Mediterranean from Marseilles

Union Island, the southernmost gem in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, rises from the Caribbean as a volcanic sentinel that generations of sailors have used as a landmark on the passage to the Grenadines — its Twin Peaks offering spectacular hikes rewarded with panoramas across a tapestry of cays, reefs, and indigo water. The island serves as the yachting hub of the southern Grenadines, with Clifton Harbour bustling with sloops bound for Tobago Cays, Palm Island, and Carriacou. The dry season from December through May delivers the Caribbean's finest sailing conditions and crystal-clear visibility for diving the thriving coral gardens.

La Superba — 'the Proud' — earned its epithet as one of the four great maritime republics of medieval Italy, and Genoa's UNESCO-listed Palazzi dei Rolli, some of the finest Renaissance and Baroque palaces in Europe, still announce the city's historic ambitions with magnificent authority. Renzo Piano's revitalised old port introduces a modern chapter alongside the medieval carruggi, the labyrinthine alleys where the city's true character breathes: Ligurian focaccia straight from the wood oven, pesto ground to ancient recipes, and farinata — chickpea flatbread — served on marble counters since the twelfth century. Spring and autumn offer the most pleasant conditions for exploring this underestimated city.

Purpose-built as a Medici utopia in the late sixteenth century, Livorno was conceived from the outset as a city without discrimination — its founding Leggi Livornine granted equal rights to Jews, Christians, Muslims, and merchants of every nation, making it one of the most cosmopolitan cities in Renaissance Europe. Today, the Venetian-style canals of the Venezia Nuova quarter reflect colourful palazzi with a distinctly faded glamour, while the Mercato Centrale's fish counters display the cacciucco ingredients — a robust Livornese brodetto of five sea creatures — that make this port city a pilgrimage for serious eaters. Day trips to Pisa and Lucca are effortless from here. The season runs April through October.

Rome's ancient maritime gateway since the Emperor Trajan commissioned its harbour in 106 AD, Civitavecchia is the natural prologue to the Eternal City — just seventy minutes southeast by express rail. The port's Renaissance fortress, designed in part by Michelangelo, anchors a working waterfront that has welcomed travellers for millennia. Beyond Rome's unmissable monuments, consider an afternoon in the Civitavecchia thermal baths, drawing on mineral waters prized since antiquity. Spring and autumn offer the ideal balance of mild weather and manageable crowds for exploring the capital's layered history.

Santiago de Compostela, renowned for its historic cathedral and vibrant pilgrimage culture, is a port city steeped in rich traditions. Must-try experiences include savoring “pulpo a la gallega” and exploring the Mercado de Abastos for local delicacies. The best season to visit is spring, when the city’s festivals and natural beauty come alive.

Barcelona is the city where Roman history, Gothic grandeur, and Gaudí's delirious Modernisme collide in a Mediterranean coastal capital of astonishing energy and beauty. The Sagrada Família — still under construction after 140 years — continues its audacious ascent toward completion, while the Gothic Quarter's Roman-era foundations and the Passeig de Gràcia's extraordinary concentration of Modernisme masterpieces reward days of exploration. For a complete sensory experience, lose an afternoon in the covered labyrinth of La Boqueria market before descending to the waterfront for Catalan seafood at its finest. May through June and September through October offer the most pleasant weather; the city connects directly to Paris by overnight train.

Union Island, the southernmost gem in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, rises from the Caribbean as a volcanic sentinel that generations of sailors have used as a landmark on the passage to the Grenadines — its Twin Peaks offering spectacular hikes rewarded with panoramas across a tapestry of cays, reefs, and indigo water. The island serves as the yachting hub of the southern Grenadines, with Clifton Harbour bustling with sloops bound for Tobago Cays, Palm Island, and Carriacou. The dry season from December through May delivers the Caribbean's finest sailing conditions and crystal-clear visibility for diving the thriving coral gardens.