14 nætter fra Lissabon, Portugal med Seabourn Sojourn

Lissabon er Portugals hovedstad og den by i Europa, der ligger længst mod vest. Med det storladne udsyn over Atlanterhavet og en historie, der er mere end 2.000 år gammel, er der ingen mangel på turistmål. Besøg fx den gigantiske statue Cristo Rei (Jesus Kristus), hvorfra man kan se hele Lissabon med floden Tagus og Vasco da Gama broen, en af de længste broer i Europa. Besøg også den indre bymidte som byder på historiske monumenter, hyggelige cafeér, masser af shoppingmuligheder og meget mere. Snyd heller ikke dig selv for at smage det de er mest kendt for i Portugal, nemlig portvinen. Der findes utallige butikker som sælger portvin fra alle årgange.

Leixoes ligger ved mundingen af floden Douro, nær havnebyen Porto. Porto er en gammel havneby som er stolt af sine rødder, men det er samtidig en moderne og livlig handelsby.

Gibraltar er et britisk område, der ligger på den nordlige side af Gibraltarstrædet. På den anden side ligger Afrika. Når man besøger stedet, bliver man forbavset over det præg, briterne har sat overalt, til trods for beliggenheden klods op ad Spanien. Fra toppen af klippen (over 400 m oppe) kan du beundre udsigten over Middelhavet og op ad halvøen ind i Spanien. Udforsk St. Michael’s Cave, en fascinerende hule, som engang husede det neolitiske folk. Besøg butikker fyldt med broderet sengetøj fra Madeira, eller oplev til de berømte berberaber. Aberne er Gibraltars største varemærke, så selvfølgelig skal de ses nar man er her. Det er en spøjs oplevelse at være så tæt på de vilde dyr.

Often little more than a gateway to the Costa del Sol for sun-seeking vacationers, Malaga is a most interesting city in its own right. First settled by the Phoenicians, Malaga was held by virtually every ruling power in the Mediterranean at one time or another. Two Moorish fortresses, the 11th-century Alcazaba and the 14th-century Castillo de Gibralfaro still stand sentry above the harbor. Malaga was the birthplace of Pablo Picasso as well as the Malaguena style of flamenco. During your time here, you may wish to sample some of the sweet Malaga wine and excellent tapas for which the city is noted.

Founded by Carthaginians in the third century BC, this ancient Mediterranean port city exemplifies the region’s tumultuous history. Romans, Visigoths, Castilians and Moors have all left their marks. Under King Philip II, Cartagena’s naturally deep, sheltered harbor was developed into the nation’s premier naval base, a position it still enjoys today. Ancient ramparts remain, as does a lighthouse erected in Moorish times.

Valencia er Spaniens tredjestørste by og den kan fremvise mange store historiske, kulturelle og moderne attraktioner for sine gæster. Valencia er den mest turistmindede by på hele den iberiske halvø. Yderområderne består af en stor samling moderne, kreative og industrialiserede områder, men hjertet i byen er stadig meget smukt og overordentlig spansk. Den er endnu uberørt af masseturismen. Ydermere er Valencia kendt for deres paella. Rigtig mange restauranter tilbyder den spanske nationalret, de er dog også meget kendt for deres lokale tapas. Bymidten er fuld af shoppingmuligheder, samt historiske bygninger som virkelig er et besøg værd.

Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia, is said to have been founded by the Phoenicians, and was once the rival of the powerful states of Venice and Genoa for control of the Mediterranean trade. Today, it is Spain’s second largest city and has long rivaled, even surpassed Madrid in industry and commerce. The medieval atmosphere of the Gothic Quarter and the elegant boulevards combine to make the city one of Europe’s most beautiful. Barcelona’s active cultural life and heritage brought forth such greats as the architect Antonio Gaudi, the painter Joan Miro, and Pablo Picasso, who spent his formative years here. Other famous native Catalan artists include cellist Pau Casals, surrealist Salvador Dali, and opera singers Montserrat Caballe and Josep Carreras. Barcelona accomplished a long-cherished goal with the opportunity to host the Olympics in 1992. This big event prompted a massive building program and created a focal point of the world’s attention.

