37-DAY SOLAR ECLIPSE: RIVIERA GEMS & GREEK ISLES

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

Valencia city, the administrative capital of the Valencian community and the centre of the region of L’Horta, is situated in the centre of the Spanish Mediterranean coastline. The Old City of Valencia, with its monuments, museums, and gardens, is a major tourist attraction. Here one finds the Gothic building of La Lonja that has been declared by UNESCO as a universal heritage monument. Read more about Valencia, Spain

Mahon is the capital city of the Balearic Island of Minorca. The Balearic Islands form an autonomous Spanish community. Mahon, located on the eastern part of the island has the second deepest natural harbor in the world. Read more about Mahon, Spain

Palamos is a Spanish town in the heart of the Costa Brava, washed by the crystal clear waters of the Mediterranean Sea and close to the coastal mountains. The town was originally founded in 1277, and the old town and the fishing port are separated from the new tourist resort by a headland. With many beautiful beaches such as Cala Estreta and Carla Margarida, diving and water-sports that include sailing and wind-surfing are well catered for. Read more about Palamos, Spain

Port-Vendres, situated on the Mediterranean near the Spanish border in the SW of France, is backed on three sides by the magnificent rocky slopes of the foothills of the Pyrénées. These are covered by the prestigious vineyards of Banyuls that also produce the Collioure wine variety. A very popular spot is the palm-lined yachting harbour surrounded by shops, cafés and seafood restaurants. Read more about Port-Vendres, France

Sète is the most fascinating small town on the French Mediterranean coast precisely because it doesn't go out of its way to be charming. The town encircles a lone hill, the Mont St-Clair, on the otherwise flat Languedoc coast. With the sea out front, and backed by the salt water Thau lagoon - colonised by oyster and mussel beds - and the two joined by a series of canals, Sète is all but an island. Read more about Sete, France

Sanary-sur-Mer is a commune at the very western end of the Côte d’Azur in the SE of France, and is located 13 km from Toulon and 49 km from Marseille. Indeed there are numerous towns that are of interest to tourists within easy reach of this port. Considered to be the most beautiful port of Southern France, its harbour is lined with palm trees and pastel coloured houses on either side of a 13th century tower that was once a part of an important defence system. Read more about Sanary-sur-Mer, France

Monte Carlo is an administrative area of the Principality of Monaco in France. It really has a fairy-tale image with its beautiful Riviera - Côte d'Azur - setting, yacht-filled harbor and the elegant Casino that visitors can’t miss, though most don’t even enter to see the opulence and grandeur reflecting its exorbitant cost. It is an extremely rich place, where fast cars, big diamonds and flashy yachts are the norm. Read more about Monte Carlo, Monaco

Portofino, part of the Italian Riviera, sits on a peninsula in the Tigullio Gulf east of Genoa. It is a picturesque half-moon shaped seaside village, with shops, restaurants - with their famous sea food - and cafes, lining the shore. The crystalline green waters invite visitors to enjoy diving as there are 20 dive sites, as well as boating, in specified areas. Read more about Portofino, Italy

Seen from the water, Calvi, on the island of Corsica off the southern shores of France, is a beautiful spectacle with its three immense citadel bastions topped with ochre buildings that are sharply defined against a hazy backdrop of mountains. A hangout for European glitterati in the 1950s, the town these days is an interesting resort, in that its glamorous marina, souvenir shops and fussy boutiques contrast with the down-to-earth villages of its rural hinterland. Fascinatingly, Christopher Columbus supposedly came from Calvi, and there is a large statue at the foot of the citadel that commemorates this legend. Read more about Calvi, France

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

Bonifacio, on the southern tip of the Mediterranean island of Corsica, is a picturesque natural harbour located at the end of a fjord-like inlet, and is the southernmost commune in Metropolitan France. Bonifacio also boasts a busy marina filled with impressive yachts and lined with - chic bars, restaurants, and hotels - enhancing the vibrancy of this fashionable coastal resort. The Old Town, otherwise known as the Upper City, is situated on the site of a citadel built in the 9th century when the city was first founded, and with its labyrinth of narrow streets and historic Genoese buildings is a truly fascinating place to explore. Read more about Bonifacio, 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

