Highlights of the Mediterranean

Beaches or bargains, the sea or sights. Palma has it all, together with enough sunshine and souvenirs to keep anyone happy. If you like beaches, cafes or simply lazing around in the sunshine, you'll love Palma, together with the nearby resorts of Palma Nova and Magaluf. Before you relax, though, make sure you visit Palma City itself to see the Moorish palace, the designer stores and the quaint shops and cobbled streets of the old city, behind the Gothic Cathedral. And for souvenirs, make a bee-line for Inca, the largest street market on the island which opens every Thursday.

Sitting amidst a varied landscape of mountains and beaches, the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte on the west coast of Corsica is a wonderful destination to explore. The breathtaking sight when you sail into Ajaccio, with the crystal blue waters contrasting with the green of the beautiful countryside, is just the introduction to Ajaccio. Boasting Corsican architecture as well as a famous military leader, the town features a fascinating blend of French and Italian influences.

History doesn't come much better than the Eternal City. Neither does the opportunity to find exclusive designer shops. Discover the old and the new city in Rome. Whatever you're looking for in Rome, you'll find it. For a touch of the past, try the magnificent 50,000 seater Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Forum Romanum and the Spanish Steps. That's not forgetting the Vatican itself, with St Peter's Cathedral and the unrivalled Vatican Museum. Or the Trevi Fountain where you can throw a coin in the water for good luck. But not all Roman roads are lined with antiquities. Some boast the exclusive shops of Fendi, Valentino and Gucci, while others are lined with bustling cafes from the fancy to the casually friendly.

Think sights, sights and more sights. This is the perfect excuse to discover the real pleasures of Tuscany, and the real magic of Pisa. Wander through the ancient cobbled streets of Florence amd enjoy a coffee or Italian ice cream while you soak in the atmosphere. Visit the Uffizi Galleries, one of the best art museums in the world, before taking in the famous Duomo cathedral, the Santo Spirito church and the magnificent bronze doors of the Basilica, aptly named 'the gates of heaven' by Michelangelo. And then wonder if the Leaning Tower, one of four impressive buildings in the Field of Miracles in Pisa, really is a hidden treasures and ambience of Pisa itself.

This party port is all about the see-and-be-seen life-style. As such it comes with a marina packed with millionaires' yachts, super-cars purring through the streets and a shopping scene that's all about names. So it's little wonder it's such a hit with the jet-set. But that's just the famous face of Cannes – the one that rolls out the red carpet for the annual Film Festival. There's still a trace of authentic France to be found, too. Think 19th century mansions, waterfront cafes and cliff-fringed beaches.

Its phenomenal reputation makes other cities positively green with envy, and bohemian Barcelona continues to top the popularity charts. So what makes it such a big hit? Well, where do we start?

Beaches or bargains, the sea or sights. Palma has it all, together with enough sunshine and souvenirs to keep anyone happy. If you like beaches, cafes or simply lazing around in the sunshine, you'll love Palma, together with the nearby resorts of Palma Nova and Magaluf. Before you relax, though, make sure you visit Palma City itself to see the Moorish palace, the designer stores and the quaint shops and cobbled streets of the old city, behind the Gothic Cathedral. And for souvenirs, make a bee-line for Inca, the largest street market on the island which opens every Thursday.