Star Collector: Cruising On The Rivieras

Rome, the capital, and largest city of Italy, is full of unending possibilities. It can be reached from the port of Civitavecchia in approximately ninety minutes either by train or coach. Rome greets visitors with a multitude of faces, such as the Ancient City with ruins like: the Colosseum; the seven hills; the Roman Forum; and the Sacred Way, the path used for triumphal processions. Read more about Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy

The Lipari Islands form a volcanic archipelago in the Tyrrhenian Sea, north of Sicily. The largest island is Lipari, and the sole town in the group is on this island, and shares the same name. There are signs of volcanic activity with fumaroles and thermal waters on most of the islands, while the volcano on Stromboli (40km to the NE) puts on a dramatic performance most nights! Read more about Lipari, Italy

Catania, the second largest city in Sicily, lies in the middle of the Ionian coast. It is a lively energetic place with an international outlook. At its backdrop is the famous Mt. Read more about Catania, Italy

Gozo - aka Isle of Calypso - is an island of the Maltese archipelago, and is considered one of the most untouched and unique islands in the Mediterranean. It truly is a tranquil land where time has stood still and where some of the oldest buildings in the world are located. It is rich in historical locations, such as the Ggantija temples, regarded as the world's oldest free-standing religious structures, pre-dating the Pyramids of Egypt and Stonehenge. Read more about Gozo Island, Malta

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

Porto Empedocle is a little port in Italy on the Strait of Sicily, founded in the eighteenth century. It is in the Caos district, and is well known to Italians because the home - which now contains a small museum - of the famous writer Luigi Pirandello, is located there. The town is also very well known as the setting of the Inspector Montalbano books, written by Andrea Camilleri, who when aged 80 years still had a home here where he lived for part of the year. Read more about Porto Empedocle, 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

Sorrento is a small, enchanting, Italian town, located over white steep cliffs that offers a fantastic view over the Bay of Naples, offering views of many famous neighbouring tourist attractions. Indeed, its location allows visitors to comfortably reach the delightful and enchanting towns of Naples, Pompeii, Herculaneum, Capri, Ischia and the Amalfi Coast. Renowned for its natural attractions of landscapes, including the impressive rocks of the limestone mountains, and breathtaking panoramic views, it is also filled with fascinating historical and religious architecture. Read more about Sorrento, 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

Rome, the capital, and largest city of Italy, is full of unending possibilities. It can be reached from the port of Civitavecchia in approximately ninety minutes either by train or coach. Rome greets visitors with a multitude of faces, such as the Ancient City with ruins like: the Colosseum; the seven hills; the Roman Forum; and the Sacred Way, the path used for triumphal processions. Read more about Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy

Portoferraio lies of the edge of the harbour of the Italian Island of Elba. The city's buildings are situated on a tiny hill surrounded on three sides by the sea, which presents an intriguing sight to visitors. Portoferraio remains a delightful seaside resort. Read more about Portoferraio, Italy

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

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, France

The picturesque and elegant French city of Cannes, situated on the French Riviera, is possibly best known for its famous annual Film Festival, though it is also known for some beautiful beaches, glamorous yachts, a variety of luxury shops, and restaurants. Cannes is a most cosmopolitan town, and visitors are hard pressed to find a genuine native, as many attracted to the Côte d'Azur have chosen to make it their home. Not surprisingly, restaurants have international cuisines, including the traditional gastronomic delights. Read more about Cannes, 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

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

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