Western Mediterranean Cruise - from Nice - 109686

The capital of the Cote d'Azur stretches along the wonderful Baie des Anges. Thanks to its favourable geographical and climactic position, this location has had a settlement since early days. Nice is a flourishing modern town with cultural activities on a grand scale (congresses, exhibitions, festivals). The town nevertheless retains its old traditions, e.g. the famous carnival and the charm of its picturesque old town with bustling little streets, the colourful flower market and the old harbour. As soon as you say 'Nice', people immediately think of the famous "Promenade des Anglais'‚ which has become the town's landmark and is now an international meeting place. Sights worth seeing: the Palais Lascarris, the Hotel Négresco, Place Masenna, Museum Massena, the harbour area, the castle hill and the Cadran solaire humain de Rauba Capeu.

The capital of the French island of Corsica and the "Département Corse-du-Sud" is surrounded by beautiful mountainous countryside, valleys and little villages that make it the perfect place for walks and daytrips. But this city, which has a population of 59,300, is not only a popular winter resort, but also the birthplace of Napoleon I., who was born on August 15th 1769 in a house in the Rue Saint Charles. Today, many streets, statues and monuments commemorate the city's most famous son. The town hall also has some impressive exhibits relating to the coronation of the former emperor. Sights include: the Saint-Erasme church where Napolean was christened in 1539 , also dedicated to the patron of seafarers and decorated with model ships. The Fesch Museum has a collection of works by Boticelli, Bellini und Titian -donated by Cardinal Fesch, Napoleon's uncle. Sporting activities in Ajaccio focus mainly on water sports: all year round, visitors can enjoy diving trips, jet-ski, sailing, fun-boards and angling.

The picturesque town of Villefranche-sur-Mer, which is not far from Nice, was an important Mediterranean port even in Medieval times. The town played an important strategic role for a long time, as the fort bears witness to today - although nowadays it is a museum exhibiting works by Picasso and Miró, as well as artists from the region. Sights worth seeing in the "free city", which did not levy taxes in the 13th century, include the 'Rue Obscure', the covered street that runs below the houses of the old town, and the port chapel of St-Pierre built in the 14th century and redesigned in 1957 by multi-talented artist Jean Cocteau.

Livorno is around 20 km from Pisa. With a population of 180,000 it is the second-largest town in Tuscany. Via the "Fossi Medici" (italian meaning Medici moat), the canals of "new Venice" that connect the fort with the harbour, you come to the "Piazza Grande" with the San Francesco cathedral. Along the "Viale Italia" you can take a walk all the way to the Terrazza Mascagni, from where you can enjoy a wonderful view of the sea and the island of Gorgona which lies directly opposite. The seafront is also where you can find the municipal aquarium "Diacinto Cestoni", which is also the university's centre for marine biology.

Livorno is around 20 km from Pisa. With a population of 180,000 it is the second-largest town in Tuscany. Via the "Fossi Medici" (italian meaning Medici moat), the canals of "new Venice" that connect the fort with the harbour, you come to the "Piazza Grande" with the San Francesco cathedral. Along the "Viale Italia" you can take a walk all the way to the Terrazza Mascagni, from where you can enjoy a wonderful view of the sea and the island of Gorgona which lies directly opposite. The seafront is also where you can find the municipal aquarium "Diacinto Cestoni", which is also the university's centre for marine biology.

Marseille is considered to be the largest and oldest port on the French Mediterranean coast and a glamorous metropolis. The city was founded in a picturesque bay in the 6th century B.C. by the Greek colonists. Initially it thrived from trading and quickly developed into an important port. Marseille is a welcoming cosmopolitan tourist town with a wide variety of shopping, entertainment and recreational facilities. Sights include: St. Victor's basilica, the old harbour, the poor house "la Ville Charité", the cathedral of la Major, the town hall, the historical museum, the Roman Docks Museum, the Archaeological Museum, Longchamp Museum, Grobet-Labadié Museum, Cantini Museum.

Sète - a hill, a harbour, four canals and the longest beach in the Languedoc. Sète has the largest fishing harbour on the Mediterranean coast. When the fishing boats drop anchor and hand over their catch it is a fascinating sight, as well as the perfect opportunity to try fresh fish or even oysters. From Mont St. Clair you can enjoy a wonderful view of the harbour, the town and the surrounding area. The canals have earned the town the nick-name of "French Venice".

The picturesque natural harbour of Mahón lies in the Mediterranean and was made island capital during the British occupation in 1722. From the main square "Placa de Esplanada" through the pedestrian zone you will reach the fish and vegetable market beneath the old cloisters of a former monastery. From here you can enjoy a wonderful view of the port of Mahón, English in style but with a Mediterranean feel. Sights include: the city gates "Pont de Sant Roc", built in around 1500 and which was seen as the city wall during the Middle Ages.

The town is a harmonious mixture of the traditional and the modern and you will find both historic buildings dating from medieval times and ultra-modern architecture. Barcelona is the most important economic centre in Catalonia. This Mediterranean metropolis also has lots to offer in cultural terms, including, among other things, the Picasso Museum, the Museum of Modern Art and the National Gallery of Catalonia. The cathedreal "La Seu", which dates from the 13th century, is situated in the gothic old town "Barri Gotic". But Barcelona's landmark is the "Sagrada Familia", the church designed by Antoni Gaudi. Barcelona is busy by day and lively by night. One of the other main attractions is "Las Ramblas", the splendid promenade in the city centre with countless pavement cafes, shops, restaurants, bars and discos. Other must-sees include "El Puerto", the harbour with a wonderful view of Barcelona, and the nearby boulevard "Paseo de Colón".