Mediterranean Cruise - from Barcelona - 120709

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".

The Italian capital of Rome is also often called "the eternal city", as this buzzing metropolis still has many precious treasures from ancient times, which are known around the world. The most impressive sights include the "Thermae of Caracalla", the emperor's forum, the Colosseum, the Piazza Navona, the Fountain of Neptune and of course St. Peter's Basilica, with the dome designed by Michelangelo.

The town is Greek in origin and in the 11th century belonged to the Norman Kingdom of Sicily and from 1282 until the founding of Italy in 1861, was the capital of the Kingdom of Naples. The Piazza Garibaldi is a must-see - it is the main square in Naples, located in front of the main train station and the site of the Garibaldi monument, Via Umberto I. with many shops, fruit and fish markets and lots of streets sellers everywhere in between; the old town with the harbour, the city gate Porta Capuana, the Franciscan church, the town hall and Galleria Umberto I.; the former royal palace Palazzo Reale, which also houses the national library; Castel Sant Elmo dating from the 14th century and built on a hilltop overlooking the city; the San Gennaro cathedral, built in the 13th century, which houses the grave of the city's patron, -St. Januarius; the National Archaeological Museum, home to the famous Alexander mosaic; the National Museum with many finds from Herculaneum and Pompeii.

Messina is the most easterly regional capital of Sicily and lies at the Tyrrhenian and Ionian Seas. The city was once a famous trading town at the straits and was founded by the Greeks in the 8th century B.C., then conquered by the Romans in 264 B.C., after which it experienced a history dominated by the upheaval of changing rule on account of its strategic location. Sights include: the regional museum, the Norman cathedral, Campanile bell tower with an integrated astronomical clock and the Ave Maria church.

Since the opening of the Suez Canal, Port Said has been seen as the gateway to the East. The Mediterranean port is particularly popular among visitors due to the many duty-free shops and boutiques. Probably the prettiest city in Egypt, Port Said was founded in 1859 in connection with the construction of the Suez Canal and now has a population of 560,000. Although the city was destroyed several times, it has lost nothing of its charm, as many of the old houses with the large balconies on all levels remain to this day. Sights in and around Port Said include: Cairo, the Nile delta, the pyramids of Gízeh, the Sphinx, the Egyptian Museum and the Muhammad Ali mosque.

The port of Suez is at the end of the Suez Canal. The link between the Mediterranean and the Suez Gulf was planned by the French diplomat and engineer Ferdinand Marie Vicomte des Lesseps (1805 - 1894). The canal, which measures 160 km in length and is 6 m deep, has been deepened and widened many times since it was first created, to allow deep-sea vessels to pass. Sights include: the palace, the mosques and the Suez Canal itself.

Until not long ago, Sharm El Sheikh at the southern tip of the Sinai peninsula was a simple fishing village in a romantic bay. Today it is a luxurious, modern holiday resort. The area surrounding the town consists of numerous bays and unusual coral reefs. The main activities are watersports and diving, but the Sinai desert is also the perfect place for an exciting and fascinating excursion on a dirt bike or by jeep. A journey through the desert astride a camel or on horseback is another truly unforgettable experience .

Aqaba is the only city in Jordan located by the sea. It was once the most important port at the Red Sea and connected the region with the Middle and Far-East. For seafarers this ancient city has been the gateway to South Arabia, Egypt, India and China since time immemorial. Aqaba is famous for its pink-coloured gravestones and temples, hewn straight from the sandstone cliffs. Other sights include the 12th century fort and the region's unique underwater world.