Seabourn Ovation - October 8, 2023

Lisbon is many cities, from the cobbled alleys of the Alfama district to the broad Parisian style avenues at its heart. View it all from the heights of St. George's Castle. Belem's Monument to the Discoveries recalls the seafaring past, while nearby Sintra's storybook palaces, and the seaside resort of Caiscais, have different tales to tell.

One of the "Pillars of Hercules," Gibraltar is an historic landmark with British and Spanish influences. Guarding the entrance to the Atlantic, the great rock still serves as Britain's threshold to the Mediterranean. Take a cable car to the top of the rock for a spectacular view of two continents as well as the famous Barbary apes.

The "Gateway to Africa," located at its northwestern tip, Tangier is a fashionable resort that retains all of its age-old mystery and excitement. French and Islamic influences meet and merge in this fascinating old city. Mosques and minarets overlook the shadowy streets of the bazaar, while the higher part of town, with its broad boulevards and lovely parks, looks down on the ocean.

The city of Almeria is located at the foot of a mountain range which is crowned by the magnificent Alcazaba, an Arab fortress built by the Calph of Cordoba. Almeria was a port of influx of ancient civilisations. Its Phoenician name was - Uci, Its Roman name was - Portus Magnus and its Moorish name was - "Almeriya", until it was conquered by Ferdinand and Isabella in 1489. True historians will appreciate the Almeria Museum which contains numerous objects discovered by the well-known Belgian mining engineer, Louis Siret.

A Mediterranean port, Alicante has exports of wine, oil, cereals, fruit, and esparto from the fertile surrounding region. Metallurgical and chemical industries as well as fishing and waterfront tourism are important. The Romans had a naval base on the site. The town was permanently recaptured from the Moors about 1250.

Spain's third-largest city, and capital of the province of Valencia, comes as a pleasant surprise to many. Home to paella and the Holy Grail, it is also blessed with great weather and the spring festival of Las Fallas, one of the wildest parties in the country.

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.

Menorca is considered the gem of the Balearic Islands. Mahon, its most important port, is also its capital. Journey to the top of Monte Toro, the highest mountain on the island, and savor a most spectacular view. Occasionally as far as Majorca. Explore Binibeca, a fishing village rich in vacation homes and villas built in the old Catalan style. Or escape to the lighthouse at Favoritz and enjoy a secluded beach.

Sete, France, is the charming port which leads you to Carcassone, a walled city which dates back to the time of the Roman Empire. Explore the town's boutiques and cafes. Be sure to sample "cassoulet"--a delightful combination of meats cooked with beans. It's the specialty of the city.

Toulon, a commercial and industrial city in southeastern France, lies on the Mediterranean Sea. Toulon's harbor serves as the primary naval base of the French Mediterranean fleet. In recent years tourism has become increasingly important. A modern resort area with a beautiful beach and hotels has developed at Le Mourillon, just west of Toulon.

Renowned as the birthplace of Napolean Bonaparte, Ajaccio is bursting with history and cultural diversity. The Greeks were the first to discover the unique beauty of the island early in the 6th century BC, calling it "Kalliste", or "the beautiful". Climbing through the foothills and the mountains, you'll be surrounded by the greenery covering the mountainside. The local term for this lush plant life is "maquis."

From Livorno, your path leads through the rolling green hills of Tuscany to Florence, the flower of the Renaissance. The creative explosion happened right here, with masterworks by Michelangelo, Brunelleschi and Botticelli now landmarks of daily life. Ufizzi, Academmia, il Duomo: the art treasures of a golden age are commonplace to blessed Florentines. Livorno also serves as the gateway to Pisa, home of the famous leaning tower.

Portoferraio is the mainport of Elba. After Napoleon abdicated the throne, he was exiled to the island of Elba, located off the west coast of Italy, in the Tyrrhenian Sea. Your stay here will feel less like exile and more like an escape as you sample the local wines and walk among her rich olive groves and relax on the beaches of her numerous resorts. Be sure to visit Napoleon's chief residence, the Mulini Palace, and his summer residence, Villa San Martino, which now houses a museum and his collection of engravings.

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.

Portovenere is a charming and picturesque town in the Bay of La Spezia. The town has a very strong connection to both the military and the sea, reflected in the two centers of the town. The first ist he old port, the second the fortified, Genoese stronghold, where you'll also find the Church of San Lorenzo, which was constructed in Gothic-Renaissance style, similar to the Genoa Cathedral. The streets of Portovenere contain numerous other examples of medieval architecture.

Bastia is steeped in history but inspired by a modern, urban culture. It is a town which came to prominence as Corsica's main port. The focal point is the Place St. Nicholas with its brightly coloured facades, cafes and restaurants. An intriguing quaint labyrinth of narrow lanes weaves amongst the buildings between the old and the citadel quarters.

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.

No introduction is needed for what is perhaps the world's best known and most fashionable resort on the Riviera. Immerse yourself in the splendid scenery of the Cote d'Azur with an excursion to the hilltop villages of Gassin and Il Ramatuelle, and the new town of Port Grimaud, built to resemble an old Mediterranean fishing village.

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.

Though the scenery is strikingly dramatic, below the rugged headlands and rocky promontories you'll find quiet, beach-bordered bays rimmed by pine woodlands. Palamos is the southernmost of a series of small isolated ports that cling like oysters to tiny harbours set along Catalunya's northern coast. It sits on a high rock over the harbor, a favorite destination for yachts that vie for space with local fishing boats.

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.