Day 1 – Barcelona, Spain
The infinite variety of street life, the nooks and crannies of the medieval Barri Gòtic, the ceramic tiles and stained glass of Art Nouveau facades, the art, and music, the throb of street life, the food (ah, the food!) – one way or another, Barcelona will find a way to get your full attention. The capital of Catalonia is a banquet for the senses, with its beguiling mix of ancient and modern architecture, tempting cafés and markets, and sun-drenched Mediterranean beaches. A stroll along La Rambla and through waterfront Barceloneta, as well as a tour of Gaudí’s majestic Sagrada Família and his other unique creations, are part of a visit to Spain’s second-biggest city. Modern art museums and chic shops call for attention, too. Barcelona’s vibe stays lively well into the night when you can linger over regional wine and cuisine at buzzing tapas bars.
Day 2 – Valencia, Spain
Valencia is a proud city. During the Civil War, it was the last seat of the Republican Loyalist government (1935-36), holding out against Franco’s National forces until the country fell to 40 years of dictatorship. Today it represents the essence of contemporary Spain’s daring design and architecture along with experimental cuisine – but remains deeply conservative and proud of its traditions. Though it faces the Mediterranean, Valencia’s history and geography have been defined most significantly by the River Turia and the fertile floodplain (huerta) that surrounds it. The city has been fiercely contested ever since it was founded by the Greeks. El Cid captured Valencia from the Moors in 1094 and won his strangest victory here in 1099: he died in the battle, but his corpse was strapped into his saddle and so frightened the besieging Moors that it caused their complete defeat. In 1102 his widow, Jimena, was forced to return the city to Moorish rule; Jaume I finally drove them out in 1238. Modern Valencia was best known for its frequent disastrous floods until the River Turia was diverted to the south in the late 1950s. Since then the city has been on a steady course of urban beautification. The lovely bridges that once spanned the Turia look equally graceful spanning a wandering municipal park, and the spectacularly futuristic Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias (City of Arts and Sciences), most of it designed by Valencia-born architect Santiago Calatrava, has at last created an exciting architectural link between this river town and the Mediterranean. If you’re in Valencia, an excursion to Albufera Nature Park is a worthwhile day trip.
Day 3 – Cartagena (Spain) , Spain
On the crossroads of mighty cultures, this Murcian port has endless ancient stories to share. A valuable natural harbor attracted many civilizations to this sun-bathed, southeasterly setting – following its foundation by the Carthaginians in 227 BC. Blending the imprints left by countless cultures on this global junction, the presence of everyone from the Vandals to the Phoenicians and Moors can be felt as you explore, walking between ruins and celebrated modernist architecture along Calle Mayor. Cartagena is crowned by the soaring Castillo de la Concepcion – rise to the stout castle aboard a panoramic lift. Inside, look through reams of archaeological treasures, or admire the rolling views down over the port and across the waters. Watch out for the electric blue peacocks who strut flamboyantly. Cartagena’s emergence as a visitor destination coincided with a stunning discovery in 1988 – the bowl of a gloriously preserved Roman Theater. Enter to sit among the grandiose ancient venue, so evocative, you can’t help but imagine the historic performances that have graced its stage. Wander the breezy waterfront, looking across the narrow strait towards Africa’s distant haze, and spotting gleaming warships. Cartagena’s perfect harbor means it has been one of Spain’s oldest strategic navy positions since the 16th century. Settle to enjoy the joys of tapas in lively bars – sampling crisped paella, squid and honeyed-eggplant. Easter’s Semana Santa festivities are typically lively here, as hooded processions, lavish floats, and somber fiery displays roll through the streets.
Day 4 – Alicante, Spain
The bustling resort of Alicante serves not only as the port for Madrid, but is also one of the loveliest vacation spots along Spain’s sunny Costa Blanca. The latter is primarily due to the pleasant climate. Various civilizations have flourished along these shores. Early records indicate that the city dates back to a Carthaginian settlement established in 325 BC. These settlers were followed by the Romans, who equally found the area inviting. Then the Moors ruled this region for five centuries and named the city Al-Akant. Today’s name probably stems from this origin. The city’s occupation by Roman and Moorish forces accounts for a notable and varied heritage. In fact, much of this cultural impact is still apparent today in numerous buildings, names and the cuisine. Much of the city’s economy is based on tourism and agriculture. Wine, raisins, and other products from the surrounding areas find their way into the cargo holds of ships bound for worldwide destinations.
