30 nætter fra Barcelona med Seabourn Ovation

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.

Port-Vendres i Frankrig byder dig velkommen med charmerende røde hustage og stenbygninger, der giver en lille idé om hvordan livet engang var i denne kommercielle havneby. Hvis du virkelig ønsker at fortabe dig i de fantastiske kvaliteter ved dette område, så bør du tage en hurtig fornøjelsestur til de nærliggende byer såsom Carcassonne, hvor et middelalderligt slot med ikke mindre end 52 tårne og lange stenmure har stået i mere end 2500 år. Du kan også tage til Cadaqués, der er en charmerende by lige ved den spanske grænse, som har huset nogle af de mest kendte og indflydelsesrige kunstnere i den moderne æra.

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.

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.

Casablanca er ikke kun navnet på en berømt film, men også Marokkos største havneby. Byen byder på storslået arkitektur, lange kyststrækninger og store parker. Få et glimt af det gamle Casablanca, når du går gennem stræderne i Old Medina. Køb ind på det travle marked, hvor du kan se boder fulde af grøntsager, lædervarer, traditionelt kunsthåndværk, silke og krydderier.Gå ikke glip af Grand Mosque Hassan II, der er en af verdens største moskéer. Tag med på en rundvisning i det 9 hektar store kompleks, hvor du kan se den enorme bedehal, springvand og detaljeret arkitektur. Ved siden af moskéen ligger The Corniche, der er en lang strækning med dejlige strande.Et af de flotteste steder i Casablanca er Parc de la Ligue Arabe, et stort åbent område med friserede græsplæner og boulevarder med palmer. 

Casablanca er ikke kun navnet på en berømt film, men også Marokkos største havneby. Byen byder på storslået arkitektur, lange kyststrækninger og store parker. Få et glimt af det gamle Casablanca, når du går gennem stræderne i Old Medina. Køb ind på det travle marked, hvor du kan se boder fulde af grøntsager, lædervarer, traditionelt kunsthåndværk, silke og krydderier.Gå ikke glip af Grand Mosque Hassan II, der er en af verdens største moskéer. Tag med på en rundvisning i det 9 hektar store kompleks, hvor du kan se den enorme bedehal, springvand og detaljeret arkitektur. Ved siden af moskéen ligger The Corniche, der er en lang strækning med dejlige strande.Et af de flotteste steder i Casablanca er Parc de la Ligue Arabe, et stort åbent område med friserede græsplæner og boulevarder med palmer. 

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.

Ibiza kaldes ofte for den hvide ø. Den tilhører øgruppen Balearerne og er sandsynligvis det mest charmerende og uberørte paradis af dem alle. Ibiza har en usædvanlig historie, da den er blevet invaderet af mange forskellige folkeslag. Og alle har da også efterladt sig spor på øen. Det virkelige Ibiza er bøndernes og fiskernes sted, og der er mange smukke områder uden for byerne. Ibiza Town er øens hovedstad med stejle stenbelagte gader, der fører til katedraler og forter. Byen har altid været kendt for sin stilfuldhed, som tiltrækker de rige og berømte.

Mahon is the capital of Menorca, second largest of the Balearic Islands. It stands out from the others because of the abundance of prehistoric structures, and because its culture was influenced by British occupation in the 18th century. The people who built the prehistoric constructions are believed to have been responsible for similar works in Sardinia, and for Stonehenge in England. Believed to have been founded by the Carthaginian General Mago, Mahon was held by the Moors from the 8th to the 13th century and in turn occupied by the English, the French and the Spanish. Mahon was finally ceded to Spain by the Treaty of Amiens in 1802.

The pleasingly green, quiet island of Sardinia offers the visitor scenic beauty and a relaxed lifestyle. Cagliari, the island’s capital, features handsome Italianate architecture and several churches reflecting a variety of influences. Impressive views are provided by the city’s hillsides, with one of the best panoramas available from the old walls of Terrazzo Umberto. The island’s natural charm has attracted pleasure-seekers to the Costa Smeralda since the Aga Khan sought shelter ashore from a storm at sea.

