Barcelona to Lisbon

Barcelona’s seaside beauty, sprawling beaches, eclectic architecture, world-class tapas and Tempranillo are all reasons to fall in love with the city of Gaudí. Indeed, the treasures here are many and diverse, captivating travelers and experts alike. In fact, nine important sites in the city, seven designed by the famed architect himself, have earned the acclaim of UNESCO.

Port-Vendres has been a thriving harbor town since the Greeks discovered its sheltered waters. Today, visitors will discover a beautiful Mediterranean destination, with fishing boats, yachts and cruise ships compatibly sharing space in the deep-water port and locals sharing coffee and croissant at the cafes. The natural beauty of this Mediterranean locale is on display all around, memorably discoverable with snorkeling and diving expeditions, a walk on a pebbly beach or bike ride in the hills.

The Cote d’Azur has been blessed with superb natural beauty as it lies sandwiched between the coastal mountains and the sea. The Maritime Alps tumble down to the ocean, preventing cold northern winds from reaching the sun-drenched slope that stretches some 60 miles westward from the border with fairy-tale Monaco. Majestic cities like Nice, Monte Carlo and St-Tropez host pleasure boats, yachts and all the other trappings of glamorous lifestyles.

Breathtakingly beautiful Porto Venere, Italy, has all the essentials of an idyllic medieval town, with two ancient churches, a 16th-century fortified castle, and a bell tower built on the ruins of a Roman temple. The southernmost town on the walking trails connecting the five villages that make up the famous Cinque Terre, the town has sweeping views, brightly-colored houses, terraced gardens and three small islands — Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto — sitting prettily just off its rocky promontory.

Home to the Maison Bonaparte, the residence-turned-museum bearing the general’s name, this once fortified town founded by the Genoese in 1492 today boasts a Côte d’Azur flair along its trendy waterfront promenade. Nestled between sea and mountains, its magnificent UNESCO-designated Golfe de Porto is part of Corsica’s Regional National Park, renowned for its geologic and ecologic natural value.

Palma de Mallorca, rich in monuments of many ages, was founded by the Romans more than 2,000 years ago. A magnificent rose-colored Gothic cathedral dominates the palm-fringed waterfront of its urban center. Mallorca, known as the “Island of Tranquility,” is the largest and most developed of the Balearic group. Steep mountains, serene valleys and wide plains form its varied landscape. Visit the island’s quaint villages and the monastery where George Sand and Frederic Chopin spent a winter.

Drenched in year-round sunshine, this beach-loving town boasts one of Spain’s best, San Juan Beach. Sprinkled throughout its Old Town are colorful houses, winding alleyways and a beautiful Renaissance church, while a trek up Mount Benacantil leads to the medieval ruins Castle of Santa Bárabara affording spectacular views of the Mediterranean and surrounding landscape. Closer to shore, the Explanada de Espana is perfect for a stroll overlooking the sea.

See the wealth of historical treasures found in the coastal city of Màlaga. Once a major trading port, Màlaga has an eclectic mix of sites influenced by the Phoenicians, the Moors, and the Spanish.

Tangier, a Moroccan port on the Strait of Gibraltar, has been a strategic gateway between Africa and Europe since Phoenician times. Its whitewashed hillside medina is home to the Dar el Makhzen, a palace of the sultans that’s now a museum of Moroccan artifacts. The American Legation Museum, also in the medina, documents early diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Morocco in an 1821 Moorish-style former consulate.

Get lost in the Western world’s oldest continuously inhabited city. Cádiz continues to charm travelers today with its romantic El Pópulo and Santa María districts, fresh seafood, and the Puertas de Tierra which divides the city into old and new. In Seville, stroll through the ancient city center or see a flamenco show followed by tapas and a glass of delicious wine or sherry.

Discover the world’s last colonial empire, turned bustling cosmopolitan city. Lisbon has dozens of Moorish castles, pastel buildings, and white sand beaches to explore. This Atlantic-coast city perfectly encapsulates Mediterranean charm with its wine, food, and architecture.