Day 5 – Palma de Mallorca, Spain
A rugged Mediterranean gem, arising out of the rich blue haze, Mallorca is a Spanish island of cuisine, culture, and sun-gorged beaches. Palma de Mallorca is the island’s dominating capital and a sand-colored mirage of glorious buildings and living history. Conquered and liberated countless times over the years, since its Bronze Age founding, the city is your gateway to ceaseless Mediterranean beauty, buzzy markets, and intense flavors. Cafes and bars wait close to the sweeping coastline, where you can enjoy strong espressos to kick start the day, or splashes of red Mallorcan wines to round it off. Bicycles trundle up and down the promenade, which invites you to wander in the morning sunshine beside the waves. Dominated by the indefatigable form of Santa María cathedral, which looms over the city and coastline, Palma de Mallorca is drenched in history and culture. The labyrinth of the old town is a cobbled haven, which bustles with dripping ice creams and sun-lashed squares. Settle to try the island’s superb cuisine, and savor local ingredients with an exceptional depth of flavor. Something about the sunshine here makes tomatoes extra sharp and delicious, while the seafood is consistently juicy and plump. The creation of the mighty cathedral, Le Seu, began in 1229 and was eventually concluded in 1601. A perfect encapsulation of Palma de Mallorca’s blend of the historic and the contemporary, even Gaudi lent his hand to it, and the interior features a spectacular modernist take on the New Testament from artist Miquel Barcelo, which is painted across the chapel’s walls. The splendid Royal Palace of La Almudaina fortress stands nearby, a left-behind Moorish footprint of square towers and Arabic archways that now serves as an official summer residence for the King of Spain.
Day 6 – Porto Mahon, Spain
Happy to sit out of the limelight that Ibiza and Majorca bathe in, Menorca lives life at its own pace, offering endless pine-tree fringed beaches and an appealing, mellow approach. The capital of Menorca is a bashful member of the Balearic Islands, which wait off the sunny Spanish coast. With atmospheric old towns, tiny fishing villages, and unspoiled beach coves, this is one of the group’s lesser-known and explored gems – and all the richer for it. A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, there are wetlands and rolling sand dunes with diverse wildlife to explore – and 220 different birds soar and wade within. The designation helped to halt the threat of overdevelopment, and with gloriously clear waters and leisurely boating trips to enjoy, Porto Mahon welcomes you to a wonderfully preserved and characterful island. The island’s capital spills around the Med’s largest natural harbor, which sprawls out for three miles. Wander the whitewashed town’s streets, heading for the hubbub of the fish market – to sample the best of the day’s freshly prepared haul. The majestic organ that fills the interior of Santa Maria church with over 3,000 pipes is a sight to see and can produce a wonderful, gut-vibrating noise. Filled with pottery and cake shops, there’s an artsy, laid-back, and creative atmosphere to Porto Mahon’s streets. Swing a golf club, and crack drives through the salty sea air of Porto Mahon, or rumble along the paved bike paths that ring the island exploring between wildflower-sprinkled fields and stone walls. Or, head straight for the many beaches and turquoise seas, which are blotched with dark blue patches. When it’s time for a sit down in the shade, order up a refreshing pomada – gin and lemonade – before settling on your sandy nook of choice, to watch the setting sun sinking into the warmth of the waves of the Mediterranean.
Day 7 – Alghero, Sardinia, Italy
Encircled by dramatic medieval walls, which rise abruptly from deep-blue waters, Alghero’s defenses shelter one of Sardinia’s largest and most spectacular old towns. Uneven cobbled streets, rich history, and a fiery Catalan flare provide a real depth of character, and the Coral Riviera’s pristine beaches, which stretch out nearby, help to make Alghero a real highlight of Sardinia. Alghero has changed hands numerous times over its tempestuous history, but it’s the Catalan influence that you’ll feel most acutely, as you explore. It was the Catalans who upgraded the defensive ramparts of the ‘Sardinian Barcelonetta’ into the spectacular, imposing fortress we see today, enclosing the old town’s evocative knot of narrow streets and rose-gold-colored masonry. Wander the streets at your leisure, enjoying the cooling shade of the tight, cobblestone streets with lemon gelato in hand, or enjoying fresh tuna steak at the bustling La Boqueria market. Alghero Cathedral is hidden amid the labyrinth of narrow streets but it’s the distinctive Baroque-dome of Chiesa di San Michele that you’ll immediately notice peeking ostentatiously over the terracotta roofs of the old town, flaunting its rainbow-colored patterning. Plush restaurants revel in Alghero’s historical collision of cultures and produce delicious fare like plump clams tangled in tagliatelle, and succulent porcetto pork – slowly roasted to perfection in smoky wood ovens. Wash it down with mirto, a crushed berry liqueur, or sample the fruits of local vineyards, with a platter of Sardinia’s renowned pecorino sheep’s cheese. The city dominates Sardinia’s Coral Riviera – so named because of the red coral found here that’s been used for jewelry since Roman times. Lie back and listen to the waves washing ashore at Spiaggia di Maria Pia beach, breathing in the smell of pine needles on the breeze.