Palamos er at finde i den nordlige ende af en stor bugt, og byen er med sin berømte sandstrand en kæmpe magnet for strande-glade tourister. Stedet er også populært blandt dem, der godt kan lide at svømme, sejle eller windsurfe. Byen startede faktisk som en lille fiskerby og derfor præger smalle gader og fiskerhuse stadig billedet. Besøg strandpromenaden, hvor du kan få nogle af områdets klassiske retter, få en dejlig drink i en af barerne, nyd en is i kombination med en dejlig gåtur på promenaden eller besøg en af de mange musikbarer ved lystbådehavnen.

Toulon er en by i det sydlige Frankrig ved en bugt i Middelhavet. Toulon er Frankrigs største marinebase med et stort marinemuseum ved havnen. Det var her, Napoleon besejrede englænderne, der havde okkuperet Toulon, og denne bedrift medførte, at Napoleon blev udnævnt til general. Toulons flag (byvåben) er identisk med det svenske flag. Byen har to gæstehavne, der ligger meget beskyttet for mistralen.

Corsica, the “scented isle,” was the birthplace of Napoleon, and as late as the last century bands of brigands controlled his mountainous and rugged homeland. The beaches of Ajaccio, ranging from narrow crescents to broad, golden expanses help to account for the city’s rise as a popular resort. Such scenic attractions as the Calanches of Piana, those red granite mountains with their spectacular slopes and formations add an additional element of interest.

Despite its small size, the island of Elba has been known since the beginning of recorded history. Called Ilva by the Ligurians and Aethalia by the Greeks, Elba passed to the Etruscans and later the Romans. It was ruled by Pisa in the Middle Ages, was a haven for Barbary pirates in the 16th century and then privately owned by the powerful Medici family. The island’s most famous resident was Napoleon Bonaparte, whose first exile from France and short reign over Elba lasted from May 1814 to February 1815. During that time, Napoleon was able to improve the island by altering street plans, building new roads, modernizing agriculture and developing the iron mines.Iron ore is still mined above the Rio Marina and then shipped from Portoferraio (Port of Iron). With a population of just over 11,000, the town is the largest of the eight on the island and is considered its capital. Geologists and gem stone collectors find Elba a treasure trove with over 150 minerals and semiprecious stones found here due to the seismic turmoil that created the island. The rich soil also produces an astonishing range of foliage and flowers aided by sun that shines almost every day of the year. Despite summer tourism, the island is largely agricultural and the ambience is quiet and relaxed, allowing the visitor to enjoy Elba’s natural charm, peaceful abundance and timeless beauty.

The Gulf of La Spezia has been so frequent a subject for poets over the years – from Dante and Petrarch to Byron and Shelley – that it is often referred to as the Golfo dei Poeti. The elongated yellow and orange houses, which line the harbor stretch up the steep slope toward ancient battlements beyond. Mentioned as a landing place in Claudius Ptolemy’s “General Geography” (150 AD), today Portovenere is a resort with a friendly and relaxed atmosphere.

Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia, is said to have been founded by the Phoenicians, and was once the rival of the powerful states of Venice and Genoa for control of the Mediterranean trade. Today, it is Spain’s second largest city and has long rivaled, even surpassed Madrid in industry and commerce. The medieval atmosphere of the Gothic Quarter and the elegant boulevards combine to make the city one of Europe’s most beautiful. Barcelona’s active cultural life and heritage brought forth such greats as the architect Antonio Gaudi, the painter Joan Miro, and Pablo Picasso, who spent his formative years here. Other famous native Catalan artists include cellist Pau Casals, surrealist Salvador Dali, and opera singers Montserrat Caballe and Josep Carreras. Barcelona accomplished a long-cherished goal with the opportunity to host the Olympics in 1992. This big event prompted a massive building program and created a focal point of the world’s attention.