The scented isle of Corsica, birthplace of Napoleon, was controlled for centuries by Genoa and did not become a region of France until 1768. As late as the last century, the rugged island was still a haven for bands of brigands. Today, the island’s inviting beaches and scenic beauty attract an increasing number of tourists hoping to escape the much more hectic pace of the Riviera. Bonifacio, perched at the top of towering white cliffs, is a striking sight from the sea. Watch for the 15th-century staircase carved into the cliff face which runs right down to the water’s edge as you approach the harbor.

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.

Regally situated between Nice and Cannes on the Cote d’Azur, Antibes has been a prestigious address for millennia. On a coast renowned for its ravishing vistas, none is more striking than the Cap d’Antibes thrusting into the sea from the Provencal hills. The castle-like Chateau Grimaldi now houses one of the most extensive single collections of art by Pablo Picasso, who lived there for six months in 1946 and left a trove of works for the city. The opulent villas of seaside Juan-les-Pins and the botanical gardens at Villa Thuret are justly famed, and the crown is perhaps the Grand Hotel du Cap – Eden Roc, one of the world’s most celebrated hostelries.

Monte Carlo ligger i Monaco ved den franske Riviera. På den franske kyst er det forbudt at bygge højhuse, men der er højhuse i overflod i Monaco, hvor det ikke er muligt at bygge på andre måder end i højden. Monte Carlo byder dig på mange overraskelser og er et høj kulturelt sted med mange museer.

On the southern shore of one of the most beautiful bays of the Riviera, the little port of St. Tropez has become one of the best known resorts in Europe, a crossroads where journalists, photographers, writers, artists and celebrities meet. Guy de Maupassant discovered the town, but it was the painters who made it more widely known – Signac, Matisse, Bonnard, Marquet, Camoin – who all stayed for varying amounts of time. The harbor teems with life. Fishing boats, excursion craft and hundreds of yachts share the harbor. On the waterfront are old pink and yellow houses, which have been converted into cafes, cabarets and restaurants, luxury boutiques, galleries and antique shops. A picturesque and cosmopolitan crowd strolls the streets in season.

This harbor on the eastern shore of Sicily near Messina gives us close access to the fabulous Greco-Roman ruins of Taormina, as well as the active volcano Mt. Etna. The temples, streets and large amphitheater of Taormina make it one of Italy’s premier ancient sites. Its location overlooking the sea and with the backdrop of snow-capped Etna complete the package and make it among the most famous attractions in the Mediterranean region. Giardini Naxos itself boasts a lovely beach at Lido Europa, and intrepid visitors can climb Mt. Etna to see a volcano close up

A port not often visited by cruise ships, being more accustomed to welcoming fishing boats and private yachts. Malta’s smaller sister-isle has a lot of charm to offer. Villages such as Mgarr all boast tall, elaborately carved churches, the result of a combination of fine-grained, easily carved stone, time, and stonemasons whose skill is matched only by their religious devotion. The city of Victoria was so named to honor the British queen’s Diamond jubilee.

Occupied successively by the Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans, Arabs, French and British, Malta has been of strategic importance throughout history. A British Crown Colony until 1964, Malta received the George Cross for its valiant resistance to German occupation in WWII. The island’s rich heritage is reflected in the architecture of Valletta, the current capital, and Medina, the capital until 1565. In Valletta the Knights of St. John built such masterpieces as St. John’s Co-Cathedral and the Palace of the Grand Masters, along with the fortifications that guard the town’s magnificent harbors.

Occupied successively by the Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans, Arabs, French and British, Malta has been of strategic importance throughout history. A British Crown Colony until 1964, Malta received the George Cross for its valiant resistance to German occupation in WWII. The island’s rich heritage is reflected in the architecture of Valletta, the current capital, and Medina, the capital until 1565. In Valletta the Knights of St. John built such masterpieces as St. John’s Co-Cathedral and the Palace of the Grand Masters, along with the fortifications that guard the town’s magnificent harbors.

Ajaccio er Korsikas største by. Korsika er en ø af stenede klipper og sandstrande, med hemmelige stier, der fører ind over marker og gennem små og stille landsbyer. Korsika var fødestedet for Napoleon, og dette er nu museum og en af øens store seværdigheder. Andre seværdigheder er citadellet og Ajaccios katedral.Øen er ubeskrivelig smuk og havet omkring Korsika er krystalklart. Strandene, der spænder fra smalle halvmåner til brede, gyldne strækninger, bidrager til byens stigning som et populært feriested.

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.

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.