Atlantic Cruise - from Savona - 124138

The Italian port and capital of the province of Savona is on the coast of Liguria. A charming old town with opulent churches and well-stocked shops and a modern museum complex is perfect for strolling, shopping and delving into the history of the city and the region. Sights include: cathedral, the keep of Magellan, Palazzo della Rovere, the Archaeological Museum, the Museo Sandro Pertini, the Garibaldi monument.

Melilla is a 12 km2 Spanish enclave at the eastern side of the peninsula of Guelaia and has a population of approximately 80,000. The city's port has experienced a new upswing in recent years thanks to fishing and the export of iron and steel from the city of Nador. From the Plaza de España in the centre of the new town you can reach the small old town area of Melilla, called Medina Sidonia. Some of the fortified architecture dates from the 16th century. Sights include: the municipal museum with a small collection of prehistoric, Punic and Roman artefacts.

The Moroccan port and provincial capital of Tangiers at the western opening of the strait of Gibraltar is the gateway to Africa. The most famous attractions are to be found near the Kasbah in the middle of the bustling old town. Steep streets and alleyways wind around the white walls of the houses, and a labyrinth of large and small shops selling everything you could think of awaits visitors. The Great Socco (Great Souk) is a typical Moroccan square with lots and lots of tea houses and the most important market place at the outskirts of the Medina. To the North-West of the Grand Socco is the huge main gate of the city wall, Bab Fahs. Nearby, are the gardens of the old residence of Mendoubia, once the seat of the Sultan of the international commission, today the seat of the magistrates. The gardens have 800-year-old dragon tree plants as well as 40 old international canons.

The Moroccan town of Agadir lies in a broad bay with a wide sandy beach against the backdrop of the foothills of the Atlas Mountains, with the fertile Sous plain in the hinterland. Sights include: the bird park with exotic birds, the ruins of the Kasbah at 236m above sea level, the nature reserve "Souss-Massa", the outdoor museum "Medina Polizzi", the museums "Bert Flint" and "Municipal" and the Museum of Berber Art. Like every oriental city, Agadir is famous for its market "Souk El Had".

Arrecife is the capital city of Lanzarote and has a population of around 40,000. As recently as two hundred years ago, there was only a small harbour here which belonged to the former capital, Teguise. Only during the last century did the town slowly begin to develop. Arrecife is made almost entirely of narrow, winding streets. Sights include: the "Castillo de San Gabriel" with an archaeological museum and the "Castillo de San José". The main business streets, "Calle Real" and "León y Castillo" are packed with shops and entertainment venues.

Puerto del Rosario is the main town on Fuerteventura in the Canary Isles. A stroll along the Avenida de los Reyes de España, the main seaside promenade, is particularly worthwhile. Lots of restored white houses mark the end of the promenade and look somewhat like a white city wall. The central meeting places are the church square and the cafeteria Tinguaro nearby the tiny covered market. The best way to spend 'siesta' time is to enjoy a long lunch in one of the many small restaurants. Sehenswürdigkeiten: the parish church Nuestra Señora del Rosario with its stained glass windows, Casa Museo Unamuno, the colonial style town hall and Playa Blanca.

São Tiago with its capital, Praia, is the most African of the Cape Verde islands. A trip to Assomada where there is a twice weekly African-style market in an "Aluguer" (a communal taxi) is particularly exciting. The town centre is 'Plaça 12 de Septembro'. It is surrounded by buildings dating from the 19th century: to the South-East the church Nossa Senhora da Graça and the majestic palace of justice just next to it, to the South-West the Home Office and the Banco Comércio do Atlántico on Avenida Amilcar Cabral, which leads across the entire plateau. The new Museu Ethnográfico, which is to the North of the market, is also well worth a visit.

Mindelo is the second-largest city on Cabo Verde and lies nestled in a beautiful bay. It is dominated by the largest and most important port in the country, "Porto Grande". Mindelo has the flair of an international port town and continues to be the cultural and intellectual centre of the archipelago. Sights include: the old town, the fish market, the reproduction of the Lisbon "Torre de Belém", which is the city's landmark.

The largest city on the Canary Isles is on Gran Canaria and has a population of 355,000 and a totally original and unique architecture. The cathedral, on which construction work began following the discovery of America, has a Gothic and Neo-classical style. It stands on the lovely square "Santa Ana", which is where the archiepiscopal palace and several other buildings in the distinctive 'Canary' style are also situated. The "Barrio de la Vegueta" area stands out due to its many manor houses, which show the influence of the Latin American colonial style. Sights include: the "Centro Atlantico de Arte Moderno" which has an important collection of contemporary art.