Day 8 – Bonifacio (Corsica), France
Beloved by the French, yet still relatively undiscovered by the rest of the world, the French island of Corsica is a gem. And right at its southern tip lies Bonifacio, a medieval town known as the “city of sentinels”. Closer to Rome than Paris (and less than an hour’s ferry ride to Sardinia), Bonifacio remains one of the Mediterranean’s best-kept secrets. The first thing you should know is that Bonifacio is stunning. And by that, we mean, awe-inspiringly beautiful. The town itself is worthy of a painting – a long, hilltop town that snakes over milky white limestone cliffs that stretch for 70 kilometers. The turquoise blue seas that lap at the foot of these are both warm and clear and a joy for bathers of all ages. Although the cliffs have proved perilous to sailors in the past – Bonifacio counts the wreckage of the French Navy’s 1855 ship Semillante among its most visited diving sites and top tourist attractions. It is also here, in the harbor, that scholars place the catastrophic encounter between Ulysses’ fleet and the Laestrygonians, who hurled lethal boulders down from the cliffs. The proximity of nearby Sardinia is everywhere. The islands were once joined before volcanic activity tore them apart, and much of the local dialect – still prevalently used particularly in the back country – is heavily influenced by Italian. This is also true for the local cuisine; think large plates of thinly sliced charcuterie and stuffed pasta filled with creamy local brocciu, a cheese similar to ricotta.
Day 9 – Day at sea
Days at sea are the perfect opportunity to relax, unwind, and catch up with what you’ve been meaning to do. So whether that is going to the gym, visiting the spa, whale-watching, catching up on your reading, or simply topping up your tan, these blue sea days are the perfect balance to busy days spent exploring shoreside.
Day 10 – Tunis (La Goulette), Tunisia
Tunisia’s capital lies at the western end of the shallow Lake Tunis, which opens to the sea at La Goulette. This is the first of a string of beach suburbs that stretches away to the north; it is here that the city’s port is located. This coastal area includes the ruins of ancient Carthage and the picturesque suburb of Sidi Bou Said, places that attract more visitors than Tunis itself. As far as capital cities go, Tunis has an easy-going, unhurried air about it. It is a very liberal city by Islamic standards and certainly leading the way in Western trends for the rest of the country. In Tunisia, the struggle for independence didn’t take the violent course that it did in Algeria. Ruler Ahmed Bey, who governed from 1837 to 1855, encouraged Westernization and brought in military and other advisors to this end. In 1861, during the reign of Mohammed Sadiq, a constitution – the first in the Arab world – was proclaimed. Until the time of the French protectorate, the medina was very much the center of things. Then, under the French influence, the ville nouvelle (new city) emerged with its major banks, department stores, and administrative services. The main focus of ville nouvelle is the wide, tree-lined Avenue Habib Bourguiba. At its western end, this major thoroughfare becomes the Avenue de France, terminating in the Place de la Victoire and the entrance to the medina.
Day 11 – Valletta, Malta
Perched high on the imposing Sciberras Peninsula, Valletta immediately presents its massive, protective walls and vertical bastions to visitors arriving by sea. Rising to 47 metres in places, the fortifications protect lavish palaces, grand domes and illustrious gardens. Built by the Knights of St John on the narrow peninsular, Valletta is a compact, richly historical treasure trove of Baroque wonders. Ascend to reach the restful, flower-filled Upper Barrakka Gardens, where cannons fire and boom in salute at noon each day, sending echoing cracks of noise out across the waves below. Recognised as 2018’s European Capital of Culture, Valletta is a fascinating and dense haven of history and intrigue. A busy, bustling capital, the breathtaking St John’s Cathedral – commissioned in 1572 – is almost concealed among its narrow streets. The relatively modest exterior is counterpointed by a staggeringly opulent, gold-leaf bathed interior, containing a Caravaggio masterpiece – the shadowy vision of the Beheading of St John. Cinematic and magnificent, Valletta has served as a filming location for Game of Thrones – but real epic history abounds on this rocky isle too. From the prehistoric and megalithic sites of the Hypogeum of Paola and Tarxien, to the fascinating War Museum at Fort St Elmo. Mdina also waits nearby, and the former medieval capital is a striking contrast to the island’s main city. Cars are barred from its streets, and it offers endlessly atmospheric old-time wanders. With a strategic positioning in the Mediterranean, Malta is a jewel that many have wrestled for over the centuries. Independence from Britain was finally achieved in 1964, but the close allegiance remains evident, with English recognised as an official language, cars driving on the left, and red post boxes and telephone gleaming in Malta’s sunshine.