Azamara Quest - April 22, 2024

Barcelona is the cultural heartland of Spain, yet its first language is Catalan, the native tongue of the proudly independent Catalonia region. Stroll down the shady, tree-lined Ramblas between street musicians and elegant bistros. Then perhaps visit the venerable Gothic cathedral, Picasso Museum or enjoy the architectural genius of Antonio Gaudi's Church of the Holy Family.

The most populated city in France after Paris, Marseille has all the sights and sounds of a Mediterranean melting pot, which it has been ever since the Phocaean Greeks invaded around 600 B.C. Its industrial docks rub shoulders with the picturesque old harbor, the Vieux Port, founded by the Greeks 2,600 years ago. Packed with colorful fishing boats and yachts, the Vieux Port is the heart of Marseille.

The world's most famous casino (a must see even if you do not gamble), glittering nightlife, first-class dining and shopping, make it one of the world's most glamorous destinations. The casino is an elaborate Italianate structure capped by four towers and a copper-tin roof.

Find out why this region was so popular with writers Ezra Pound, Lord Byron, Shelley and his wife Mary, and Hemingway. Located just north of Genoa in northern Italy, Santa Margherita Ligure is marked by rocky coves, pebbly beaches, and olive tree-covered hillsides. It also serves as the gateway to the beautiful Ligurian coastline.

Florence boasts a combination of 21st-century glamour and ancient historical significance. Tuscany's capital is as appealing to the mind as it is to the eye. Delicately shaded in pink, white, and green marble, the Piazza del Duomo is the most eye-catching jewel on the Florence skyline. Pose with Michelangelo's David outside the Palazzo Vecchio, or stroll through the gardens of the Medici Villas.

Florence boasts a combination of 21st-century glamour and ancient historical significance. Tuscany's capital is as appealing to the mind as it is to the eye. Delicately shaded in pink, white, and green marble, the Piazza del Duomo is the most eye-catching jewel on the Florence skyline. Pose with Michelangelo's David outside the Palazzo Vecchio, or stroll through the gardens of the Medici Villas.

Civitavecchia is just moments from Rome, Italy's Eternal City. One of the most geographically perfect ports in the world, Civitavecchia boasts a number of compelling area attractions. Stroll through the streets of the medieval town of Tarquinia. View the resplendent Madonnina at the Resort of Pantano.