Star Collector: Aegean & Bosporus Escapades

Istanbul (Byzantium from 660 BC, Constantinople from 330 CE, and Istanbul since 1930) is the largest city in Turkey and the fifth largest city proper in the world. It has dominated the Straits of Bosphorus, in the NW of the country, for 25 centuries, and as Constantinople was the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire. It was a metropolis of stunning splendour when the great capitals of Europe were mere villages and is the only metropolis in the world that is situated on two continents. Read more about Istanbul, Turkey

Limnos (Lemnos) is an island of Greece in the northern part of the Aegean Sea, lying closer to mainland Turkey than to Greece. The island’s history of conflict is very long: from pre-history, stone, bronze and iron ages; to Greek, Persian, Roman, Venetian, and Turkish rule. During WW I the island's harbour at Moudros was used by the Allies during early 1915 in support of the ill-fated Gallipoli campaign to try to capture the Dardanelles Straits, some 80 km to the ENE. Read more about Limnos, Greece

Mykonos is the principal town of the island of the same name, which is part of the Cyclades, and could well be described as the most sophisticated of the Greek Islands. Visited by innumerable international celebrities - you may even see some enjoying a coffee on the sidewalk - it is not surprising that it is considered by many to be one of the top tourist destinations in the world. It is also an island with beautiful landscapes, scores of churches, some fascinating monuments, and windmills. Read more about Mykonos, Greece

Kusadasi is a resort town on Turkey's Aegean coast and the centre of the seaside district of the same name. While best known as a starting point for visiting Ephesus, once one of the most beautiful cities in the world with a history dating from 3000 BC, there’s also a delightful range of activities in town. Places of interest include: the City Walls, of which one gate remains to-day; the peninsula at the end of the bay with its castle and swimming beaches; several aqua parks with wave-pools and white-water slides; Ladies Beach, once segregated but now open to all; and Dilek Peninsula National Park. Read more about Kusadasi, Turkey

Bodrum Peninsula is located in the Aegean region of Turkey. The Aegean Coast is an extraordinary place, with its immense unspoilt coastline and warm climate which offers all year round sunshine. The place where the first Christian Church was built, and where the art of wine making was developed, it boasts astonishing historical sites and natural wonders that rival any other place in the world. Read more about Bodrum, Turkey

Santorini is a small, circular archipelago of volcanic islands located in the Aegean Sea, about 200 km from Greece's mainland. It is essentially what remains of an enormous volcanic explosion some 3500 years ago, which destroyed the earliest settlements on what was formerly a single island, and which resulted in the creation of the current geological caldera. Take the cable car to view the beautiful panorama of Santorini. Read more about Santorini, Greece

Itea lies in a bay in the Gulf of Corinth and serves as the port from which to visit Delphi, situated on the slopes of Mount Parnassus, a place of stunning views. Renowned for having the most famous oracle in ancient Greece, it was considered to be the centre of the world. At the archaeological site you will see the remains of a theatre and a stadium where the Pythian festival - similar to the Olympic Games – was held. Read more about Itea, Greece

Today’s Corinth was built on the shores of the Gulf of Corinth in 1858 after an earthquake destroyed the former city which was situated near the ruins of ancient Corinth. Today’s Corinth is about 78 km SW of Athens, on the Corinthian Peninsula, ‘separated’ from the mainland by the Corinthian Canal. The city is surrounded by several coastal townlets and the inland townlets of Exmilia and perhaps, best known, the archaeological site of the ancient city just 5km to the SW. Read more about Corinth, Greece

Athens, the capital and largest city of Greece, is also one of the world's oldest cities with an unparalleled history that spans around 3,400 years. Experiencing long periods of sunshine throughout the year, and known as "the cradle of Western civilisation", it is a 'must-see' destination for world travellers. The city contains a fascinating variety of different architectural styles, ranging from Greco-Roman through Neo-Classical, to Modern. Read more about Athens, Greece

Today’s Corinth was built on the shores of the Gulf of Corinth in 1858 after an earthquake destroyed the former city which was situated near the ruins of ancient Corinth. Today’s Corinth is about 78 km SW of Athens, on the Corinthian Peninsula, ‘separated’ from the mainland by the Corinthian Canal. The city is surrounded by several coastal townlets and the inland townlets of Exmilia and perhaps, best known, the archaeological site of the ancient city just 5km to the SW. Read more about Corinth, Greece

Itea lies in a bay in the Gulf of Corinth and serves as the port from which to visit Delphi, situated on the slopes of Mount Parnassus, a place of stunning views. Renowned for having the most famous oracle in ancient Greece, it was considered to be the centre of the world. At the archaeological site you will see the remains of a theatre and a stadium where the Pythian festival - similar to the Olympic Games – was held. Read more about Itea, Greece

Corfu Island, located just off the west coast of Greece, boasts some of the most stunning scenery in the Greek Isles. With its impressive landscapes, rich vegetation, long golden beaches, the elegant capital Corfu Town, and many traditional villages, it is not surprising that this island receives many visitors each year. The capital is possibly most impressive, due to the Venetian, French and English civilisations that are remembered for the architectural elements they have left behind. Read more about Corfu, Greece

Argostoli is the capital of the island of Kefalonia, the largest of the Greek Ionian Islands. Its neo-classical buildings blend with a modern city that has a remarkable historic and cultural tradition, despite the fact that it was devastated by an earthquake in 1953. The golden sandy beaches lapped by the beautiful blue sea, fascinating caves, rocky mountains, and traditional island settlements, joined with a unique sense of liveliness, make this a great tourist destination. Read more about Argostoli, Greece

Messina is a harbour on the eastern coast of Sicily, a short ferry crossing to mainland Italy lying to the east. Due to the several earthquakes that have struck the area on several occasions, the city is almost completely modern. Mostly viewed as the starting point for tours and trips to Taormina and Mount Etna, both of which are truly unforgettable, it also has much to offer in the way of history and beauty. Read more about Messina, Italy

Trapani is a city and commune on the west coast of Sicily in Italy. It is a fishing and ferry port with a long history. Nowadays it is renowned for fine seafood and Sicilian culture. Read more about Trapani, Italy

Cagliari is the capital of the island of Sardinia, a region in Italy. An ancient city, it has seen the rule of several civilisations and in the ‘old city’ that lies on the top of a hill with a wonderful view of the ocean, it’s amazing to see the walls still intact, together with its two 13th century limestone towers. Importantly, the city is also home to exceptional beaches, rocky cliffs and numerous underwater caves. Read more about Cagliari, Italy

Barcelona, located in Catalonia Spain, is Europe's largest metropolis on the Mediterranean coast, and one of the world’s major global cities. Today, Barcelona balances itself on the cutting edge of architecture, intellectual life, and style. Indeed Barcelona won the 1999 RIBA Royal Gold Medal for its architecture, the first time that the winner has been a city, and not an individual architect. Read more about Barcelona, Spain