, Valencia is an enchanting city that offers visitors beautiful sights as well as unforgettable food. Outside the city of Valencia, orange groves stretch away into the distance across the irrigated lands of the coastal plain. Inside the city, its sights add to its appeal. The Ceramics Museum is one of Europes finest and includes a gallery of ceramics made by Picasso. The Silk Exchange, Square Central Market and octagonal gothic cathedral with alabaster windows give you the opportunity to explore further. Thats before you discover the rest of the old town or even travel out to Albufera, the largest freshwater lake in Spain.

Sheltered by a deep bay on Spains Levant Coast, Cartagena fuses modernity with tradition and is the gateway to Murcia. Founded in 223 BC by the Carthaginians, and later conquered by the Romans, Cartagena boasts a varied and colourful past. In the 18th Century it rose to pre-eminence as a major Spanish naval base – reminders of Cartagenas seafaring tradition can be seen down in the port where a prototype submarine adorns the quayside. A walk through the city reveals splendid architectural reminders of Cartagenas Golden Age, while the Castillo de la Concepcion, the city castle, offers stunning panoramic views over Cartagena. Not far from the city lies Murcia, the regional capital. Murcias spectacular Baroque cathedral (pictured) is famed for two ornate side chapels: the Gothic Capilla de los Velez and the Renaissance Capilla del Junteron.

Looking out across the Mediterranean, Malaga overflows with an assortment of architectural treasures and Spains prized jewel, the Alhambra Palace, is within easy striking distance. Andalucias second largest city, Malaga, is a bustling port on Spains sunny Costa del Sol. Standing on a hillside overlooking the city is the 8th-century ‘Alcazaba, an impressive Moorish fortress. Malagas cathedral is affectionately known as ‘La Manquita, meaning ‘the onearmed one owing to its half-built tower, abandoned in the 1700s due to insufficient funds. During the Arab occupation of Spain, Malaga was the principle port of the Moorish kingdom of Granada. A short drive inland takes you to the heart of this wonderful city and its celebrated centrepiece, the breathtaking Alhambra Palace