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

Amalfi is a town in the region of Campania, Italy, on the Gulf of Salerno, 40 km SE of Naples. It lies at the mouth of a deep ravine at the foot of Monte Cerreto, surrounded by dramatic cliffs and coastal scenery. Take a drive along the coast, past precipices defying gravity, green terraces of grapevines and groves of lemon and olive trees sweeping down slopes to clear blue water below, and you are presented with some of the most breathtakingly beautiful scenery in the world. Read more about Amalfi, Italy

Taormina is a small town on the island of Sicily in Italy, in the Province of Messina. Settled on a hill, the town - accessible via an aerial tramway - dominates two sweeping bays, and on the southern side the top of Mount Etna can be seen. While it is unashamedly touristy and has a main street lined with high-end designer shops, the town remains a striking location with gorgeous medieval churches, a stunning Greek theatre, and sweeping views. Read more about Taormina, Italy

Valletta (aka Belt Valletta, Città Umilissima) - traditionally reserved for the historic walled citadel that serves as Malta's principal administrative district - is the capital city of Malta, located in the central-eastern portion of the island. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is essentially Baroque in style, with elements of Mannerist, Neo-Classical and Modern architecture. Don’t miss the the majestic St John’s Co-Cathedral, with its imposing bastions and a treasure of priceless paintings. Read more about Valletta, Malta

Sarandë, the capital of the District of Sarand, Albania, is situated on the Ionian Sea coast in the Mediterranean. Daily ferryboats link with the nearby Greek island of Corfu (visible to the SW), and the delightful warm weather has made tourism its major economic resource. While the vast majority of the population is Albanian, there are also many Greeks. Read more about Sarande, Albania

Dubrovnik, a Croatian city on the Adriatic Sea coast, is a prominent tourist destination. The city joined the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in 1979. An outstanding feature of the Old Town of Dubrovnik is its intact city walls that run uninterrupted for 1,940m encircling the city. Read more about Dubrovnik, Croatia

Korcula is a Croatian island in the Adriatic Sea lying just off the Dalmatian Coast. The greenest, most independent and most interesting of Croatia's 1,000 or so islands, Korcula is very much a law unto itself, as you might expect from a community that has resisted the sieges of centuries. Korcula Town is a mini-fortress enclosed with honey-coloured stone walls built in the 14th century, with round defensive towers. Read more about Korcula, Croatia

Located along one of Montenegro's most beautiful bays is picturesque Kotor. The bay is the deepest natural inlet in the Adriatic Sea, and the scenery around it is spectacular. Its well-preserved Old Town - surrounded by an impressive city wall - nestles at the head of southern Europe’s deepest sunken river valley. Read more about Kotor, Montenegro

Brindisi is an ancient city that sits on the boot's heel of long-legged Italy. It is one of the three main towns of the Salento Peninsula, and is sometimes called the Gateway to the East. It is also home to the end of the famous Apian Way, and while much of it is now paved, the end of this historic trading route, now enhanced with great steps and two imposing Roman columns, is still able to be appreciated. Read more about Brindisi, Italy

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

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

Gythion is a port in the NW of the Laconian Gulf, the largest and most important town on the Mani Peninsula in southern Greece. It is well known as being the port for Sparta some 40 km away. Today's Sparta is a modern city with little ancient history, as the Spartans lived a rather austere life and did not build grand structures as did the Greeks. Read more about Gythion, 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

Monemvasia is located on a small peninsula off the Peloponnesian east coast in the Greek prefecture of Laconia. It is actually a medieval fortress with a town next to it and is joined to the mainland by a 200 m narrow causeway. It looks as if it has literally jumped out of the Medieval Era. Read more about Monemvasia, Greece

Agios Nikolaos stands on the shores of the beautiful Mirabello Bay, a coastal town on the eastern coast of the Greek island of Crete. It sits partly on the ruins of the ancient city of Lato pros Kamara. It has three faces to the sea – the Lake and port, Kitroplatia Beach, and the Marina. Read more about Agios Nikolaos, Crete, 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

Cesme, on the west coast of Turkey, is a popular holiday and resort destination located on a promontory on the tip of a peninsula that carries the same name. The town itself is dominated by the medieval Cesme Castle, while the back streets of the old town with their old Ottoman and Greek houses that charm passers-by, are best seen by means of a casual stroll. South of the castle there is an Ottoman caravanserai - an inn built in 1528 especially for caravans - that has since been transformed into a lovely boutique hotel. Read more about Cesme, Turkey

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

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