8-Night Cruise Spain & Italy Cruise: Barcelona, Portofino & Florence

Dynamic Barcelona is all about architecture, from the magnificent medieval buildings of the Gothic Quarter to the Modernist movement typified by the work of Antoni Gaudi including the amazing Sagrada Familia.

Home to the famed museum of its native son, Salvador Dali, Palamos sits right in the heart of the Costa Brava, and features a rugged, rocky shoreline, excellent beaches and picturesque fishing villages.

Nice, Queen of the Riviera, is filled with a treasure trove of archaeological and fine art museums, the famous flower market, and a warren of meandering lanes edged by tall houses and small, alluring shops.

The seaside resort of Santa Margherita has a harbor catering to a fishing fleet that can be seem unloading its catch opposite the morning market, but it’s also a take off point for trips to Cinque Terre.

Pretty as a picture, set on the Gulf of Poets, and famed for its connection to the English romantic poets Lord Byron and Percy Shelley who spent much time soaking up its inspiration, Portovenere oozes romance.

As the birthplace of the Renaissance, Florence and its historic center is bursting with elegant squares, imposing palaces, magnificent churches, incredible art galleries and museums with an abundance of riches.