Iberian & Italian Ballads

Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, lies in the western Iberian Peninsula aside the Atlantic Ocean and the Tagus River. As one of the oldest cities in the world, it is rich in Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque, Modern and Post-Modern constructions. The city is also crossed by historical boulevards and monuments along the main thoroughfares. Read more about Lisbon, Portugal

Seville is the artistic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain, and represents all that is Andalucian - flamenco, the horses, toros and more. It is a child of the Arab occupation and domain from which it acquired its flourishing architecture and personality. However it was reconquered by the Catholic kings, so it is not surprising that the city's cathedral, built from 1401–1519 and lavishly decorated with a lot of gold evident, sits on the former site of the city's mosque. Read more about Seville, Spain

Seville is the artistic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain, and represents all that is Andalucian - flamenco, the horses, toros and more. It is a child of the Arab occupation and domain from which it acquired its flourishing architecture and personality. However it was reconquered by the Catholic kings, so it is not surprising that the city's cathedral, built from 1401–1519 and lavishly decorated with a lot of gold evident, sits on the former site of the city's mosque. Read more about Seville, Spain

Gibraltar shares a northern border with Spain, but is a UK Overseas Territory located near the southernmost tip of the Iberian Peninsula, overlooking the Strait of Gibraltar. It has an area of 6 sq.km. and a 1.2 km border with Spain. Read more about Gibraltar, Spain

The Spanish city of Almeria is the capital of the province of the same name, and is the most eastern capital of Andalucia. It is the driest region in Europe as well as one of the warmest, with an average 19 degrees Celsius and 330 days of sun per year. Steeped in history, as seen in the fascinating backdrop of a magnificent Arab fortress called the Alcazaba, together with a Cathedral that is built with a fascinating combination of Renaissance and Gothic architectural styles, it has become an extremely popular tourist destination. Read more about Almeria, Spain

Alicante lies on the east coast of Spain and is Valencia region's second-largest city. Famous for its excellent weather and its long stretches of sandy beaches such as San Juan, thousands visit each year. Its most notable feature is undoubtedly the Castle of Santa Barbara situated on Mount Benacantil that dominates the city. Read more about Alicante, Spain

Ajaccio (aka Aiacciu, Aiaccio) is a port on the west coast of the island of Corsica, 390 km SE of Marseille. It occupies a sheltered position at the foot of wooded hills on the northern shore of the Gulf of Ajaccio. The city not only encloses the entire harbour but takes up the better part of the Gulf. Read more about Ajaccio, France

Olbia is a seaport in a NE wedge of Sardinia, and the main connection from the island to mainland Italy. It is fast becoming a popular tourist centre, primarily as the gateway to the famous and delightful stretches of coast, the Costa Smeralda. The people of the town are very friendly and there is a variety of bars, pubs and fine Italian restaurants to be enjoyed. Read more about Olbia, Italy

Livorno is the third largest port on the west coast of Italy, and is well known for supporting cruise ship tourism to Florence, the Tower of Pisa, the hill towns of Tuscany, Cinque Terre with its enchanting villages, and the Chianti wine region, generally with time allowed for visiting some famous outlet stores of famous fashion houses. However the port of Livorno itself has a lot to offer visitors. Criss-crossed by Medicean canals that are still navigable, and with its port overlooked by towers and fortresses, this well-planned city is most appealing. Read more about Livorno, Italy

Rome, sometimes referred to as "The Eternal City," is the capital city of Italy. Cruises from Rome depart the Rome Cruise Terminal which is approximately 1.5 hours by train North-West of the city centre. Rome is renowned across the world for its rich past, impressive archaeological sites, delectable cuisine, gorgeous gardens, homes of local nobility, and significant structures including the Spanish Steps, the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, Trevi Fountain, and Piazza Navona. Read more about Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy