Western Mediterranean Cruise - from Nice - 116468

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.

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.

The vibrant port town of St. Tropez, THE meeting place for VIPs and starlets, exudes sophistication - and not just on the promenades lined by luxury yachts, which is a popular place for visitors to take a stroll. The little side streets are home to countless top-class boutiques as well as quaint little shops, unique in their originality. A splendid citadel, which houses a maritime museum, towers over the town. The climb to the top is well worth it, not least for the amazing view of the town and the harbour. The museum has displays of many types of ships and outlines the history of St Tropez. In addition to the harbour and the citadel, the Museé de L'Annonciade is another tourist attraction. Fans of Louis de Funès will of course also have to pay a visit to the old 'gendarmerie'.

Cannes, which has a population of 70,000, lies on the Côte d'Azur in the South of France. Every year, in mid-May the famous film festival is held here, where all the movers and shakers come to see and be seen. Another highlight is the splendid promenade, the "Boulevard de la Croisette" lined by palms and bedecked with flowers. Due to the many festivals, regattas, races, flower parades and countless other spectacles, this Mediterranean town is also a popular tourist destination. Other sights include: the Lérins islands "St. Marguerite" and "St. Honorat". The old town is atop the hill "Mont Chevalier" with a castle dating back to the time of the Crusades. This is also where you will find the museum and the pilgrimage church "Notre-Dame de l'Espérance".

This magical town on the Mediterranean coast has numerous museums, lovely hotels and unusual cuisine. Sights include: the exotic garden, the observatory cave, the Museum of Prehistoric Anthropology, the gardens and terraces of the casino, Casino Square, St. Charles' Church, The National Puppet Museum, the "La rampe Major" staircase, the Prince's Palace, the Oceanographic Museum and Aquarium, the Old Monaco Museum and the waxworks museum.

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.